Concerns of Caste-Based Discrimination

• 07 Oct 2023

For Prelims: Fair Price Shops (FPS), Suicide, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), Other Backward Classes (OBCs), National Food Security Act 2013, Ethics, Values, Morals.

For Mains: Impact of various caste-based discriminatory practices prevalent in the society on Ethics in Governance and Administration.

Source: DTE

Why in News?

The recent directive by the Patan District Collector, mandating the transfer of all ration cards from a Dalit-run Fair Price Shop (FPS) in Kanosan village to a neighboring village, raises important ethical and constitutional questions.

What is a Fair Price Shop (FPS)?

• FPS is a government-run or government-regulated retail outlet or store in India.
  • The primary purpose of fair price shops is to distribute essential commodities like food grains, edible oils, sugar, and other basic necessities to the public at subsidized or fair prices.
  • These shops are typically part of government welfare programs aimed at ensuring food security and reducing the economic burden on low-income households.
    • This system has a robust mechanism for verification of beneficiaries through Aadhaar authentication and has features to monitor transactions online with the help of electronic Point of Sale (e-POS) machines.
    • The e-PoS devices have been integrated with electronic weighing machines to ensure the beneficiaries get the correct amount of ration.
    • These FPSs and ePOS machines have proved instrumental in the effectuation and seamless implementation of the One Nation One Ration Card Scheme (ONORC).

What are the Different Ethical Aspects Involved in the Incident?

• Ethical Issues:
  • Discrimination and Social Equity
    • The core ethical issue in this case is discrimination based on caste leading to the transfer of ration cards.
  • Dereliction of Duty:
    • The district collector's directive to transfer ration cards can be seen as a dereliction of duty.
    • The ethical principle of integrity, where public officials are expected to act in the best interest of all citizens without favoritism should be practiced.
  • Mental Health and Well-being
    • The mental trauma experienced by, the victim of caste-based discrimination, leading to a suicide attempt and physical injury, is a significant ethical concern.
    • Ethical principles of compassion, empathy, and the duty to protect individuals' well-being become important.
  • Use of Legal Framework
    • The convenors of the Right to Food Campaign call for the application of legal frameworks like the SC/ST Act and National Food Security Act.
    • Ethical principle of upholding the rule of law and respecting the constitution should be abided by.
  • Empowerment of Marginalized Communities
    • The violation of the mandated principles related to the empowerment of marginalized communities is a key ethical concern.
    • Ethical principles of fairness, equity, and non-discrimination, justice and equality should be adhered to.
  • Moral Responsibility
    • The moral responsibility of the district collector and the upper caste households in addressing the consequences of their actions is raised.

What are the Other Perspectives of the Incident?

• Violation of Constitutional Mandates:
  • The Indian Constitution enshrines fundamental values of equality, justice, and non-discrimination as enshrined under Fundamental Rights (FRs) in Part-III (Article 17) of the Constitution.
  • Discriminatory actions such as actions based on caste contradict these constitutional principles
• Violation of Statutory Mandates:
  • Non-implementation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (Amended 2015):
    • The discriminatory treatment of a Scheduled Caste person falls under the purview of SC/ST Act, 1989 which aims to prevent and punish atrocities against marginalized communities.
    • It emphasizes the need for strict action against caste-based discrimination and violence.
  • National Food Security Act:
    • The act upholds the democratic empowerment of FPSs in villages, advocating for distribution control to marginalized communities.
    • The transfer of ration shops to another FPS violates the spirit of this legislation.

What Action Could be Taken in the Similar Situations?

• Preventive Steps:
  • Raising Awareness:
    • Model of Mid-Day Meals Scheme implementation can be adopted where high dignitaries eat the cooked food to bust the myths of caste-stigma and discrimination.
• Punitive Action:
  • Further legal action must be taken to address the caste-based discrimination and social boycott effectively.
    • Linking such erroneous activities with Annual Confidential Reports of Bureaucrats such that it acts as a deterrence in the future.
  • License Revocation:
    • The impending revocation of the Dalit FPS dealer's license raises concerns about economic repercussions and livelihoods.
• Call for Suo Motu Cognizance:
  • The Right to Food Campaign urges the High Courts or Chief Minister’s Office of the government to take Suo Motu cognizance of the discriminatory ration card transfers.
  • Such action is essential to uphold the rule of law and constitutional values.
• Democratic Empowerment and Inclusivity:
  • Role of Fair Price Shops (FPSs):
    • FPSs play a crucial role in ensuring food security and access to essential commodities for marginalized communities.
    • Democratic empowerment of FPSs is vital to promote inclusivity and economic well-being.

Conclusion

• Caste-based discrimination and social boycott have inflicted severe harm on shop owners, emphasizing the urgent need for justice and accountability. Upholding the values of social equity, justice, and inclusivity is not just a legal obligation but a moral imperative for a democratic and diverse society.
• This incident serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in eradicating caste-based discrimination and upholding constitutional values in India.

UPSC CSE PREVIOUS YEAR QUESTIONS (PYQs)

Q 1. The crisis of ethical values in modern times is traced to a narrow perception of the good life. Discuss (2017)

Q 2. Explain the process of resolving ethical dilemmas in Public Administration. (2018)