CIVIL SOCIETY- IN DEMOCRACY

Prepared By:
SHANMUKH BACHU
DIVISION-A,ROLL NO.69
 What is civil society ?

Civil society is a democratizing force of public

action with an unquestionable intent towards
common good. It comprises of organizations
and individual actors that are not agencies of
the government and not motivated by profit.
 Contd…
Civil society involves private citizens acting
collectively to make demands to the state or to
express in the public sphere their interests,
preferences and ideas or to check the authority of the
state and make it accountable and are concerned with
public matters. They include civic, issue-oriented,
religious, and educational interest groups and
associations. Some are known as nongovernmental
organizations.
 THE MAIN OBJECTIVES CIVIL SOCIETY
ORGANISATIONS
• Having a responsive political and bureaucratic system.
• Having appropriate policies for the poor and adequate
allocations for the schemes.
• Having participatory, decentralized and efficient
implementation of the programs.
• Having transparent and accountable system.
• Having a quick and fair justice where poor can get justice at
low cost and quickly.
 ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY

• To limit and control the power of the state.

• To watch how state officials use their powers.
• To promote political participation.
• To develop the other values of democratic life:  tolerance,
moderation, compromise, and respect for opposing points
of view.
• To inform the public about important public issues.
• To play in monitoring the conduct of elections. 
 INDIAN CIVIL SOCIETY IN ACTION:
THE AREAS
• Transparency and Right to Information
• Education
• Policy Advocacy
• Demanding accountability
• Environment and resettlement / rehabilitation issue
• Panchayati Raj Institutions strengthening
• National Rural Health Mission and Right to health
 THE IMPORTANCE OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN A DEMOCRACY

civil society performs many crucial functions for democratic development and
consolidation. Hence , it is very important .These functions include:
• limiting the power of the state more generally, including challenging the abuses of
authority;
•  monitoring human rights and strengthening the rule of law;
•  monitoring elections and enhancing the overall quality and credibility of the democratic
process;
•  educating citizens about their rights and responsibilities;
•  building a culture of tolerance and civic involvement;
•  incorporating marginal groups into the political process and enhancing the latter's
responsiveness to societal interest and need;
•  providing alternative means, outside the state, for communities to raise their level of
material development;
•  opening and pluralizing the flows of information; and
•  building a constituency for economic as well as political reforms
 CONCLUSION
• Civil society in India has shown considerable response to the political,
social and economic problems in the post independent India and has been
able to influence policies, demanded accountability and also created social
harmony in the wake of communalism and fundamentalism in the country.
The growth of the civil society organizations and change in their
composition in India can also be traced at the changing scenario. But,
Instead of using a corporatist model to co-opt civil society and restrict its
autonomy, states can provide assistance to civil-society organizations to
perform their functions more effectively. This assistance should be in form
of financial support and training of personnel. In addition, civil society’s
autonomy should not be violated. The governments should not be afraid of
free civil society since it encourages governments to be more honest,
accountable, transparent and responsive to the public demands, which will
win the support of the people and strengthen their legitimacy.