Yojana Magazine Analysis September 2020

The Agenda

“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]”

–Gandhi

It is the duty of all leading men, whatever their persuasion or party, to safeguard the dignity of India

–Gandhi

Gandhi and Truth
- Gandhi was guided by the teachings of Bhagvad Gita.
- He was also inspired by Henry David Thoreau who wrote, “I know of no more encouraging fact than the unquestionable ability of man to elevate his life through conscious endeavor”
- Gandhiji always said there is a ‘truth’ beyond all what we perceive and hold to be ‘truth’.
- Gandhi initially held the view that ‘God is Truth’ reversed it later as, “Truth is God” thereby asserting the supremacy of truth over everything.

Satyagraha
- Satyagraha is a blend of Ethical, Moral, Political, Social and Religious Concerns of life.
- Gandhi’s seminal contribution lies in the area of blending science and spirituality through the philosophy and practice of Satyagraha.
- The Satyagraha seeks to integrate spiritual values, and community organisation and self-reliance with a view to empower individuals, families, group, villages, towns and cities.

Spiritual living
- Gandhi believed in religious humanism.
- He followed and preached the motto of “Sarva Dharma Sambhava”

Other Ideas
- Criticism of Westernization
- Sarvodaya
- Rights always come with duties

Accountability forms the core of any good governance.
Accountability refers to the process as well as norms that make decision maker “answerable” to ones for whom decisions are taken.

Who is Accountable to Whom?
- In any political system, every political institution, their actions are accountable to Citizens.

In order to ensure right and good governance, it is necessary for the government to be open, accountable, accessible, transparent, sensitive, fair and pro-active. It makes government ethical & corruption free.
According to the fourth report of the Second Administrative Reforms Commissionon “Ethics in Governance”, corruption is an important manifestation of the failure of the ethics and values system in society”

Political Funding issues
- Corporate funding & fake companies to route black money.
- Influence of people and companies over political parties.
- Black money/Hidden sources of funding.
- Political parties do not report.

Public funding of elections means that government gives funds to political parties or candidates for contesting elections.
Its main purpose is to make it unnecessary for contestants to take money from powerful moneyed interests so that they can remain clean.