What is the relevance of civil society organisations today?
Civil society organisations are highly relevant today as they engage in a wide range of advocacy and lobbying activities with national and international agencies, besides actively participating in various movements. They take up diverse issues including tribal struggles for land rights, campaigns against rape and violence against women, rehabilitation of those displaced by development projects, and primary education reform.
These organisations play a crucial role in keeping a watch on the state and forcing it to obey the law. Civil liberties organisations and the media have been particularly important in this regard.
Most significantly, civil society ensures that the state remains accountable to the nation and its people. The successful campaign for the Right to Information Act illustrates how civil society can force the government to respond to citizens' demands and pass progressive legislation.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which highlights three main aspects of civil society's relevance: (1) the wide range of activities and diverse issues they address, (2) their role in monitoring the state and ensuring it follows the law, and (3) their crucial function in making the state accountable to citizens, exemplified by the RTI campaign. The word count (approximately 115 words) fits the 80-120 word requirement for a 3-mark short answer question.