Claiming India from Below Activism and democratic transformation [Hardcover]

Going beyond electoral politics and government, this volume broadens the scope of the functioning of democracy in India, and explores citizens role in the implementation of public policy. It looks at the ways in which extra-parliamentary power monitoring devices such as public institutions, citizens associations or assemblies, and the mainstream and emerging forms of the media, permeate through the political order. The volume:

brings participation and communication in governance and policy making to the centrestage;

examines case studies of state and citizen engagement from across India; and

presents perspectives of practitioners, activists and scholars to provide a comprehensive view of the debates surrounding the idea of Indian democracy.

This book will be useful to scholars and researchers in politics, political science, media studies, public administration, sociology and social anthropology, as well as the interested general reader.

Introduction: Citizenship and Democratic Participation Vipul MudgalPart I Voices from BelowField Notes from India Unheard 1. Finding Voice, Visibility and Dignity for Seasonal Migrant Workers in Tribal Regions of Western India: Experiences of Aajeevika Bureau Amrita Sharma and Rajiv Khandelwal2. From Parliament to Courtyard: Bringing Rights Home in erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Sowmya Kidambi and Akansha Yadav3.Traversing Jungle Mahal Field notes on Democracy and Development in Santhal regions of Bihar and West Bengal Arindam Banerjee and Animesh Ghosh4.PESA, the impasse of the legislative process: Democracy and challenges of Participation in Central Indian Tribal regions Ajay Dandekar5.Strengthening Adivasis Democratic Rights over Natural Resources: Gram Sabhas and community management of resources in Orissa, lC0