The conspicuous existence of various forms of practices of untouchability in rural areas, caste based discrimination, social exclusion based on ethnic status, heinous forms of atrocities against marginalised sections, violence against women, suicide by young couples of inter caste marriage, child labour, increasing domestic violence, witch-hunt, female feticide, too much of regular expensive celebrations of gods and goddesses, animal sacrifice, increasing flow of liquor, brutal ancient methods of treatment, increasing influence of Baba and Mata in public life and faith on unforeseen power to change fate have been matters of serious concern.
Continued poverty, illiteracy, lack of education, modern healthcare and social security have been further aggravating it in the absence of visible social reform movements.
These social issues are cause of killing of hundreds of innocent illiterate poor and creating social tension, encouraging crime, physical and mental violence and law and order problem for the State. It affects the poor and marginalised and impacts their social development negatively. The poor, socially marginalised sections, women and children are the worst sufferers.
Studies have found that social issues are major cause of poverty and deprivation. Traditional social systems are used as powerful means of exploitation of labour and women and specially alienation of resources. The social customs have contributed to indebtedness, landlessness and bondage of marginalised sections.
Odisha is not just a State with maximum percentage of people below poverty line but also a socially backward State that lags behind all social and human development indicators. There are existence of middle age, feudal social practices in the name of culture and tradition with huge illiteracy and lack of basic healthcare facility. Inequality and irrational ideas are being enforced in modern from and being exhibited vulgarly by some section of media.
The focus on economic development must be accompanied with social reforms as both are inter connected. While Odisha is marching ahead to build democratic society, it must adhere to international human rights standards and constitutional values of our country. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 1948, the Protection of Human Rights Act 1993 and Article 51A of the constitution of India should be strictly enforced by the State and must be followed by all citizens of our country. As per 51A (h) constitution of India it is the fundamental duties of every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism, and spirit of inquiry and reform.
The social systems of Odisha carry their inherent feudal and backward social legacies on principles of inequality based on caste, gender and economic status rooted in dominant religious values. The formation of Odisha brought together diverse social groups in 1936 and later in 1948 as a modern political State. It comprises of coastal Odisha under direct British rule, 26 feudatory States and large tribal areas recognised as scheduled areas. The scheduled areas constitute 44 per cent of the total geographical areas of the State. There are diversity in languages, belief systems, religions, castes, ethnic groups and customs and traditions. Though Adivasis, Dalits and SEBCs constitute a majority of the population but the post independent Odisha continues to be ruled over by upper caste people, including the former kings and feudal lords, land owning class and western educated persons etc. It has created huge imbalance in social life.
The Hindu upper caste cultural symbols, language and social practices are projected as Odia nationality. The public institutions, Government offices, functions and media are using this with active State patronage. There has been very insignificant reference to others’ existence with an impression of inferior and backward status. The hegemony and dominance of upper caste continue without any basic change that reflected in social culture of the State. There has been no attempt to make laws for social reform. Economic welfare programmes are projected as solution to age-old social issues which perpetuate further segregation and marginalisation in the name of development.
The social reform agenda must get top priority. The State has to enact progressive legislation to bring social reform by preventing unwanted practices derogatory to human dignity and punish the perpetrators engaged in promoting and practicing irrational anti -human ideas. The laws must be accompanied with change of mindset of the people by progressive social movements.
It is being observed that there are laws such as the Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 ,POA Act 1989 , the Sexual Harassment at the Workplace, Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act 2013, the Odisha Prevention of Witch hunting Act 2013 , Child labour Prohibition Act, Eradication of Manual Scavenging Act etc, but they are not being effectively implemented in the State . The police and judiciary have to be more sensitive and responsive to social issues and handle such cases with care.
Every political party must have a social reform agenda and its members should be model in public life to be followed by common people. The political parties should recognise diversity by including people from all social groups and gender in the party organisation, structure and leadership.
The artists, painters, writers, poets, academics and social reformers and human rights activists need to play a proactive role in influencing public life and building secular and humanist discourses through creative literature and art conducive to building a democratic society. They should be engaged in monitoring cases of human rights violation and help the victims of violence to access justice. The young people coming forward to denounce all forms of unwanted social bondage and discrimination need to be protected and respected. Our educational institutions should be centres of social reform through education and orientation to students. The teaching community has a great role to play in this regard to building our future generations as most modern and democratic citizens to respect and recognize diversity and dignity of individuals and to value constitutional principles. The teaching community should be above religious bias and educational institutions should not use any religious symbol and only national flag and national symbols should be used in all public functions.
We need to democratise our family by practicing democratic values in family life. The human rights of women, children and elders in family need to be respected with care. Young women’s rights have been very often suppressed in family in the name of family and caste pride. Social democracy must be a way of life based on the principles of liberty, equality and fraternity .It will pave the way in building a democratic society. Political democracy is meaningless without social democracy. We must have to bring social reform to strengthen our democracy in all spheres.
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