Republic Day: Spare a thought for the less privileged

Hopes had spiralled sky-high when India became a republic on January 26, 1950, adopting its Constitution, marking the transition to a sovereign, democratic state. This date is celebrated annually as Republic Day  , symbolizing India’s commitment to democracy, justice, and equality. The date was chosen to honor the Purna Swaraj resolution, which was proclaimed by the Indian National Congress in 1930, symbolizing the nation’s desire for complete independence.

Today we have achieved much as the nation stands at the cusp of an age of transition while vying to enter the league of developed nations. Whether it is education, technical learning, space exploration or industry, we have achieved self-reliance no doubt though there are areas where we have a lot of catching up to do. Our professionals in medicine, IT and engineering are spread far across the globe as the world needs their expertise more than ever. 

Our products, whether it is seafood, pharma, automobiles or food items, are being exported in large quantities everywhere despite the tariff barriers put up by a domineering US President. We have left behind the yoke of colonialism long ago, building industrial, agricultural and economic systems as per our indigenous needs, shedding what the British in their selfish rush for wealth, had imposed on us.

But then, is freedom really meaningful without economic liberty and social equality?  Is development all about a handful forging ahead in wealth accumulation garnering the fruits of favourable government policies? Has enough been done to bridge the growing gap between the privileged and the under-privileged who continue to languish in a state of deprivation with policy benefits failing to trickle down to them?

Our GDP figures are promising and so are our FDI and industrial output numbers; Agricultural and industrial practices have undergone a sea change as our entrepreneurs rush to obtain state-of art technology. Agricultural productivity has grown in leaps and bounds and we no longer have to suffer because of food deficits which was the sad situation about six decades ago. But the fight against poverty has slackened in recent times; schemes like MGNREGA which proved to be a boon to rural landless agricultural labourers and the urban poor, are being repealed which has made the Opposition cry hoarse. 

Galloping prices and unemployment have meant that a large segment of the population live in constant fear of making both ends meet and of losing their jobs. While aiming for the sky is good for a rising nation and an ambitious generation, we will also have to spare some time  to ponder over the plight of the less privileged who will be free only when their basic needs like food, shelter and a secure job are adequately met.