Mains Practice Questions

Introduction

Social justice and economic justice are deeply interconnected dimensions of equity. Social justice ensures equality in social structures and representation, while economic justice focuses on equitable access to resources and opportunities for livelihood.

• The affirmative action policies in India aim to bridge these dimensions simultaneously by addressing historical discrimination while uplifting marginalized sections economically.

Key Policies Addressing Both Social and Economic Justice Simultaneously:

• Reservation Policies in Education and Employment: Articles 15(4) and 16(4) empower the state to provide reservations for socially and educationally backward classes in public institutions and employment.
  • Social Justice: Reservations in public sector jobs and higher education institutions ensure representation for SCs, STs, and OBCs in decision-making roles.
  • Economic Justice: Access to stable government jobs and quality education leads to economic upliftment of these communities.
  • Also, Implementation of the Post Matric Scholarship for SC/ST Students has supported millions in pursuing higher education, directly leading to better job opportunities.
• Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA): Article 41 directs the state to ensure the right to work as part of the Directive Principles of State Policy.
  • Social Justice: Provides equal employment opportunities to socially marginalized groups, especially Dalits, Adivasis, and women.
  • Economic Justice: Guarantees 100 days of wage employment per year, providing financial stability.
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana (PMJDY): Promotes social and economic equality as envisaged in the Preamble and Directive Principles. Over 54 crore accounts have been opened under this.
  • Social Justice: Brings marginalized sections into the formal financial system, reducing financial exclusion.
  • Economic Justice: Facilitates savings, credit access, and direct benefit transfers (JAM Trinity), providing economic security.
• Stand-Up India Scheme: Promotes equality of opportunity under Article 16 while addressing historical exclusion. As of 2023, the scheme has sanctioned over ₹40,000 crore in loans.
  • Social Justice: Targets women and SC/ST entrepreneurs, providing them opportunities for social mobility.
  • Economic Justice: Offers loans of ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for setting up businesses, ensuring economic empowerment.
• Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act, 2006: Article 46 obliges the state to promote the interests of SCs, STs, and weaker sections.
  • Social Justice: Recognizes tribal communities’ rights over forest land, addressing historical marginalization.
  • Economic Justice: Secures livelihoods by enabling sustainable use of forest resources and access to land for farming.
• Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY): Promotes living standards as part of the right to an adequate standard of living under Article 21. Over 3 crore houses are constructed under PMAY.
  • Social Justice: Provides housing to the urban and rural poor, reducing homelessness and improving dignity. Having houses registered in the name of women contributes significantly to women’s empowerment.
  • Economic Justice: Ensures property ownership, a critical economic asset that improves financial security.
• Ayushman Bharat – Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (PM-JAY): Upholds the right to health under Article 21 and the Directive Principles for public health. Over 36 crore beneficiaries have been verified under AB PM-JAY.
  • Social Justice: Provides healthcare access to socially disadvantaged groups, reducing disparities.
  • Economic Justice: it aims to provide health insurance plan of upto Rs. 5 lakh annually per family for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation

Challenges in Bridging Social and Economic Justice:

• Exclusion of Marginalized Communities from Policy Benefits: Certain communities, such as Denotified Tribes (DNTs) and Nomadic Tribes, often fall outside the purview of reservation benefits due to lack of recognition.
• Implementation Gaps in Affirmative Action Schemes: Corruption, inefficiency, and leakages in welfare delivery dilute the intended impact of policies.
  • For instance, CAG's Performance Audit of Ayushman Bharat revealed that more than 7 lakh beneficiaries were linked to a single mobile number.
• Stigma and Societal Discrimination: Social discrimination based on caste, tribe, and gender persists despite legal safeguards, limiting the full realization of justice.
  • India’s Global Gender Gap Index 2024 ranking slipped to 129^th out of 146 countries, reflecting ongoing challenges in achieving gender parity.
• Limited Awareness Among Beneficiaries: Many intended beneficiaries are unaware of their rights or the existence of government schemes.
  • This limits participation and perpetuates socio-economic exclusion.

Way Forward:

• Strengthening Delivery Mechanisms: Leverage technology for direct benefit transfers (DBT) to minimize corruption and ensure funds reach beneficiaries without delays.
• Expanding Inclusivity Identify and recognize marginalized groups like Denotified and Nomadic Tribes and include them in affirmative action policies.
• Enhancing Awareness and Outreach: Conduct targeted campaigns in regional languages to educate marginalized groups about their rights and the availability of schemes.
• Addressing Regional Disparities: Focus on infrastructure development in backward regions to improve access to social and economic benefits.
  • The Aspirational Districts Program (ADP) can be replicated to cover tribal-dominated regions with a focus on housing, healthcare, and employment.
• Monitoring and Evaluation of Policies: Establish independent monitoring bodies to evaluate the efficacy of affirmative action policies and recommend mid-course corrections.
  • The SECC (Socio-Economic and Caste Census) can be periodically updated to ensure real-time tracking of the socio-economic conditions of beneficiaries.

Conclusion

While India’s affirmative action policies have made strides in addressing social and economic disparities, their effectiveness is hampered by challenges like regional disparities, lack of inclusivity, and implementation gaps. Addressing these challenges with data-driven strategies, enhanced governance, and targeted outreach can ensure that social and economic justice evolve as complementary pillars of an equitable society.