Let us not relish inequalities, but eliminate them collectively!

We just need to imbibe the spirit of the Constitution to address the chronic problem of multifaceted inequalities, which have been haunting us for ages now. Our Constitution is our friend, guide, philosopher, mirror and critic as well. For over 70 years, our Constitution has been standing tall and firm on its spirit of equality, justice, fraternity and liberty. It takes care of almost every human need, and offers solutions to all problems including inequalities provided we listen to the saner voice coming from the pages of the Constitution. 'The World Inequality Report 2022' authored by Lucas Chancel, co-director of The World Inequality Lab, and coordinated by several experts including famous French economist Prof Thomas Piketty, has highlighted how deep and rampant the problem of inequality in our country is.

Most of us encounter and cope with inequalities in one form or the other in our routine life every day but we hardly let them to be a part of our intellectual, political, social, academic and national discourse. We have not yet fought any election on the issue of inequalities and disparities though some peripheral issues do find mention during electioneering. An institutionalized approach towards critical national problems has never been a part of our collective democratic responsibility. It is a serious lapse on our part but we are least bothered! If people are happy with just casting votes and forgetting responsibilities and accountabilities attached with every vote, then they have no right to ask for report cards from their representatives.

Even professional optimists will concede the fact that our developmental journey post-Independence has been lopsided. It was always tilted in favour of urban elites. Rural India did not get adequate attention notwithstanding the fact that most of us have our roots in villages. When the vast chunk of population is left to live fighting inadequacies in their all forms, the end result is bound to be painful. Some of those who managed to migrate to nearby towns because of their affluence have been able to add value and verve in their economic and social resilience, and those who did not remained stuck in the cobweb of poverty and backwardness.

A considerable amount of serious and honest efforts on the part of Central and state governments have been made to uplift rural people but critical outcomes remain elusive. Malnutrition, anemia and poverty driven ailments continue to pose serious challenges to policy makers and experts of public policies even now. Multiple reports brought out by the prestigious NITI Aayog in the recent past serve as an eye opener for all stakeholders. Taking vital and relevant clues from these well researched and analyzed reports, they can contribute to course correction and accelerate the pace of inclusive development at the grassroots level. They should be in the role of an enlightened guide, critic and philosopher for the elected governments.

Human development took the centre stage in the 8th Five-Year Plan of the country, and since then it has been the principal focus of every government at the Centre. Some of the States have done very well so far as the Human Development Index (HDI) is concerned. Many others are ramping up their efforts to do better. However, severe multidimensional gaps persist and hence are the cause of a big worry for us. The available data whatever we have – mostly from the National Sample Survey Organization (NSSO) and the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – stress the need for ensuring access to quality health, housing and education facilities for all with a special emphasis on those who are socially and educationally backward, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people. Their share in quality national facilities and opportunities is minimal or next to nil.

For want of education and an enabling ambience, poor people fail to march forward on the path of their educational empowerment. Even if they are armed with degrees from a school examination board or a university, they remain the victims of knowledge gaps. Thus, not in a position to compete with their healthier, richer and more resourceful counterparts! Our entire education system and competitive exams are heavily tilted in favour of urban elites, leaving rural folks in the lurch. The competition between haves and have-nots is the most painful pointer to an alarming multidimensional inequality among us.

What is the way forward? A country as diverse as India cannot afford any kind of obstacles in people's path to access national opportunities and facilities easily and seamlessly. If one's affluence becomes the sole determinant to avail of quality health and education facilities, then even affirmative measures will get inadequate in bridging the yawning gaps. The government's involvement in the social sector must be aligned to empower masses in a wholesome manner. If the top one per cent of India's creamy layer population holds 22 per cent of national income in 2021, we need to take a big pause to decide the future course of action. The rich and powerful among us have been allowed to lord over national resources, opportunities and facilities as their own fiefdom. Income disparities are directly linked to one's ability to learn and earn. If the quality and process of learning is not well benchmarked for all, the common capacity to earn will be adversely compromised.

Let us note that if we let our masses live in a deficient situation beyond a point, then the goal of sustainable inclusive development will never be realized. Inequalities and disparities in rich countries are compensated by the government through means and other interventions but a country like India has to adopt a wholesome approach. We need to invest a lot in human resource development and poverty elimination, not alleviation. If the bottom 50 per cent population holds only 13 per cent of national income, they will never be able to add value to their lives beyond a point. They won't also be able to compete with others in other walks of life. A few of them will shine from time to time but that cannot be generalized.

For India, poverty marked by socio-political inequalities is not a happy situation at all. 'The World Inequality Report 2022' has rightly found fault with liberalization policies, which has led to "one of the most extreme increases in income and wealth inequality observed in the world." Liberalization, if not well aligned to social realities, becomes a liability. As we undertake the build back process post Covid-19 era, let us adopt a more inclusive approach in holistically empowering masses with the tools of quality and affordable health, education, sanitation and housing facilities for them. It will be a real step towards the goal of Ek Bharat, Sarvshresth Bharat! Let us not relish inequalities but eliminate them collectively for the larger good of the nation!

(The writer is a senior journalist and author. The views expressed are strictly his personal)