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Opinion National Interest PoV 50-Word Edit

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Society & Culture Around Town Book Excerpts Vigyapanti The Dating Story

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Ambedkar wanted State Socialism in India. Nehru made it State Capitalism: VB Karnik

In the absence of economic rights, citizens do not attach much importance to political rights. This makes it difficult for democracy to strike deep roots, wrote VB Karnik in 1979.

Economic rights are as much a part of human rights as political rights. It is a matter of deep regret, however, that many democratic countries concentrate on the latter to the neglect of the former. A feeling is growing, therefore, that democracy can provide only political rights and not economic rights, a feeling which is inimical to its survival and growth.

In developed democratic countries citizens now enjoy both political as well as economic rights. It is not, however, the case in developing countries who have chosen the democratic way of life. Their citizens enjoy political but not economic rights. They have the right to vote and to free speech and press, but not the right to work and to get minimum necessities of life. In the absence of the latter they do not attach much importance to the former in the hope of getting the latter. It is never fulfilled, but such an attitude of mind makes it difficult for democracy to strike deep roots in those countries.

That is why in June 1975 democracy was subverted in India without much difficulty. Though it was restored nineteen months later, it will remain insecure and unstable as long as effective steps are not taken to ensure economic rights.

The right to live and to have the minimum requirements of life is the most fundamental of human rights. These include food, shelter and clothing. In a society that is not primitive, they include nutrition, health measures and education. Mr. Robert McNamara, President of the World Bank, defined his concept of that fundamental human right in an interview that he gave to the “New York Times” in April 1975: “Among the most fundamental human rights are the rights to minimum acceptable levels of nutrition, health and education.” He regretted that: “Hundreds of millions of people in developing countries, through no fault of their own, are denied these rights today.”

India is one of those developing countries where........

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