Page 30 - Issue 01
P. 30
Q4. We have seen that this One can bring in other aspects of
pandemic has brought out in inequality like caste, class, gender, and
the open a lot of inherent regional differences among others. Each
of them is equally relevant and
developmental inequalities important and we need to address them.
between the poor and the These kinds of challenges are
ultra-rich. It has deepened continuous: today, you may address one
inequality in terms of kind of problem, and, tomorrow, another
education, healthcare and kind of problem might emerge. We
should be sensitive to such new
other basic necessities. What dimensions of inequality and explore
are your thoughts about this possibilities of addressing them.
and how can we fight this
inequality as a nation or even I recall Mahatma Gandhi’s talisman, one
of his most powerful social philosophies
as a global citizen? that he shared with us a couple of
I think these are important challenges for months before his death. He said that
us. These inequalities can be in multiple whenever in doubt, think of the most
domains. First, we should understand vulnerable person that you have in mind
how and where they are. Then, we have and then you think about the decision
to engage at multiple levels. One thing that you are going to take. If this
which I have been thinking about in the decision will be of some help to this most
last couple of weeks is that this vulnerable person, then all your doubts
engagement with the market needs to be will melt away. Ambedkar, who also had
substantial for the people who are left the vulnerable in his thinking, gave us a
out. Let me elaborate on what I mean by very civilized way of addressing such
that. For instance, if there is a player with concerns through debates, discussions,
a substantial market share then this and evidence-based reasoning that the
player will be at an advantageous parliamentary form of democracy gives
position both as a buyer and as a seller. us. One doesn't have to be violent to
But, at the same time, smaller entities articulate one’s case. I think these are
cannot have that bargaining leverage. It important lessons that both of them
is for this that those who work with the have given us and we can use them to
vulnerable at the grassroots to address address these inequalities.
inequality, also need to work towards
strengthening the market share of the
vulnerable. Q5. We know that the one of
the biggest tragedies of 2020 in
Besides, a large number of buyers and India, apart from the health
sellers, as some argue, can lead to fair
prices because no one player is crisis caused by Covid has been
influencing them. Now, if one player is the sufferings that the migrant
able to influence prices then that could labourers had gone through.
lead to substantial inequality. A case in And they are an integral part of
point, without getting into the scientific our metropolitan economy.
merit behind the evolving and complex
science, is the pricing of vaccination and And this migrant labor crisis is
related concerns. still a visible reality in 2021 ......
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