[Reader-list] reader-list Digest, Vol 70, Issue 84

[Rohan DSouza]

In the context of the point that Swathi brings up of civil society
activism paving the way for NREGA, RTI etc, it will also be
interesting to also look at the role of the National Advisory Council
(http://nac.nic.in/).

What was the role it played, vis-a-vis the common minimum program? How
does one look at such stated government-civil society interface
institutions in a democratic set up. Where does it get its legitimacy
from? Does/did it take up the role of a pressure group, interest
group? And also in hindsight what led to the demise of the council and
what led to people like Aruna Roy resigning in protest. How did the
various political parties/politicians within the UPA, as well as the
Prime Minister see this group? Did how it turn out conflict with their
expectation/view of it?

Rohan

> Date: Sat, 16 May 2009 18:42:45 +0530
> From: swathi shivanand <swathi.shivanand at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Reader-list] Election Forecast
> To: Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com>
> Cc: Sarai <reader-list at sarai.net>
> Message-ID:
>        <c9f6c3630905160612v6c7bcfd4qa5350c4c569e02bf at mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Firstly, all victory must be tempered with some sobriety. And difficult
> questions have to be asked.
>
> We are going to have, yet another time, a prime minister who has not
> contested elections. if his record were impeccable, one wonders why he chose
> not to stand? One could easily dismiss the idea that 'he was scared that he
> would lose" as understandably naive. So what is that had the prime
> ministerial candidate not contest elections? Should we wonder what that says
> about his (and by extension the congress' and the upa's) notions about
> democracy and respect for it?
>
> To nuance your point further, The NREGA and the RTI were passed after much
> prodding and much civil society activism. If the UPA is credited with
> bringing in these programmes and policies, some credit is also due to the
> Left and other Congress allies.
>
> Swathi
>
> On Sat, May 16, 2009 at 4:05 PM, Rakesh Iyer <rakesh.rnbdj at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Dear all
>>
>> The BJP and the Left have been shown the middle finger in these elections.
>> And for all those in the forum who keep dismissing the Congress, do dismiss
>> dynastic politics, but realize that NREGA, RTI and Right to Forest Land for
>> tribals are important for the 'aam aadmi', so also other issues of
>> livelihood, not your Golden Quadrilateral, economic disinvestment and
>> Narendra Modi-Advani duo's 'strong leadership'.
>>
>> Concentrate on that. Otherwise keep seeing the middle finger shown by the
>> rest of India to you too.
>>
>> Regards
>>
>> Rakesh
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>
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