Association for Democratic Reforms: Difference between revisions

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The '''Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR)''' is an Indian non-partisan, non-governmental organization which works in the area of [[Election|electoral]] and [[Political Reform|political reforms]]. Along with '''National Election Watch (NEW)''', ADR is striving to bring transparency and accountability in [[Indian politics]] and reducing the influence of money and muscle power in elections.

The objective of ADR is to improve governance and strengthen democracy by continuous work in the area of Electoral and Political Reforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-national-election-watch-association-for-democratic-reforms-urge-narendra-modi-to-keep-his-word-on-clean-governance-1990967|title=National Election Watch, Association for Democratic Reforms urge Narendra Modi to keep his word on 'clean' governance}}</ref> The ambit and scope of work in this field is enormous, hence, ADR has chosen to concentrate its efforts in the following areas pertaining to the political system of the country:

'''Election Watch or Analysis of Affidavits''':<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/research-and-reports/election-watch|title = Election Watch &#124; Association for Democratic Reforms}}</ref> Election Watch is the flagship programme of ADR. Since 2002, National Election Watch (NEW) and ADR have been conducting Election Watches across the country. As part of this programme, affidavits of candidates contesting elections are minutely examined and citizens are provided with the information about their background details to help them make an informed choice.

'''Political Party Watch (PPW):'''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch|title = Political Party Watch &#124; Association for Democratic Reforms}}</ref>  

ADR’s PPW program is aimed at bringing more transparency and accountability in the functioning of political parties. In 2008, based on an appeal filed by ADR, the Central Information Commission (CIC) declared that the Income Tax Returns of political parties should be made available in the public domain by the IT Department.<ref>http://adrindia.org/sites/default/files/CIC-Political%20Parties%20Income%20Tax%20Returns.pdf {{Bare URL PDF|date=March 2022}}</ref> Since then, ADR has analysed the ''IT returns of all National and Regional parties'' of India whose ITR details are available in public domain, from FY 2002-03 till date. An analysis of their Income Tax returns and donations statements filed with the Election Commission of India (ECI) shows that the sources remain largely unknown. ADR analyses the sources of funding of National and Regional political parties. Between FY 2004-05 and FY 2014-15, ADR analysed sources of funding<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/content/analysis-sources-funding-national-and-regional-parties-fy-2004-05-2014-15|title=Analysis of Sources of Funding of National and Regional Parties- FY 2004-05 to 2014-15 {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> of 6 National and 51 Regional political parties.

* ''Election Expenditure of Political Parties:'' ADR, through this programme, analyses the details of expenditure declared by various political parties after Lok Sabha and Assembly Elections.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch/combined-reports/2014/comparison-declaration-election-expe|title = Comparison of declaration of election expenses of political parties and their MPS, Lok Sabha 2009 &#124; Association for Democratic Reforms}}</ref> Till date, expenditure reports<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://adrindia.org/research-and-report/political-party-watch/combined-reports/2015/analysis-funds-collected-and|title=Analysis of Funds Collected and Expenditure Incurred by National Political Parties - Lok Sabha 2004, 2009 & 2014 {{!}} Association for Democratic Reforms|website=adrindia.org|access-date=2019-05-08}}</ref> for 91 Assembly Elections and 3 Lok Sabha Elections have been analyzed.

ADR has become the single data point for information/analysis of background details (criminal, financial and others) of politicians and of financial information of political parties. In the last few years, based on ADR’s [http://adrindia.org report and data], a huge number of coverage was received in print and online media.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/research-and-reports/|title = Research & Reports &#124; Association for Democratic Reforms}}</ref>

|<ref name="adrindia.org" />|<ref name="adrindia.org">{{Cite web|url=http://adrindia.org/about-adr/our-achievements|title = Our Achievements &#124; Association for Democratic Reforms}}</ref>