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Liberal Position Paper - 14 Liberal Priorities for India In The 21st Century
The Liberalisation of the Indian Economy and Social Justice Liberalism believes that the business of government is governance not business. In the context of globalisation, a social market economy will seek to ensure that needless impediments to the conduct of industry, business and trade are removed. Agriculture continues to be India's basic industry. It provides livelihood to 65% of the population and calls for policies which free the farmer from needless controls and enables him to secure a fair return for his labour. In a free economy 'the consumer is sovereign'. It is the consumer's purchasing power reflected by the demand for specific goods and services that decides what to produce and how much to produce. The motive force of a free economy, in the liberal view, is growth. At the same time, a free market system is alive to its social obligations. A government, in a social market economy, will focus its attention on the social sector which has been sadly neglected. These include the provision of clean drinking water, primary health care, primary education, basic infrastructure like roads and the like. Even here, government's focus should not mean that enterprises and organisations outside the government are not allowed to participate in the social sector. It should be open to anyone or any organisation, which seeks to participate in these activities to be able to do so. Successive governments have attempted to meet the basic needs of people by spending large sums of money on various subsidies and a variety of employment generation and poverty alleviation schemes. While these schemes have impoverished the state treasury, the intended benefits to the targeted groups could not be ensured and there was hijacking of the benefits by the non- poor. Similarly the reservation policy, instead of leading to a level playing field within a time frame has led to the perpetuation of the caste system and the promotion of vested interests. When people are put in control of the resources they create, it is possible for them to not only acquire economic independence, but also to become socially independent, and therefore, take a step towards equality among their own kind, something which is missing in our villages even now. What is needed is a plurality of democratic structures right down to the village level which empower the citizen. If this can be construed as affirmative action, then it is, in all probability, the most effective form in the long run, eventually obviating the need for positive discrimination. There is need to encourage entrepreneurship and selfemployment particularly in the light of fast developing technology. This would spur an upward movement of people

Contents Liberalism Minoo Masani Liberal Principles Karl R. Popper Liberalism and Democracy Karl-Herrmann Flach The Liberal Agenda for the 21st Century A Liberal International The Rule of Law C. Rajgopalachari The Evolution of the Liberal Idea Otto Von Lambsdorff Liberalism in India D. V. Gundappa Basic Liberal Values and their Relevance to India in the Current Context An ILG document The Social Market Economy An ILG document The Requirements of Social Justice An ILG document Freedom of Expression and the Right to Know An ILG document Technology and Human Development An ILG document Active Citizenship An ILG document Liberal Priorities for India in the 21st Century A P.E.E/FNSt document The Essence of Democracy Not Majority Rule Minoo Masani

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and each entrepreneur can provide work for one or more persons. Jobs and self employment opportunities have to be encouraged in sectors like agriculture, plantations, and in a variety of infrastructure activities. Employing techniques that involve a judicial mix of machines and manual labour, the country's enormous economic potential can be exploited to the benefit of the less fortunate sections of the population. Without administrative and political decentralisation, the goals of social justice may not be accomplished. Letting people decide what their development needs are, will not only generate social and political awareness among them, but also instill a sense of self-respect and build strong leadership at the local and community levels. Freedom of Speech and Expression and The Right to Information Freedom of Expression, one of the cardinal principles of liberalism is recognised universally as a Human Right the basic right of every human being, irrespective of colour, race, gender or status. The Indian Constitution - largely liberal in spirit - recognized this inasmuch as liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship figure in its admirable preamble. However, in the last fifty years, this freedom which should have expanded, has, through several amendments, contracted reducing spaces where freedom can be exercised. Freedom of the press, the bastion of a liberal and democratic society, too has been under constant threat and pressures, not only from the State, but from extremists who do not hesitate to use even violence to silence journalists who do not share their beliefs. The destruction of works of art or the banning or burning of books is a clear sign of growing intolerance. In a liberal democratic state, even while such acts should be curbed with an iron hand, there is need to educate people on forms of protest that are consistent with a liberal society. There is need, further, to inquire into and modify laws relating to the privileges of legislators which have often tended to curb the freedom of the press to report and inform their readers. Unfortunately, the Courts too through the frequent use of i.stay orderslt have tended to limit the freedom of the press. In recent years, the Right to Know has acquired significance and relevance in our society. The Right to Know is a corollary to the Right of Free Expression. In a liberal state, citizens can exercise their rights meaningfully only if they are adequately informed. At the same time, there is need to develop appropriate measures to protect the privacy of the individual, particularly in the context of the intrusive capabilities of modem communications technology.

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It is not surprising for governments - even the democratically elected ones - to hide uncomfortable facts from the people. The need to safeguard the country's security interests is often the excuse advanced to withhold information. Under the blanket term "state security", numerous acts of omission and commission are hidden from public scrutiny. In this context the Official Secrets Act needs either to be abolished or revised in a manner so as to ensure that secrecy becomes an exception rather than the rule. Liberals should support any legislation that seeks to empower citizens with the Right to Information, particularly in areas where large financial outlays are involved. In a liberal society, acts of governments should be both transparent and accountable. Technology and Human Development Technology is critical for human development. It is among the major factors that contribute to economic growth and competitiveness. Its disciplines promote a skeptical, rational and enlightened mindset. Advances in communication and information technology empower individuals in politics and economics and promote transparency. The gap between developed and developing countries is growing, especially in the field of science and technology. Yet it is science and technology that, perhaps, offers the best opportunity for a developing country to bridge the gap. Unfortunately, the experience so far tells us that the political will to harness technology for human development is lacking. There is evidence, however, that things are changing and there is some awareness of the role science and technology can play in enabling India catch up with the developed world and help our people achieve a better quality of life. This trend needs to be encouraged. This involves: Encouraging private companies to invest in R&D. A conducive environment can only be created through keen competition in the economy, strict patents regulation and promoting the scientific temper in education at various levels. Keeping in mind the realities of the Indian economy stress, must be given to technology which is employment intensive and environmental friendly. Restricting the role of the State to pure science research and defence. These are non-profitable areas that require long-term, strategic investments. Even here, the government should, as far as possible, leave the management of scientific research to technocrats. Restricting the government's regulatory sphere to the setting up of standards for telecom and other commercial tech- nological spheres. The country certainly doesn't need an information technology

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ministry, when private sector participation, without any government help, has resulted in the exponential growth of the sector. The departments of electronics and science and technology should also be wound up. Instead, we should have boards which will act as facilitators. At the same time, the State has a role to play in helping provide the infrastructure in the areas of primary education and primary health. This role not only means the State takingthe initiative where needed but also encouraging, in a positive manner, organisations in the corporate and voluntary sectors who are prepared to provide technology and modem equipment, e.g. teaching aids and primary health care. It needs to create an environment where private investment in science and technology is encouraged. And, most importantly, freeing the environment from political and bureaucratic interference. Active Citizenship In a democracy, sovereignty vests in the citizen. The ultimate purpose of society and the state is to assure the dignity of the individual. A citizen must cultivate a 'cult of excellence' in his personal and professional life and insist on similar quality from his elected representatives and the authorities. This involves collective and assertive action at the grassroots level. Before election to any public office, citizens should prepare their own manifesto which would inter alia affirm that they would vote for only those candidates who have no criminal record, who are dedicated to serve the public and who would visit their constituencies regularly. Citizens' action groups should keep the elected representatives on their toes ensuring they perform, and are constantly reminded of their pre-election pledges. Since most of these pledges are essentially issues of everyday concern to most citizens, the composition of such citizens' action groups should be representative of the constituency cutting across barriers of caste, class, religion and other considerations. By strengthening local self-governing institutions, citizens can bring about a devolution of power at the grass roots level of society. Such devolution would also minimise corruption. Another way of keeping corruption in check would be to make the government, which lives off the money of the average man, accountable for the expenditure they incur. At the same time, constantly accusing the politicians and treating them as villains would be counterproductive, as it would only discourage the honest and the competent from taking to politics. Active citizenship implies that democracy is not merely voting once in five years and grumbling in between. Active citizenship implies taking an active part in the life of the community and in the affairs of the nation. This makes for a healthy civil

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society. [Text of Statement which found general acceptance at the National Symposium on inLiberal Priorities for India in the 21st Centuryle, held in New Delhi on November 23 and 24, 1999] Top

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