Mahesh Chander Sudan
We, the people of India, are grateful to the framers of our constitution for providing Directive Principles of State Policy in Part IV (Article 36-51) to guide Government of India in framing laws to create social and economic condition under which the citizens can lead good life and to attain social and economic democracy through a welfare state. Having suffered foreign rule of English Empire for around 200 years, we were left to fight the ugly face of poverty which necessitated for governments of Independent India to frame people friendly laws to eradicate poverty and narrow down the gap between rich and poor. However, it is seen that the poverty may be eradicated in one or two decades but the widening gap between rich and poor is a matter of concern for all of us. Latest report by Oxfam for year 2017 shows that 73 percent of wealth generated went to the richest one percent. At the same time, the report indicates that only 1 percent growth in the wealth of 67 crore Indians is noticed. Another report suggests that current inequalities are at the highest level in last 76 years. India witnessed 116 percent rise in the billionaire population between 2013 to 2018. These reports are alarming bells for our Government to act otherwise so called development will be meaningless. Our leaders across the political spectrum are required to look at the other side of the coin as this ever widening gap between rich and poor will prove counterproductive in the long run. An imbalanced economic development with wider gap of affordability of rich and poor will prove inclusive and sustainable national growth a theoretical and a slogan just to please the common masses during elections like Sab Ka Sath, Sab Ka Vikas of BJP.
It shows amply clear that over the period of time, our Governments have failed to follow the directive principles of state policy enshrined in our constitution while framing laws regarding social and economic welfare of the Indians. It is also an accepted fact that our politicians are more comfortable in aligning with rich and shower them favors to fulfill their own interest. However, this societal polarizing moves us towards negative growth in the long run due to ill effect of the widening gap between rich and poor. It is very difficult for the system to make poor people accept that increase in income is only for rich and not for them. It impacts living standards of the poor, affecting their health, especially their mental health causing depression, anxiety and schizophrenia. These mental illnesses are already on the rise as indicated in various statistics. A WHO report indicates India to be the most depressed state after China and USA. However, the reasons for depression are reportedly different for people of India. Non availability of employment opportunities, heavy burden of debts, reasonable health services at affordable rates, good education facilities etc. are causing serious depression to our young generation. Widening gap between the rich and poor results in polarization of society and it exerts pressure on the mental health of the poor people and simultaneously affects the general health of affected people. This ultimately drives them to take shelter in substance abuse and over the period of time it results in loss of human capital at national level.
It therefore necessitates laying thrust on welfare programs and social security to raise the level of confidence amongst poor people to arrest resultant reduction in the economic growth of the country. We need to revisit Gandhian thinking in the larger interest of our nation. It is right time for political leaders to take cognizance of Gandhian thinking and translate it into action to arrest widening gap between rich and poor. Our Government needs to adopt a right mix of socialist and capitalist approach for development in order to achieve desired economic growth and net effect of growth should reach the last person in the queue.
Inclusive and sustained national growth will otherwise remain rhetoric to be used by politicians to attract general masses during elections only. Let us now seriously look into the issue of widening economic disparity prevailing in our society and work for achieving effective control over it. Might Of Indian Constitution shall prevail to attain social justice in this regard. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat.
(The author is Wg Cdr (Retd))
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