6 Major Social Issues in India

 India faces a wide range of socioeconomic problems, including gender-based violence and poverty. This article discusses social issues and focuses on the disparities between rural and urban experiences. Additionally, it examines six significant societal problems—poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, the caste system, gender-based violence, and communalism—by examining the root causes of each problem and the specific actions taken to address it.

1. India's poverty

Being unable to maintain the bare minimum standard of living necessary for society is considered poverty. The Planning Commission estimates that in 2012, 22% of Indians were living in poverty. The poorest class in India is made up of tribal people, Dalits, and laborers, including farmworkers in rural areas and sporadic workers in urban areas.

One of India’s main causes of poverty is the country's rapid population growth. Further consequences include a high rate of illiteracy, inadequate medical treatment, and restricted access to financial resources. Additionally, rapid population increase has an impact on and lowers per capita income. By 2026, India is anticipated to have a population of 1.5 billion, making it the world's largest country. However, India's economy is not expanding as quickly.

This indicates a lack of employment. This many people would necessitate the creation of close to 20 million additional jobs. If such many jobs aren't produced, the number of poor people will continue to rise.

2. India's unemployment problem

In India, unemployment is among the most pressing social problems. The main cause of India's high unemployment rate, according to The Economist, is the country's rigid and restrictive labor rules as well as its subpar infrastructure. The Indian government estimates that 31 million people were jobless in India as of September 2018.

In terms of unemployment, Assam is also experiencing the worst situation. According to data provided by the state's department of skill employment and entrepreneurship, 19,63,376 people are officially employed in the state, 16,65,866 of who are educated or skilled, and 2,97,510 of whom are untrained.

From a record high of 29% in March 2020, when the nation was put on lockdown, India's jobless rate decreased to 7% in September 2020. Later, though, in December 2020, it increased to 9.1 percent. In January 2021, the unemployment rate dropped from 9.1% in December 2020 to 6.5 percent, while the employment rate increased to 37.9% from 36.9%.

According to CMIE, in December 2021, there were 35 million people without a job and 8 million of them, or 23%, were women. The 17 million people who were passively unemployed at the same time included 9 million women, or 53% of them, who were willing to work but weren't actively seeking a job.

3. Illiteracy is one of India's major problems

One of the most significant issues that exist worldwide is illiteracy. The three most fundamental societal ills—poverty, unemployment, and illiteracy— hurt several developing nations, including India. The biggest difficulties in the development course are those issues. India is known to have one of the lowest literacy rates in the world, which raises concerns about the country's illiteracy problem.

Many people, communities, and social groupings are unable to achieve the minimal degree of education that is the norm. India's illiteracy has a big impact on poverty. Both developed and developing countries struggle with poverty.

Everyone agrees that increasing one's educational position brings down the amount of poverty. In addition to poverty, it has now become difficult for everyone to get a basic education. Poor individuals frequently lack access to their rights, education, and basic needs.

There is proof that the poor typically have lower levels of education. Education is frequently regarded as a crucial tool for the growth of society, the economy, and culture. It also helps to eradicate ignorance and illiteracy. Awareness opens the door to accessing needs and rights. Education is the most effective tool for fostering individual growth as well as societal advancement on a worldwide scale.

4. India's caste system

The hierarchy, squalor, and purity of Indian culture serve as the foundation for the caste system there. Karma and Dharma are two of their tenets. Scheduled Castes (SCs), a group, were included in the constitution in 1935 by the Indian government. Approximately 16% of Indians now are classified as SCs. Exploitation, untouchability, exclusion from institutions of higher learning, and societal prejudice are the main problems that Dalits confront.

The government's strategy for helping SCs was built around two concepts. The first was overcoming the disadvantages that SCs have inherited through their historical marginalization from society in terms of education, housing, and employment. The second was to promote their involvement in the nation's political, social, and economic activities.

Acts like the 1976 Civil Rights Act's protection and the 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act were examples of protective measures. These laws together shielded Dalits from untouchability, prejudice, and violence in public settings.

5. Gender-Based Violence

Despite several legislation and programs, gender-based violence, which is defined in India as physical, sexual, and psychological harm, remains a serious public health issue. Human rights breaches against men and women both occur, which is a truth. Gender-based violence has gained international attention in recent decades as a severe issue that affects not only women but also attempts to achieve equality, prosperity, and peace.

The matter has emerged as a top concern for women's organizations in several states and as a topic for feminists. Government officials have started to focus on this issue in recent years.

According to data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 33,356 rape cases were registered across India in 2018. In most of these cases, the victim is familiar with the rapist. Furthermore, the enormous number of rapes that do not even result in victim reports is not captured by these figures. Rape occurs everywhere, regardless of caste, class, or region.

Female patients are raped by hospital staff, domestic workers by their employers, female employees are raped by their employers, and female inmates are raped by superintendents. It is more difficult to handle abuse against women in marriage. The Indian Constitution does not classify marital rape as a crime (Ahuja 2014).

6. Indian communalism

The definition of communalism as it is used in our nation is unquestioning devotion to one's religious sect. By making a social appeal, it is said to be a technique for organizing people in favor of or against something. Communalism is linked to dogmatism and religious extremism.

In terms of religion, Indian society is diverse. The adherents of all the major religions are gathered here. The majority of the population, who are Hindus, live throughout the nation. The majority of religious minorities are Muslims. However, attempts to reconcile Muslims and Hindus have failed on multiple occasions, leading to bloody riots.

During the communal riots that occurred during the period of independence, millions of people lost their homes and their possessions. India and Pakistan were created because of communalism. It was anticipated that the partition would solve the puzzle, but it didn't. Hindus and Muslims still need to establish a common way of life in their neighborhoods.

Written By - Anusuya

Edited By - Riya Dabas