There are many forms of inequality prevalent in the country and its eradication is a concern of the global community. The three most popular indexes ranking countries based on human development (HDI), hunger (WHI) and happiness (WHI) have showed huge socio-economic gaps among countries and different communities in the world. There has been not only persistent inequality in income and ownership over productive assets but also unequal access to public benefits provided by a modern State. The difference in per capita income of a developed country in HDI such as Norway and the lowest ranked country such as Somalia is colossal.
The World Hunger Index 2021 ranked India at 101 out of 116 countries and the International Food Policy Research Institute reports that about 15 per cent of the Indian population lacks adequate qualitative food in proper quantity. India continues to be one of the highly unequal societies in the world and it ranks 131 out of 189 countries on the Human Development Index (HDI) prepared by UNDP. There have been reports of hunger death, malnutrition and lack of access to adequate quality food in different parts of the country. We are still an unhappy nation as India ranks 139 out of 149 in World Happiness Index, 2021. These reports show us our position and the challenges before us to achieve a world class living.
In this context let’s question and examine our public policies specially the social-economic policy of the Government, whether they are addressing the issues of inequality or widening the gaps. After enforcement of constitutional governance, we all have agreed to build a nation based on equality in status and opportunity and to ensure dignity of all human beings, but after 75 years of journey, how far have we achieved this goal? Globally, it is understood that ensuring food, education, health and basic amenities for its people is the fundamental responsibility of the Government as right to food is a precondition for right to life.
But unfortunately, there are millions of people who are deprived of right to food because of our unequal economic, political and cultural systems and practices that perpetuate inequality leading to poverty and hunger. India runs two most widely covered popular food distribution programme against malnutrition under ICDS and Mid-day Meal for children in Anganwadies and schools.
There are subsidised food distribution programme by the Central and State Governments under the National Food Security Act 2013 which ensures minimum level of food grain that is 5kg rice and wheat for each priority poor household through public distribution system. Many of the State Governments have their own State specific interventions as additional inputs to expand the process. It has been observed that the scheme of Government of Tamil Nadu has influenced other States to follow the path. During last ten years, there are many States coming up with their own schemes to ensure subsidised food for the urban poor and beyond. But still we are far behind the goal of SDG.
While an appreciation for such schemes has come from many quarters especially from the poorer section, there have been serious criticisms of such schemes by branding as populist and politically motivated. But the most important concern of such schemes has been corruption in handling the scheme as there is very little transparency and accountability without much public audit. It has been told that the schemes out of public money have not been reaching to the real beneficiaries.
It is also argued that providing subsidised food promotes charity out of public money rather than bringing food sustainability among the poor and marginalised and ultimately impacting work culture. Therefore, it is equally important to educate people about healthy and quality food eating habits and developing common people’s access to quality food by empowering them with productive assets, skill, knowledge and education for income and employment which must be supported by a strong public policy for minimizing economic disparity.
Along with control of food price and strict implementation of weight and measure, the Government should ensure clean fuel, water, electricity, sanitation and housing facilities, especially for the vulnerable urban poor and low income groups in rural and urban areas. The families with small landholding must be encouraged with food production to meet the growing food needs.
The mass production of cereals, vegetables, fruits, and milk, egg and meat products at household level will improve access to food and reduce dependency on market for purchase of food for which it is important to ensure land for each family. It is a fact that the subsidised food schemes must not be looked as permanent solution; rather these schemes while fulfilling the present need of poor, must be used as a means to improve quality of life and boost growth.
In modern democracies social security supports out of taxpayers’ money are required to build an inclusive democratic society. It ensures a sense of belonging among its citizens who feel that the society takes care of its people of all ages, classes and communities. But in spite of constitutional mandate, our State social security spending has not been universalised to ensure wellbeing of all people irrespective of their nature of employment and income.
The employees of organised sector in Government, private and semi Government jobs have a better income and retirement life while a majority of people who are in unorganised and informal sector have a very miserable life. They do not have a privilege of income and pension with dearness allowances. The provision of old age pension for majority of people is very minimal and irregular which cannot provide a dignified and decent living. They have to depend on other earning family members for survival. In the absence of such family support system many of them are pushed to distress condition.
Though depending on sons and daughters has been a tradition in our society but in recent time due to economic and demographic changes, composition of family and migration from rural to urban areas in search of employment have contributed to an increasing burden of managing family. The social security spending by the State must not be seen as charity because it is closely linked to employment, production, work culture and quality of life and it is the most integral part of the overall development of human society. The developed countries of the world with better HDI have a better public social security system while the developing countries such as India are still struggling to establish a developed universal social security system.