Part III – Action Programme

1. Part III – Action Programme How the change can be brought about?  Option I :- • Convincing the elected representatives (M.P.s / M.L.A.s etc.) about the imperative need for the change. For bringing about the necessary change in the Constitution, 2/3rd majority is required in the LokSabhafor amendment of Constitution for changing the present parliamentary system in favour of Presidential System of Democracy. • No voice raised or initiative taken by the leaders of business / industry to change the system. • Present lot of politicians have found the system most suitable to further their vested interest. To expect them to support the change is hoping against the hope. • Create strong public opinion so as to force these elected representatives for the required change. To implement this would require a massive campaign for awareness. Even with such a massive campaign whether it will force the 2/3rd of the elected members to opt for a change is again doubtful??? such a change would go against their vested interest available in the current system. Is it a nexus or may be they have found the present system more suitable to further their own vested interest? Forum for Presidential Democracy

2. Ground Reality • A mass uprising. Any mass campaign must also identify the alternate model. Merely showing anger/frustration against present system will not lead us anywhere. • There have been several campaigns initiated by individuals / NGOs from time to time against corruption and also for better governance. • Based on the past experience, such campaigns lose momentum very soon and in the end have not yielded any tangible results. • Most of us meet, talk, criticize, show anguish and soon forget as nobody has presented an alternative solution. Forum for Presidential Democracy

3. Option II • A political party to be formed and registered with the basic manifesto to change the system. It helps and paves way for like-minded people to work together for a common goal. None of the present political parties in power like Congress, B.J.P. or any regional party has shown any interest for change of system. Equally true, none of the newly registered parties formed by individuals out of frustration against present system has no clear game plan for an alternate model. Forum for Presidential Democracy

4. 2a. Why a Political Party? It helps in building up an organization with an established identity. Easier to mobilize funds for mass awareness campaigns. For a Political Party registered u/s. 29 A of the Representation of the Peoples Act 1951, Individual / Company donations are fully exempted u/s. 80 GGC of I.T. Act and u/s. 80 GGB of I.T. Act. respectively. Membership gives commitment for a cause After successful mass awareness campaigns and enrollment of committed members, it would lead to building up a platform to contest elections You have to enter the water for crossing a river Forum for Presidential Democracy

5. 2b.Congress founded in 1885, committed for independence of the country could bring together dedicated people under one umbrella. Such an entity continues to grow unlike other campaigns. 3. With the prevailing level of frustration, if a new political party is formed with a clear-cut guideline and a manifesto for bringing about necessary changes in the Constitution, the enthusiasm will be built up over a period of time among the masses, as they can look forward to some definite objective. While the process would be initially slow, it is likely to gather momentum in due course. Forum for Presidential Democracy

6. 4.The propaganda for such a party can be structured in such a manner so as to convince the people that a change will lead to minimising corruption and better governance. (a) Will lead to better governance & minimising corruption and faster & more balanced economic progress, citizens to improve their living standards including for vast majority living below the poverty line (b) It will have much more repercussions than the efforts put by all NGOs put together (c) Our image as a nation will improve. Today we are held in low esteem Forum for Presidential Democracy

7. Party Manifesto The model of the Government will be a truly democratic presidential system as follows:- • Direct election of the Chief Executives by the people at the National, State and City levels known as the President, the Governor and the Mayor respectively. • Fixed tenures (Maximum 2 terms) for the Chief Executives at National, State and City level. • Separation of Executive (i.e. Cabinet) from the Legislature • Provision of adequate checks and balances between the Executive, Legislature and judiciary. • No member of Parliament to enjoy any office of profit such as the Chairmanship of any Corporation etc. Forum for Presidential Democracy

8. Committee system to scrutinize all legislations proposed like the U.S. /Australian system - no whip on legislative matters. • Incorporation of electoral reforms viz. Law on political parties, state funding of elections. • Adopt Primary System for selection of candidates mandatory for all registered political parties. • To avoid delay, strength of judiciary to be increased. Our present ratio of judges to our population is among the lowest. Forum for Presidential Democracy

9. J.R.D. Tata, NaniPalkhivala, Babubhai Patel (Ex-Chief Minister of Gujarat), ArunShourie, B.K. Nehru, VasantSathe, ShashiTharoorand several other intellectuals have strongly endorsed Presidential system of democracy. Unfortunately, nothing seriously done for its implementation till now. Chimanbhai Mehta (Ex-Union Cabinet Minister) started National Campaign against corruption (early nineties). Ultimately, came to a firm conclusion that the present parliamentary system is the root cause & unless the system changes there is very little scope to reduce corruption or improve governance. He strongly endorsed Presidential System of Democracy and along with the author had launched National Forum for Presidential Democracy and in his last days he concurred with the author that launching a political party with basic manifesto for truly democratic Presidential system of Democracy might provide the required momentum in due course. Forum for Presidential Democracy

10. Functioning as a political party • Membership :- Primary members & Active Members • Primary / Active members pay a nominal fee of Rs.150/Rs. 300 respectively for a 3 year period • Provides commitment for like-minded people to work • Active members participate in awareness drive including enrolling new members • Each Active member to enroll 10 Primary members and 2 Active members every 6 months b) Fund raising easier as donations to registered political parties u/s 29 of Representation of Peoples Act, 1951 by Company or Individual are fully (100%) exempted u/s 80 GGB and 80 GGC respectively of Income Tax Act. Forum for Presidential Democracy

11. How shall the Party grow? • Enrollatleast500 Active Members in six months in each Parliamentary Constituency of 10 major cities of the country. • Each Active Member to give commitment to enroll2 Active Members and 10 Primary Members in next 6 months. • The scenario would be as under :- 6 months 500 5000 (Each Active Member enrolling 2 more Active Members during the year) 12 months 1500 15000 18 months 3000 30000 24 months 6000 60000 30 months 12000 120000 Forum for Presidential Democracy

12. Contribution to national wealth due to better governance on account of 1) Reduction in corruption :- • Estimated loss in GDP due to corruption (conservative analysis) = 2% of GDP. Our present GDP – 1200 Billion • Even if we can reduce 50% of the corruption level due to better governance as found in truly democratic presidential system = .01 x 1200 = $ 12 billion Forum for Presidential Democracy

13. Contribution to national wealth due to better governance on account of 2) Increase in GDP due to good & efficient governance • Atleast2.5% increase in GDP growth • Taking even 50% of this i.e. 1.25% = $15 billion This means our GDP would increase by atleast$27 billion. This amount is more than efforts made by all the NGOs together for the charitable activities. 3) With better governance and less corruption, the disparity between the rich and poor will reduce. (Although our GDP is increasing by 8 to 9%, the disparity between the richest and poor has decreased only by 1% in 63 years). Forum for Presidential Democracy

14. “The tyranny of a Prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy”. Montesquieu   • “A bad government is the inevitable consequence of an indifferent electorate. Politics will never be cleaner, and our economic future will never be brighter, unless and until our citizens are willing to give of themselves to the land which gave them birth.” N.A. Palkhivala Forum for Presidential Democracy

15. If each seed were to say : One seed does not make a field, There would be no harvest. If each of us were to say : One person does not make the difference, The system can never change You and I do make the difference. Begin today and make the difference. Forum for Presidential Democracy

16. THANK YOU Forum for Presidential Democracy