Democracy, Transparency and Accountability

Abstract

Rajiv Gandhi once famously remarked that, 15 paise of every rupee allocated actually reaches the poor. His heir Rahul Gandhi last year decreased that amount by 10 paise. As a vibrant democracy like India has such a high deficit in governance, that people in power are forced to acknowledge such harsh realities is a shame for 60 year old republic. For reducing the gap between such a high deficit, government is left with only one choice, to take measures which increases transparency, accountability. As the definition of democracy evolves, now it is not safe to consider democracy just the rule of the people, for the people, or by the people. This definition now has to be looked into a modern perspective, which involves transparency and accountability as its basic pillars. Delivery of true democracy can only be achieved with public participation, and best tools for increase in public participation in governance depend upon transparency and accountability.