Equality in Indian Democracy


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Equality in Indian Democracy

Equality in Indian democracy: The Indian Constitution recognizes every person as equal. This means that every individual in the country, including male or female persons from all castes, religions, tribes, educational and economic backgrounds are recognized as equal.

  • This is not to say that inequality ceases to exist. It doesn’t. But at least, in democratic India, the principle of the equality of all persons is recognized. While earlier no law existed to protect people from discrimination and ill-treatment, now there are several that work to see that people are treated with dignity and as equals.
  • This recognition of equality includes some of the following provisions in the constitution: every person before the law. Every person, from the President of the country to Kanta, a domestic worker, has to obemy the same laws. No person can be discriminated against on the basis of their religion, race, and caste, place of birth or whether they are female or male. Every person has access to all public places including playgrounds, hotels, shops and markets all persons can use publicly available wells, roads and bathing Ghats.
  • Untouchability has been abolished. Two ways in which the government has tried to implement the quality that is guaranteed in the constitution is first through laws and second through government programmes or schemes to help disadvantages communities. There are several laws in India that protect every person’s right to be treated equally.
  • The government has also set up several schemes to improve the lives of communities and individuals who have been treated unequally for several centuries. These schemes are to ensure greater opportunity for people who have not had this in the past. One of the steps taken by the government includes the midday meal scheme.
  • This refers to the programme introduced in all government elementary schools to provide children with cooked lunch. Tamil Nadu was the first state in India to introduce this scheme, and in 2001 the Supreme Court asked all state governments to begin this programme in their schools within six months. This programme has had many positive effects. These include the fact that more poor children have begun enrolling and regularly attending schools.
  • The Midday meal programmes also help reduce the hunger of poor students who often come to school and cannot concentrate because their stomachs are empty. While government programmes play an important role in increasing equality of opportunity, there is much that still needs to be done.
  • While the midday meal programme has helped increase the enrolment and attendance of poor children in school, there continues to be big differences in our country between schools that the rich attend and those that the poor attend.
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