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How is a law made in a democracy?
How the RTI Act was made
Citizens and civil society
raise concerns
Committees and experts
examine and review
Parliament
debates and passes
↓
The Right to Information Act came into force in 2005
- The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005 shows how.
- It was enacted through democratic processes of representation and legislation - not by one person's order.
- Legislation = laws made by the government.
- These laws help maintain order and regulate society.
- Stakeholders = all the people and groups affected by a decision.
- The lesson: a concern raised by ordinary people can travel all the way into a law of Parliament .
- The Act itself empowers citizens to seek information from government departments, strengthening accountability and democratic governance .
How does civil society act as a bridge between citizens and the State?
![How Citizens Shape Democracy - Democracy - [Teachoo] - Concepts](https://cdn.teachoo.com/3349f8a4-c1bd-4f2f-bf54-9bad32c6ef12/a-community-meeting.jpg)
A community meeting
Civil society as a bridge
traffic moves both ways
Citizens to State
Problems and demands
Example:
of those who cannot approach government
State to Citizens
Information about rights, laws and schemes
Example:
explained so people can use it
- Civil society = the voluntary groups, NGOs and community associations that function interdependently within society.
- A bridge is needed because there is a gap between one citizen and a large government.
Direction
What crosses
Citizens to State
Problems and demands of people who cannot approach the government themselves
State to Citizens
Information about rights, laws and schemes
- Through Public Interest Litigation (PIL) , campaigns and community organisations , they make democracy more inclusive and responsive .
| Word | What it means | How it happens |
|---|---|---|
| Inclusive | People who would be left out are included | PIL lets one person go to court for many who cannot |
| Responsive | The State acts on what people want | Campaigns put an issue on the agenda so it cannot be ignored |
Think About It
How does the village work as a unit of grassroots democracy?
The village as the grassroots unit
Gram Sabha
all adult voters meet
Gram Panchayat
elected to run the village
PESA Act, 1996
Gram Sabha decides in tribal areas
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Grassroots - the level closest to ordinary people
- Grassroots means the lowest level, closest to ordinary people.
- The village empowers rural communities to participate in decision-making processes.
- All adult voters meet in the Gram Sabha to discuss and decide.
- They elect the Gram Panchayat to run the village.
- The PESA Act, 1996 makes the Gram Sabha the primary decision-making body in tribal areas.
- Article 243(d) reserves seats for women, bringing in those usually left out.
- The case studies show it working - Jethipura and South Manubankul.
Which Indian leaders strengthened grassroots democracy?
Leaders of grassroots democracy
both from rural backgrounds
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Voice of India's farmers
Pushed for land reform
Example:
later Prime Minister of India
Babu Jagjivan Ram
Rights of Scheduled Castes and the rural poor
Constituent Assembly member
Example:
later Deputy Prime Minister
- Many leaders came from rural backgrounds and spoke for the rural poor and other marginalised sections .
Leader
What he worked for
Chaudhary Charan Singh
Came from a farming family; the best-known voice of India's farmers. Pushed for land reform and village-first policies. Later Prime Minister of India
Babu Jagjivan Ram
Came from a Dalit background; worked for the rights of the Scheduled Castes and the rural poor. Member of the Constituent Assembly, long-serving union minister, later Deputy Prime Minister
- You can also discuss Mahatma Gandhi ( Gram Swaraj , village self-rule) and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar (protection of the weaker sections in the Constitution).
- Gandhi and Ambedkar are not named in this box.
- Added because they fit the question.
1. Who raised the concerns that led to the RTI Act?
Show answer
Citizens, journalists, civil society groups and elected representatives.
2. What safeguards did elected representatives add, and when did the Act come into force?
Show answer
Safeguards for national security and administrative efficiency. It came into force in 2005.
3. In what two directions does civil society act as a bridge?
Show answer
It carries citizens' problems to the State, and carries information about rights and schemes back to citizens.
4. What makes the village a unit of grassroots democracy?
Show answer
All adult voters meet in the Gram Sabha to discuss and decide. They elect the Gram Panchayat. In tribal areas, PESA makes the Gram Sabha the primary decision-making body. Reserved seats bring in women and marginalised groups.
5. Name the two leaders the chapter mentions as working for the rural poor.
Show answer
Chaudhary Charan Singh and Babu Jagjivan Ram.
