In the public domain of our country, on the one hand, the issues of poverty, unemployment, crime, exploitation, injustice, and on the other hand, corruption, tyranny, misconduct, malpractice, incest, adultery, rape, contempt, etc., have been discussed continuously for the last one century. But these problems have been in many other parts of the world, on which the governments of all the countries of the world including India and their societies and systems have been able to control them to a lesser or lesser extent through their own efforts. But with a country like India, such a socio-economic discrepancy is firmly stuck, the example of which can hardly be found in any part of the world. This is the issue of inequality that is continuously prevailing in the country.
The scene of non-equality and inequality in India is not an example of the rhetoric of any leftist ideology, but it indicates the socio-economic reality and plight of India where about 80 to 90 percent of the population, who are at the bottom of the society, have no sufficient income, wealth. , consumption is extremely modest.
And the most surprising thing is that the opportunities available to these classes, the availability of basic facilities and conditions of human development and the resources transferred from the governments are either unsuccessful or insufficient to change their present situation. On the other hand, the progress achieved by the top 10 to 20 percent of the population in terms of socioeconomic standards continues to be faster than that of the lower class, despite numerous progressive taxes.
The result of this is that in India, where the rich are becoming richer manifold, the poor class is where it is, or its rate of progress is marginal. As a result, inequality in India exists in a structural form, be it at the level of income, at the level of consumption, or at any parameter of socioeconomic development. It is persistent but is increasing.
The disparity prevailing in India on all parameters is on a large scale, whether it is visible between urban and rural population, between agriculture and industry, between organized and unorganized class employees, between white-collar and blue-collar workers, be it between high caste and underprivileged communities, be it between people who have family opportunities and common struggle, be it between people educated through Hindi and other Indian language medium and English medium, be it between leader and worker of political parties; between the entrepreneurs and laborers of big corporate industry and small cottage industry. , be it between workers working in metros and abroad and workers working in smaller cities and towns, this rift has taken a permanent shape,
Big things are definitely done on this in the public domain of India, but our political, social, economic and administrative systems which are permanently nurturing these inequalities are only nurturing vested selfish and opportunistic elements. Where we see that whose stick his buffalo walks; where jugaad and nepotism prevail. Where the situation of feudal pomp and orderly servants is visible. Where is the world of the abbot and the disciples? Where the work culture of public organizations is built on lobbying, chamchagiri recommendation and jugaad. Where ethnic and factional urges and prejudices are at their peak. Where the culture of public offices does not look future and sensitive towards poor and illiterate people. In such a situation, the prevailing inequality and class gap in the country is continuously getting deeper, wider and permanent. Needless to say, the sentence of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution which has been violated the most in an institutional, policy and functional way is that of equality of opportunity. Today, the biggest truth of India’s all-around system is the inequality of opportunity.
Those who understand India well will not be surprised by the index that has been released about the disparity in the wages of different classes of workers in India, but those who have a good understanding of India’s social progress will be surprised.
This World Inequality Index shows that 10 percent of the working population in India is such that their income is only Rs.1656 in a month i.e. only about Rs.55 per day. 10 to 20 percent of the working population in the country earns only Rs 2655 i.e. Rs 80 per day. The income of 20 to 30 percent working population is only Rs 3389 i.e. around Rs 110 per day. The income of 30 to 40 percent of the working population is around Rs 4000 per month i.e. Rs 130 per day. The income of 40 to 50 percent of workers is 4700 i.e. around 160 rupees per day. The income of 30 to 40 percent of the working population is around Rs 4000 per month i.e. Rs 130 per day. The income of 40 to 50 percent of workers is 4700 i.e. around 160 rupees per day. The income of 50 to 60 percent of the population is Rs 5661 i.e. around Rs 185 per day.
Only 30 to 40 percent of the workers in the country earn Rs.230 per day while only 20 to 30 percent of the workers earn Rs.280 per day.
It is worth mentioning that the minimum wage fixed by most of the state governments of India is between 11 to 14 thousand, which is assured to only 10 to 20 percent of the workers of the country. Whereas the number of slightly better wage educated skilled workers who are employed in government or corporate is only 5 to 10 percent whose average monthly income is Rs.27780.
It is said that India is fast becoming a country with a growing middle class. Under this, a better average salary has been fixed at Rs 63,000, but this amount is available to only 1 to 5 percent of the workers of India.
If we talk about the workers with better salaries and perks in India, this is a country of extreme inequality in the world. The working population getting about 2 lakh per month is only 1 to 5 percent of the total workers of the country, whereas the workers getting high salary means about 40 lakh per month is only 0.01 to 0.05 percent of the total working population.
Overall, the bottom line is that almost half of the country’s workforce is working for Rs 5000 per month, 80% of the workforce is working for Rs 8000 per month and 90% of the workers are working for just Rs 12,000 per month. Obviously, the above circumstances are giving such an institutional and structural form to inequality in India, which is impossible for the Indian society and economy to overcome. And this inequality is not only in the form of income but it also affects the standard of living, social status, education, health and social security. Obviously, due to these conditions, there is a big question mark in front of education policy, labor policy, employment policy, training and skill development
The author is a regular columnist and author of the well-known book A Crusade Against Corruption