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THEME PAPER
in India is 70.3%, compared national average of 77.7%. of disability. Disabled
to 84.7% for males. Child Furthermore, individuals individuals in India face
marriage, especially in rural from marginalized castes significant barriers in
India, is also a contributing often face barriers in higher education, employment, and
factor to lower educational education, contributing to the social inclusion. According
attainment for girls. Women’s continued cycle of poverty. to a 2019 World Bank
representation in Indian Economic inequality in India report, more than 50% of
politics is also limited. As of is also heavily influenced persons with disabilities
2024, women accounted for by geographic location. in India are unemployed,
only 13.6% of members in the There is a marked disparity and many live in poverty.
Lok Sabha (the lower house between the north and south, Although Section 377 of the
of Parliament), far below the urban and rural areas, and Indian Penal Code, which
global average of 25%. between wealthier states like criminalised homosexuality,
was decriminalised in 2018,
Similarly, India’s caste system Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu there remains widespread
despite being constitutionally and poorer states like Bihar stigma. According to a 2019
abolished continues to and Uttar Pradesh. States in study by the United Nations
perpetuate significant social the southern and western Development Programme
and economic inequalities. parts of India, such as Kerala, (UNDP), members of the
The country’s Scheduled Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu, LGBTQ+ community in
Castes (SCs), Scheduled consistently outperform India report higher rates of
Tribes (STs), and Other states in the northern and violence, discrimination, and
Backward Classes (OBCs) eastern regions like Uttar mental health issues, further
remain disproportionately Pradesh, Bihar, and Madhya exacerbating their socio-
affected by poverty, limited Pradesh on key indicators like economic challenges.
access to education, and health, education, and basic Social and economic
low-paying employment infrastructure. For example, inequality, particularly in
opportunities. These groups Kerala has a 100% literacy the realms of gender, caste,
often face discrimination in rate, while Bihar’s literacy religion, and region, presents
employment and have limited rate hovers around 70%. profound challenges for
access to higher-paying and According to the Reserve India as it strives toward
more stable jobs. Despite laws Bank of India (RBI), in becoming a Viksit Bharat
against untouchability, caste- 2018, the average monthly (Developed India) by 2047.
based discrimination is still household income in urban To address these disparities
prevalent in many parts of the India was approximately effectively, a philosophical
country. The National Crime `25,000, compared to `8,000 in approach rooted in both
Records Bureau (NCRB) rural areas. This income gap Indian and Western traditions
reported a rise in caste-based has been widening, with rural can offer valuable insights.
violence in recent years, areas facing higher levels of These traditions advocate
including atrocities against poverty, malnutrition, and for a deeper understanding
Dalits (SCs) and Adivasis limited access to healthcare of justice, equality, and the
(STs). The National Family and education. common good, and they
Health Survey (NFHS-5) The 2011 Census of India provide ethical frameworks
data from 2020-2021 indicates reported that approximately for promoting a more just and
that the literacy rate for 2.68% of India’s population inclusive society. The policies
Scheduled Tribes is 58.5%, (around 26 million people) and programmes for achieving
significantly lower than the lives with some form excellence in infrastructure
April, 2025, Volume 26. No.1 - SHELTER 11
