A democracy is not merely about electing representatives every five years; it is about continuous engagement, scrutiny, and holding power to account. At the heart of this dynamic lies the twin pillars of transparency and accountability. Without these, democracy becomes a hollow structure, where governance operates behind closed doors and the public remains in the dark about decisions that profoundly affect their lives.
Citizens in any democracy are not passive subjects but active stakeholders. It is their tax money that fuels government projects—from highways and hospitals to schools and subsidies. Thus, they have every right to ask: Where is our money going? Are public funds being used to serve the collective good, or are they being siphoned off through opaque contracts and misplaced priorities?
Yet, when the public raises questions about delays in infrastructure projects, cost overruns, or shady dealings in developmental works, they are too often met with silence or, worse, deflection. This resistance to public scrutiny reflects a dangerous shift—from a government by the people to a government that sees itself as beyond question.
Transparency isn’t a luxury in governance—it is a necessity. It ensures that policies are designed and implemented in the public interest, not to benefit a select few. Accountability ensures that when failures occur—be it a collapsed bridge, a botched welfare scheme, or environmental degradation—there is a clear mechanism to investigate, learn, and, if necessary, punish.
Technological advancements like the RTI (Right to Information) Act and digital dashboards were meant to bridge the gap between citizens and the state. But their weakening—either through bureaucratic delays or outright stonewalling—undermines public trust. Worse, whistleblowers who dare to expose corruption often pay a heavy price, signalling that the system protects the powerful, not the honest.
Informed citizens are the bedrock of a vibrant democracy. They deserve not only access to information but also a responsive system that acknowledges mistakes and corrects course. Development cannot be a one-way announcement from the top—it must be a conversation, one where the people have the right to question, critique, and contribute.
For democracy to flourish, transparency and accountability must not be afterthoughts—they must be non-negotiables. The true measure of a government’s strength lies not in the number of its schemes but in its willingness to be answerable to the very people it claims to serve.
Without these principles, democracy risks becoming a performance—grand in speeches, hollow in substance.
