Civil society under siege, in India

Context: The article discusses the threats faced by India’s civic space, particularly organizations fighting against communalism. Emphasizes the importance of protecting constitutional freedoms.

Key highlights:

• Constitutional liberties face challenges within India's diverse and lively civil society.
• Groups actively combating communalism encounter intense assaults, impacting their financial support and leadership.
• The government utilizes diverse tools, such as legal accusations, modifications to laws, and tax-related actions, to restrict civic space.
• The repercussions are substantial for organizations advocating minority, Dalit, Adivasi rights, and the promotion of equity.

Challenges:
The shrinking space for civil society in India can be attributed to several factors, including:

• Utilization of legal instruments: There has been a reported use of legal instruments such as money laundering charges and other legal measures to target civil society organizations, leading to a shrinking civic space even for neutral or non-communal organizations
• Rise of sectarian groups: The rise of sectarian groups has contributed to the decline in the space for civil society in India, creating a challenging environment for organizations that advocate for democratic values and human rights
• Decline in media ethics: The decline in media ethics has also had an impact on the space for civil society, as it affects the ability of civil society organizations to effectively advocate for their causes and hold the government accountable
• Curtailment of freedoms: There have been concerns about the curtailment of freedoms, including the freedom of expression and association, which has affected the ability of  civil society organizations to operate freely and advocate for their causes

Way forward:

1. Strengthening opposition and regional leaders who take a clear secular position.
2. Mobilizing anti-communal and progressive civic space to safeguard democracy.
3. Advocating for the protection of constitutional freedoms and reviewing stringent laws impacting NGOs.
4. Raising awareness about the importance of civic space and the role of civil society in upholding democratic values and human rights.
5. Encouraging international cooperation and support for civil society organizations in India.
6. Engaging in dialogue with the government to address concerns and seek ways to ensure a vibrant and freely operating civil society.