New Delhi: The farmers’ protest, against the three contentious farm laws, continues on the Delhi-Haryana border for the 18th consecutive day. While negotiations with the central government have been going on, the farmers have reached a stalemate with them.
In view of this, we asked readers: How can governments ensure reforms don’t face much opposition?
Impossible to anticipate opposition to reforms
Governments cannot anticipate the amount of opposition a reform that directly impacts a certain section of the society may face, much less prepare a step-by-step guide for the same. In a democracy, opposition and criticism are healthy and should be welcomed. No policy or reform is perfect and the best way to ensure that a government is mildly successful is by acknowledging this.
The only sure shot way of knowing whether a policy works or not is to let it unfold and if it does not work, there should be a way to repeal or amend the same. Another way could be to use effective communication channels and digital media to address the public before passing a law, rather than the radio silence approach adopted by the present government. Public consent and communication are essential for effective governance.
Aulina Pandey, New Delhi
Reforms should be voted in properly instead of a voice vote
The government should first ensure proper voting instead of voice vote while passing key reforms so that it can be argued that reforms have proper legislative backing. As former president Dr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam suggested, this voice vote system should go. Second, proposed bills should be referred to parliamentary committees if the opposition to them is strong. Third, the majority of stakeholders, who are going to be impacted, should be consulted. Fourth, audio-visual and print mediums should be utilised to generate awareness about them.
Harshil Mehta, Ahmedabad. Twitter: @MehHarshil
Discussion, deliberation & communication a continuous process
The three farm laws were passed in Parliament amid a huge uproar from opposition parties. Now, the government is facing widespread farmers’ protests and several state governments have also supported these agitations. It clearly shows the huge gap between what people want and what the government is providing.
The government should use following measures to ensure that reforms don’t face opposition:
– Government should utilise the Parliament as a forum to discuss and debate before implementing major reforms. A select committee of Indian polity can give much-required plurality of ideas on reforms.
– Experimental approach or implementing reforms on a pilot basis.
– Bottom-up approach, which includes public consultation and expert opinions to ensure reforms are long-lasting.
After all this, if fear crops up among the public about reforms, confidence-building measures should be followed. Thus, discussion, deliberation and communication is a continuous process that will make reforms acceptable.
Shruti Wankhade, Paratwada, Maharashtra. Twitter: @Shruti84471040
Parliamentary process of passing a bill needs to be altered
The government should first prepare a report on why reforms are necessary. This report can be analysed and discussed by house members. After this, whether these reforms are required can be put to vote. This is can be decided with a ‘simple majority’. When the bill is prepared, it can be discussed and then passed only with an ‘absolute majority’. By discussing it with house members, the criticism can be discussed in the Parliament itself before passing it. After critical points are rectified, it should be foolproof to release as reform or law.
Akshay Yelve, Mumbai. Twitter: @farzigaalib
Govt needs to collaborate with stakeholders on reforms
The government must become collaborative in its approach instead of being assertive. The word reform itself means change, and it is natural that certain sections of people in a country as diverse as ours will resist the change. To smoothen up the process of reforms, the government should first initiate dialogue between all stakeholders to create a positive stimulus around the reforms. Simply pushing them with a parliamentary majority makes even the reformatory steps seem hushed. Until the government becomes collaborative in its functioning, the reforms will continue to face significant resistance of one kind or the other.
Mukul Sharma, New Delhi. Twitter: @mukuljrsharma
A committee should be formed for amendments to laws
There must be a constitutional requirement to form a committee of selected lawmakers (opposition, government and others) from the central government and states, represented not proportionally but equally. This committee must be given the authority of making amendments in a proposed bill before it is introduced in the Parliament where it must be passed like other bills. Bills pertaining to constitutional amendments, the state and the concurrent list must go through this process.
This is the way our Constitution was framed. Contrary to common belief, the Constitution is not a product of the Congress’ desires. It is the product of concurrence among many parties.
Akiv Malhotra. Twitter: @AkivMalhotra
Reforms should come under scrutiny, should have safeguards
In a democratic setup of governance, opposition to reforms initiated by the government is completely justifiable. But this discontentment may sometimes stymie the implementation of some progressive reforms. The government can resort to the following steps to dial down, if not eschew, such opposition.
– Ensuring that the reforms are introduced in response to the needs of time and society, and not in pursuance of the government’s own agendas.
– Ensuring that the reforms come under the scrutiny of democratic institutions before their implementation so that the inherent fissures are recognised in a timely manner and rectified.
– Instilling proper safeguards in the reforms and legislations to address the citizens’ insecurities.
Tanya Singla, Bathinda. Twitter: @Tanya62104917
Govt needs to stop forcing decisions on citizens
This government has a habit of unilaterally taking decisions and then forcing them on citizens. This needs to change. The powerful duo needs to drop their egos and listen to all stakeholders before making decisions. Demonetisation, Goods and Services Tax (GST), Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and now these farm laws have all evoked negative responses from the concerned stakeholders. As far as the current farmer agitation is concerned, the government should listen to the protesting farmers and address their concerns without an ego and without calling them khalistanis, anti-nationals, tukde-tukde gang.
Nimit Arora, Kanpur. Twitter: @nimitarora1991
Govt needs to recognise the importance of consultations
In my view, procedural aspects are more important than substantive ones, especially when a country adopts parliamentary democracy. Reforms are necessary but to be accepted without much opposition, the government has to recognise the importance of the consultative process. Parliamentary committees should be constituted, experts and relevant stakeholders must be consulted, proper debate and voting in Parliament must be ensured, before the bill is passed. This way, even though the substantive provisions may not be agreeable to everyone but opposition to the reform will be minimised because everyone will have the opportunity to present their views before the actual enactment.
Kartik Garg, Barnala. Twitter: @gargkartik2001
Laws need to be better explained to citizens
India has always been a democratic country where people have the fundamental right to peacefully protest and voice their opinions. There used to be satyagraha against reforms even in British India. Today’s government should simplify the laws to make the citizens aware about the reforms in various sector. Due to complex legal laws and language, lack of education, pressure on finances due to recession and political influences, citizen have a wrong understanding of reforms. Hence, all laws and reforms should be better explained to everyone.
Armin Dastoor, Ahmedabad. Twitter: @ArminDastoor