Democracy for Winners Only: The Indian Paradox of Power, Participation, and Exclusion

Raj Kumar Srivastava, IFS (Retd.) served in the Indian Forest Service for over three decades, culminating as Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Government of Karnataka. His career bridges field conservation, environmental governance, and climate policy—spanning protected area management to institutional reforms for sustainability. After superannuation, he joined **IORA Ecological Solutions** as Head of Nature-based Solutions & Strategy, leading initiatives in carbon finance and ecosystem restoration. Associated with the **IORA Ecological Trust**, **Society of Digital Entrepreneurs**, and **Aranya.TV**, he writes for *The Pioneer* on community-led conservation. *Democracy for Winners Only* embodies his reflections on power, participation, and public purpose.