Civil society organizations (CSOs) engage in the political process and shape the well-being of others, thereby preserving democratic principles and ensuring inclusive development for all, but there is a worrying trend: there is increasingly less and less space for civil society to express its concerns and opinions. It has been observed that when civil society performs its role in significant socio-economic, political, environmental and other challenges, it often faces resistance, coercion, harassment and criminal investigations. Due to this, the social fabric of the Indian nation and the future of Indian democracy are adversely affected. Hence, it is absolutely indispensable to study civil society in light of recent events. India’s aspirations for a future global role and its commitment to ensure freedom for all are possibly being neglected due to the shrinking space of civil society. Therefore, the only way out of the conundrum is to assess and reinstate the lost freedom that was once enjoyed by civil society.
Rudra Prasad Sahoo (Sat,) studied this question.