Write an article on *DISCRIMINATIONS THAT PREVAIL IN INDIA*

Explanation:

Through the Constitution the Indian state promises equality to all its citizens. The various

provisions of the Constitution elucidated in the chapters on Fundamental Rights

(justiciable) and on Directive Principles of State Policies (non-justiciable) delineate the

state’s obligation to provide equal opportunities to all its citizens in social, political and

economic spheres.1

Yet the ubiquitous presence of stark inequalities continues to do

offence to the idea of India visualised by the writers of the constitution. Furthermore,

persistent poverty and deprivation overlap with particular castes, communities and differ

between genders. Poverty and deprivations are also without shadow of doubt the result of

deep rooted class structure formed over centuries. While accepting this social fact, rather

than to look at class derived unequal outcomes our essay explores the reasons whereby

individuals with the same endowments (assets, entitlements, rights, skills, education,

experience) but differing in social group (caste, religion, gender, ethnicity etc.) command

different tangible returns (income, development benefits, realised entitlements) and less

tangible ones (such as dignity and respect). It is the experience of comparable endowments

and widely differing treatments and outcomes that we understand as social discrimination.

Social discrimination2

is necessarily an inter-group social phenomenon transcending class

differentiation – visible when one or few social group(s) commands and practises social

sanctions against other social group(s). For the purposes of this essay,, ‘social group’ is

defined as group of individuals having a shared socio-economic history and cultural

practices which not only provide them with a group identity but also distinguish them from

other social groups. In other words, social and cultural norms become the basis for defining

inter-group relationships which in turn govern status relationships.

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