The Hindu : National : Federalism is also good economics: President

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Thursday, Nov 08, 2007
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Federalism is also good economics: President

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: Noting that during the last few decades the spread of democracy and the relevance of federalism have been growing in the world, President Pratibha Devisingh Patil on Wednesday said democracy and federalism should be the guiding principles for a new world order.

Describing federalism as a concept rooted in ‘self-rule’, she said: “Federalism is not only good politics. It is also good economics.”

She was delivering the valedictory address at the 4th International Conference on Federalism here, organised by the Inter-State Council Secretariat and Forum of Federations.

The President said federalism went beyond being a mere legal-constitutional mechanism for the distribution of powers, both legislative and fiscal, among different levels of the government.

“Power-sharing arrangements between different units of government gives a sense of belonging to various groups within the political system. It facilitates the deepening and widening of the democratic process. By equipping the different units to take appropriate decisions, federalism helps in the judicious use of resources, increasing efficiency and better targeting of policies. Federalism, thus, is not only good politics. It is also good economics,” the President told the delegates.

Outlining problems like poverty, unemployment, illiteracy and disease along with new challenges like the effects of globalisation, climate change and international terrorism that face humankind, Ms. Patil favoured using federal system of governance as a strategic tool for the fight against inequality and for building an equitable global order.

The President said the working of the Constitution has demonstrated the inherent strength and resilience of the Indian federal structure in withstanding the stresses and strains of the diverse aspirations of the people.

“The Indian Constitution is a living document and has also been amended from time to time reflecting its resilience and dynamism.

A significant Constitutional step was taken in 1993 to make ‘every village a republic.’ The concepts of democracy and federalism were maximised when people at the grassroots were empowered to elect their own representatives and to plan and implement programmes for economic development,” she said.

Noting that India boasts some 3.2 million elected representatives, about 1.2 million of whom are women, Ms. Patil said it was by far the largest number of elected representatives ever in history. Taking note of India’s enormous plurality in language, religion, culture and ethnicity, Ms. Patil said that by looking after the interests of each section of the country’s diverse population, India has strengthened its unity.

“It is, therefore, not surprising that India is today counted among federal democracies that have been successful in adopting an inclusive polity,” she said.

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