What are the shortcomings or weaknesses of democracy.
Answer:
In spite of certain achievements, Indian democracy has not been able to solve the problems in
entirety. There have been certain shortcomings. These include the following:
- Though GDP has increased about 50 per cent, children below five years are still malnourished.
- People are still living in abject poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.
- More than 60 per cent of Indian people do not have access to sanitation.
- Economic development has not been accompanied by institutional changes.
- About 35 per cent of the Indian population still lives below the poverty line.
- Women representation in governance is not even 6%.
- Socio-economic inequalities continue to exist in our society.
- Society is divided along casteist, communal, linguistic and regional lines.
- Politics has been criminalised. Use of money and muscle power has shaken the faith of people in democracy.
- Society has been divided in the name of caste, religion and creed.
- Increasing corruption has shaken the faith of people in the political system. Democracy is considered to be a means of making easy money at the cast of public welfare.
- Wholesale and mercenary defections have made democracy a farce.
- Failure to evolve a strong and effective Opposition has led to complacency in the ruling party.
