Despite the constitutional provisions and various affirmative action policies aimed at ensuring equity and social justice, underprivileged sections in India continue to face barriers that prevent them from fully benefiting from these measures. Several factors contribute to this challenge:
1. Structural Challenges
- Persistent Poverty: Economic deprivation among Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) limits their ability to leverage opportunities.
- Educational Inequities: Despite reservation policies, access to quality education remains unequal, particularly in rural and tribal areas.
- Unawareness of Rights: A significant portion of the underprivileged population is unaware of the benefits and rights provided by the Constitution.
2. Implementation Gaps
- Bureaucratic Inefficiencies: Delayed implementation of welfare schemes often hinders their impact.
- Corruption and Leakages: Funds meant for marginalized communities sometimes fail to reach the intended beneficiaries due to corruption.
- Uneven Access to Resources: Geographical disparities in accessing schemes and programs exacerbate inequality.
3. Social and Cultural Barriers
- Caste Discrimination: Despite legal prohibitions, societal discrimination persists, affecting employment, education, and social inclusion.
- Gender Disparities: Women from marginalized groups face a double disadvantage due to both caste and gender biases.
- Stigma and Prejudice: The deep-rooted stigma against SCs and STs continues to impede their social mobility.
4. Economic Marginalization
- Limited Job Opportunities: While reservations exist in public employment, the shrinking size of the public sector and lack of opportunities in the private sector restrict their impact.
- Landlessness: Many underprivileged families lack land or other assets, leaving them reliant on low-paying, informal jobs.
5. Erosion of Affirmative Action
- Dilution of Policies: Over time, affirmative action has faced criticism and political resistance, leading to its partial dilution.
- Creeping Privatization: As privatization increases, job reservations and protections for marginalized groups become less effective.
Steps Needed to Strengthen Affirmative Action
| Focus Area | Key Recommendations |
| Education | Improve access to quality education and scholarships. |
| Employment | Extend reservation policies to the private sector. |
| Awareness Campaigns | Raise awareness about constitutional rights and policies. |
| Policy Implementation | Strengthen monitoring mechanisms to prevent leakages. |
| Skill Development | Provide vocational training to enhance employability. |
| Social Reform | Tackle caste discrimination through stricter enforcement. |
Recent government policies in India have focused significantly on uplifting underprivileged sections of society. Some key initiatives from 2024 include:
- PM Awas Yojana Urban 2.0: This scheme addresses the housing needs of 1 crore urban poor and middle-class families, with ₹10 lakh crore allocated over five years. It aims to provide affordable housing with central assistance of ₹2.2 lakh crore
- Education and Skill Development: The government increased allocations for education, particularly for tribal welfare programs like the Eklavya Model Residential Schools, and plans to launch comprehensive internship programs for youth with opportunities in 500 top companies
- PM SVANidhi Expansion: Building on the success of this scheme for street vendors, the government plans to support the development of 100 weekly “haats” (markets) annually, providing economic opportunities for street vendors
- PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: This initiative promotes solar energy adoption by installing rooftop solar plants for free electricity (up to 300 units monthly) to 1 crore households
- Infrastructure Development: The government launched Phase IV of the PM Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to provide all-weather connectivity to 25,000 rural habitations. Financial support is also extended for flood mitigation and irrigation projects in states like Bihar, Assam, and Uttarakhand
- Social Security: The government is evolving schemes under the New Pension System (NPS) and introducing “NPS-Vatsalya,” a plan enabling parents to contribute to pensions for minors
These policies highlight the government’s commitment to inclusive growth by addressing housing, employment, education, energy security, and rural connectivity
Conclusion
While India has made significant strides in uplifting the underprivileged, systemic challenges and implementation gaps prevent affirmative action from achieving its intended goals. To address this, the government and civil society must work together to ensure robust policy execution, create equitable opportunities, and foster societal change for true social justice.
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