Synopsis

Recent activities related to GDP, census, and electoral rolls reflect deep concerns regarding transparency and trust. Ongoing processes aim to ensure effective governance and participation in democracy. Analysts highlight that discrepancies and disputes must be addressed to maintain public confidence. Furthermore, addressing citizens' rights and needs is vital for social justice and economic development. Ultimately, these efforts require sincere intentions from all stakeholders involved to foster trust in democratic processes.

ET Bureau

Strange as it may appear, there is something in common between the recent publication of Q1 GDP growth, ongoing census 2027, and almost-completed SIR of electoral rolls, the last one making headlines this week for the wrong reasons. All three are technical exercises using laid-down methods and procedures to update different aggregates that are tools for democratic governance and socioeconomic advancement.



These are not conducted by individual whims or caprices. SIR, census and GDP data collection are the result of arduous work by professional electoral registration workers, census enumerators and statisticians. Electoral roll, census findings and GDP numbers are notable public goods, and implicitly embody a national consensus. SIR has bearing on the franchise of citizens with implications for participatory democracy. Census informs critical contours of demography, and feeds into politically-sensitive exercises like delimitation and women's reservation. GDP is understood as a statement on the state of economy.



All three processes face criticism, and suspicion. Starting from Bihar last year, election managers have sought to explain new ways of checking on electors under SIR, still leaving behind a barrage of questions and disputes, which have now been compounded by reports of top-level Election Commission mismanagement, begging for answers.

On the economy, government officials are busy defending the authenticity of new GDP figures. Pushback from the establishment has been more pronounced than the few attempts to debunk the figures. While method and motive in having open-ended questions about caste in census 2027 have been criticised, a louder contention may be reserved for next year when segregated census figures are available.



Independent India's much -awaited first caste census is seen by a section as opaque, insufficient and digressive. Addition of 11 more questions in the census for identity verification and mapping digital capabilities is being seen as intrusion of privacy. Absence of granular data on citizen status has been criticised in the past.



Political polarisation and breeding distrust are a reality that show little signs of early mitigation. Breakdowns inside the legislature is one consequence. This can be managed, on occasions by political shrewdness. But when distrust percolates to the operating apparatus designed to be politically-agnostic, the problem becomes deeper. There are frontiers of distrust that no stakeholder should breach if polity and society are to be kept stable.



This is not to suggest a contrived consensus or shutting out critical voices. Goals are sacred, but methods are not. Methods need continual validation to match changing needs. These must be fully accessible and explained to stakeholders. Omissions by implementers are to be corrected through effective checks and balances, while commissions – of error or mala fide intent – are breach of conduct and reprehensible.



Numbers and quantities follow simple, secular logic, until aspersions – with reason or unreasonably – are cast on them. Those holding controls of the machinery have a larger responsibility to keep the process exposed to the sunlight of transparency.



But numbers and lists, however important, are not people. A great caste count may not ensure social justice. An accurate electoral roll may not be a guarantor of democracy. A high GDP may run alongside joblessness, a shallow education and healthcare system. Chronic cynicism doesn't take a country anywhere. Neither do exaggerated numbers automatically translate to ease of life or of business. Such policies and resources have higher accountability to ensure that citizens have meaningful and assured livelihoods, lead healthy and productive lives, that each of the 6.5 lakh villages in India has access to dependable healthcare and senior citizen care, and is environmentally sound.



Those responsible for managing elections must produce an electoral roll that causes no deprivation or anguish to eligible voters, and deliver free and fair polls, and are perceived to do so. Those conducting census must keep it empirical and relevant enough to meet the ends for which it was rolled out in the first place.



Perhaps it's time to reform national thinking to look beyond just numbers and counts. More can be done in terms of securing the rights of ordinary citizens. This will depend on sincere intentions. And such intentions being trusted.



The writer is former DG,Election Commission of India

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)

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