How democracy is being used to make people consumers of political party in rule

By Harasankar Adhikari
How is Indian democracy? Is it today in distress or in a fatal condition? Are all the activities of the government not enough to rethink the status of Indian democracy? Does it not try to make people consumers or beneficiaries of the political party in the rule? Dole has become the prime driver/determined factor of selling or buying people's democratic rights (right to vote).
Now a populist government rules the state of West Bengal. Its populism is confined within multifarious dole (dole-oriented different schemes - from ‘Shrees’ (i.e. Kanyashree, Yubashree, etc. to ‘Sathis (i.e. Kadhya Sathi, Swasthya Sathi, etc.’ to the latest ‘Lakshmi Bhandar’) to its supporters, whether rich or poor. This government only publicises its success for the last 10 years with the celebration of different dole giving ceremonies. Is it dole or alms? This state has already borrowed six lakh crore rupees within two decades of its rule. The exercise duty through the sale of liquor is the only dominant avenue of generating revenues.
The political party in control of this state is ironically determined to make the people of this state dependent on it. It works to make people idle, which would be harmful to society. The beneficiaries of this state have no jobs. The only job is confined to the tag of “doing party”. The political party in power has taken the initiative to reach the government at the doorstep and dole to be reached at the doorstep. People would enjoy only their rights at home. But all of these benefits are not for non-supporters, whether they are eligible for these benefits or not. No-supporters have to face police at their doorstep.
A democracy always battles for equity and justice for all. The political party that rules makes a difference among people from household to household, community to community, if anyone does not support this political party or if anyone raises their voice against the acts of this political party.
It is a fact that this government has failed to strengthen or revive the basic index of social, economic and cultural development. Only a culture of corruption from top to bottom of the ruling political party's hierarchy is significant. Corruption is multilayered (college admission, pensions for the poor, disaster relief, and so on). Corruption has become a daily matter in every sphere of governmental activities. Now corruption is at the doorstep.
Abolition of governmental jobs, rampant corruption in teachers’ employment (from primary to university level), no industry, no investment are some of the most important failures of this government. But this government shows that it has facilitated super success. After taking charge for the third term, it is more desperate to sanctify all its activities. False promises have become the pillar of success in the polls.
Creating job opportunities is preferable to making people dole dependents in order to ensure the dominance of the ruling political party. Self-dependency would promote democratic self-choices. To kill this, it strategically approaches the target of dole for votes. But who would stop or rectify them? This state will face a dangerous situation in the very near future.

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