Day 68 – Q 5.Governance should be designed as an equalizer. Do you agree? Do you think governance in India has an equalizing effect? Critically examine.

5. Governance should be designed as an equalizer. Do you agree? Do you think governance in India has an equalizing effect? Critically examine. 

शासन को एक तुल्यकारक के रूप में डिजाइन किया जाना चाहिए। क्या आप सहमत हैं? क्या आपको लगता है कि भारत में शासन का तुल्यकारी प्रभाव है? समालोचनात्मक जांच करें।

Introduction:

Designing governance as an equalizer means that it should reduce all forms of inequality and create equal opportunity for all. Under the concept of welfare state, government must work for the welfare of all with special attention on the weak and vulnerable.  

Body

Governance should be designed as an equalizer

• To utilize demographic dividend of a nation, equal opportunity must be created for all.
• Governance as an equalizer have positive impact on evils like patriarchy, caste based discrimination, poverty etc.  
• For peace, justice and fraternity, all section of society must get equal treatment.  

Governance in India has an equalizing effect

• Governance in India is based on the constitutional provision under article 14 (equality before law), 15 (non-discrimination on grounds of, inter alia, sex), 25 (freedom of religion).
• Governance is acting as an ‘economic equalizer’ through schemes like ‘Start up India’, ‘Stand up India’. 
• Special focus on skill enhancement through schemes like Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Grameen Kaushalya Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana.
• Reservations to weaker sections have helped in their economic and social upliftment.
• ‘Gender budgeting’ started in India in 2012. Women centric initiatives like Rashtriya Mahila Kosh, Pradhan Mantri Matritva Vandana Yojana, Mahila E-haat, Working Women Hostels, and Nari Shakti Puruskars etc have create new opportunities for gender equality. 
• E-NAM, Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana, Interest Subvention Scheme, National Livestock Mission, Dairy Entrepreneurship Development Scheme etc have reduced the vulnerability of farmers and agriculture sector 
• The Aspirational Districts Programme led by NITI Aayog is aimed at reducing regional imbalance in development. Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region has already been established for North Eastern region.  

Governance in India does not have an equalizing effect

• As per Global Wage Report India registered highest average real wage growth during 2008-2017 in south Asia. India has the highest gap of 34.5% between what men and women earn.
• Capture of opportunity gap in India for women – Global Gender Gap Index, 2018 – 108th/149.
• 10 farmers suicide daily (2016, NCRB). 76% of the farmers would like to quit farming if given a chance (‘State of Indian Farmers’ report)

Conclusion

One of the three biggest challenges of present time as per World Economic Forum is ‘inclusion’. This just reinforces the idea that governance should be designed as an equalizer.