Scholars and experts in the field of social sciences, who came together on a common platform in the city on Friday to discuss and analyse the concepts of democracy, development and governance, reasoned that disadvantaged people should also be a part of discussions on these subjects.
Participating in a seminar on “Democracy, Development and Governance: An analytical and critical quest” organised by Indian Social Institute, former IAS official Lukose Vallathrai said civil society is the biggest pillar of democracy and it is the people from the underprivileged sections who have to understand the issue. “It is imperative that they should be invited for these discussions along with experts,” he said.
“There is a demand all over the world for democracy. It is worth fighting for because it gives freedom and opportunities for the marginalised in the institutions of governance,” he said.
Prof. Maria Saleth, Director of Loyolla Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), Chennai, said the concepts of democracy, development and governance are apt in the present times.
Stating that there is a strong linkage among all the three concepts, he said, “Considering the correlation between democracy and the level of development, there is a belief that democracy leads to development and welfare. But if we consider the same relationship among democratic countries the linkage is neither strong not determinate.”
“However, what matters most is the relationship between democracy and development at the micro or ground level. Here the relationship depends on the institutional structure that determines people’s access to assets like land, natural resources and financial capital,” he said adding that the issue of governance assumed importance in this context.
A book titled “Global Development Partnership Impact Analysis of Tribals in Kerala, India” brought by the Institute was released on the occasion. Institute Porgramme Officer Chand Peer also spoke.
