STRENGTHENING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF DEMOCRATIC GOVERNANCE: EFFORTS BY NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANISATIONS

India is the largest democracy in the world and has been witnessing successful conduct of elections from more than six-decades. As Abraham Lincoln said, Democracy means ‘government of the people, for the people, and by the people’. The key role of citizens is to exercise their ‘right to vote’ and participate in the democratic process. Even after 65 years, we can observe that the participation of people in elections is not 100 per cent. Professionally qualified people and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have taken up specific and targeted interventions to sensitize and motivate the citizens to exercise their ‘right to vote’. It is evident that there has been a significant increase in the voter percentage due to the efforts put in by these NGOs. Both developed as well as developing countries can emulate this what-works-model so that the ideals Democracy - justice, equality and liberty can truly prevail in letter and spirit.