The Hindu : Kerala News : Assess aberrations in system: Somnath

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Mar 03, 2009
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Kerala

Kerala

Assess aberrations in system: Somnath

Staff Reporter

Photo: K.K. Najeeb

Focus on democracy: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on his arrival to address the valedictory function of the birth centenary celebrations of Panampilly Govinda Menon in Chalakudy on Monday. –

Chalakudy (Thrissur): Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee has called for introspection about the quality of democracy in the country.

He was addressing the valedictory function of the birth centenary celebrations of Panampilly Govinda Menon here on Monday.

“Our experiments with democracy are at a crossroads. While taking pride in being the largest democracy in the world, the country needs to assess the aberrations in its systems. There are justifiable reasons for sections of people to be cynical about the culture of politics. Institutions associated with democracy do not function in a manner that evokes the respect of people, especially the youth. Growing corruption, a politics of confrontation and a culture of intolerance and violence should be eliminated to sustain people’s faith in our system,” he said.

He stressed the need for growth with a human face. “It should be socially equitable and regionally balanced, allowing all sectors and the entire population to partake of the benefits of a growing economy.”

He called for identifying sectors that had not progressed over six decades of planned development. “Despite having witnessed spectacular progress in many fields, the country suffers from poverty, unemployment, ignorance and socio-economic inequality. The new economic forces bring along opportunities for development. Policies and programmes should improve the lives of the poor and neglected sections of society.”

He extolled the State’s achievements in education, health care and social equity. “In spite of having a weak industrial base, the State achieved all these,” he added.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Kerala