‘In recent years, India has seen a significant decline in global indices that measure the strength of democratic norms and practices,’ the Center said.
Representative image. Anganwadi workers at a protest in Delhi. Photo: Astha
New Delhi: The Carter Center, a US-based non-governmental organisation that focuses on conflict resolution and the advancement of global understanding, is establishing an initiative to educate US policymakers on issues related to democracy and human rights in India.
The initiative, titled I-Policy, hopes to host dialogues and publish original policy research to keep stakeholders informed of key developments in Indian democracy, with emphasis on those that influence US-India ties.
I-Policy will be established in Washington D.C. where Tanmay Misra has been appointed as I-Policy’s strategy officer and Shelby House, the researcher-editor.
I-Policy will be supported by an advisory board whose members include Saman Zia-Zarifi (secretary general of the International Commission of Jurists), James Traub (columnist at Foreign Policy and senior fellow at New York University’s Center on International Cooperation), and Vinod Jose (executive editor at The Caravan magazine).
A press release by Carter Center announces that the move aims at offering a resource for American policymakers “to ensure that India’s democracy remains robust, especially given rising challenges in the country.”
Carter Center’s CEO Paige Alexander has noted in the release that “backsliding” in India, the world’s largest democracy, “has repercussions for countries everywhere,” according to experts.
It is noteworthy that the press release observes, “In recent years, India has seen a significant decline in global indices that measure the strength of democratic norms and practices. Areas of concern include freedom of the press, judicial independence, and protection of minorities.”
India has been listed under countries considered “bad” for journalism and is among the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, according to Reporters Without Borders. In response, The the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting had said it does not agree to the conclusion.
“Failure to address such challenges in a timely and effective manner poses risks to economic prosperity, geopolitical stability, and the US-India strategic partnership,” it says.