Democratic Governance, Inclusive Policies and People Standing at the Margins

Abstract

State, democracy and good governance are mutually related to each other, and as India is a democratic welfare state, it is the central concern of the government to provide inclusive governance through inclusive policies to its citizen in general, and the disadvantaged people like scheduled tribes/scheduled castes (ST/SCs) in particular. Democracy and inclusive governance are conceptually linked to each other. Democracy and democratic values and practices curb the undemocratic rule, exclusion and discrimination in the society. The study argues that in spite of many legal provisions and pro-state action, the condition of STs/SCs are very vulnerable. They are lag behind in all parameters of human development to other people. Their representation in the public institution is not adequate and fair enough except in legislature. Democratic text of inclusive society could not be made possible and is far from realisation contextually. In this article, attempt has been made to evaluate and examine the democratic ethos of inclusiveness, constitutional provisions for inclusive policies and its achievement to know the status of inclusion of the excluded groups till date in the case of SC/STs in Odisha.