India scores '0/3' on Legislative Leadership at time of #COVID19 in a study by Westminster Foundation for #Democracy, Developmental Leadership Program & Int'l Development Dept at University of Birmingham.
Owing to #Parliament being out of session for most of last year.
#Thread
Owing to #Parliament being out of session for most of last year.
#Thread
The study scored countries on three indicators:
1. whether legislature sat regularly from 1st March 2020 to 1st May 2020
2. whether there was legislative oversight over Govt's initial #COVID19 response during 1st March 2020 to 1st May 2020
And...
1. whether legislature sat regularly from 1st March 2020 to 1st May 2020
2. whether there was legislative oversight over Govt's initial #COVID19 response during 1st March 2020 to 1st May 2020
And...
3. Whether legislature had ongoing oversight on Govt's response to #COVID19 from 1st April 2020 to 1st September 2020
India scored a '0' on all counts.
To briefly recall:
1. Budget Session of 2020 was cut short ahead of schedule before imposing nationwide lockdown
contd...
India scored a '0' on all counts.
To briefly recall:
1. Budget Session of 2020 was cut short ahead of schedule before imposing nationwide lockdown
contd...
2. Most major decisions of Govt to deal with pandemic were taken through executive notifications & Ordinances with no #Parliament oversight
3. Committees also didn't function till June end, as physical meetings weren't possible, virtual meetings not permitted
Contd....
3. Committees also didn't function till June end, as physical meetings weren't possible, virtual meetings not permitted
Contd....
4. After nearly six months of being out of session, a short Monsoon Session of #Pariament was called in September 2020
The study also noted that India otherwise scored high on Freedom House's political rights index, but on legislative leadership, it scored 0.
contd....
The study also noted that India otherwise scored high on Freedom House's political rights index, but on legislative leadership, it scored 0.
contd....
The study also quotes our article, written last year, but still relevant in which we had argued that lack of #Parliament oversight during a crisis creates another crisis of representation and accountability.
Read more here - epw.in/journal/2020/2…
Read more here - epw.in/journal/2020/2…
The report also took into consideration V-Dem institute's #Pandemic democratic violations index, as per which India was scored as reporting 'major violations' between March 2020 and September 2020. This makes lack of #Parliament oversight even more urgent
v-dem.net/media/filer_pu…
v-dem.net/media/filer_pu…
Considering that Indian #Parliament is not in session right now and Committee meetings are also not happening, Govt's response to #CovidSecondWave also will have no parliamentary oversight.
Full report, published in January 2021, can be accessed here: wfd.org/wp-content/upl…
Full report, published in January 2021, can be accessed here: wfd.org/wp-content/upl…
With experts predicting more #COVID19 waves in future, the solution can't be in keeping #Parliament out of session & Committees dysfunctional. The need to adapt to changed realities is urgent. Technology must be leveraged to permit virtual sessions & meetings!
#Thread ends. Fin!
#Thread ends. Fin!
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