In the given question, a statement of Assertion is followed by a statement of Reason. Mark the correct answer.
Assertion: The voluntary sector organisations were called ‘non-party political formations’.
Reason: Most of these groups believed in politics and wanted to participate in it, but not through political parties.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
Many of the politically active groups lost faith in existing democratic institutions and electoral politics. They, therefore, chose to step outside of party politics and engage in mass mobilisation for registering their protests. Students and young political activists from various sections of the society were in the forefront in organising the marginalised sections such as Dalits and Adivasis. The middle-class young activists launched service organisations and constructive programmes among rural poor. Because of the voluntary nature of their social work, many of these organisations came to be known as voluntary organisations or voluntary sector organisations. These voluntary organisations chose to remain outside party politics. They did not contest elections at the local or regional level nor did they support any one political party. Most of these groups believed in politics and wanted to participate in it, but not through political parties. Hence, these organisations were called ‘non-party political formations’. They hoped that direct and active participation by local groups of citizens would be more effective in resolving local issues than political parties. It was also hoped that direct participation by people will reform the nature of democratic government. Such voluntary sector organisations still continue their work in rural and urban areas.