Entitlements for the Poorest Citizens of India

The concept of Entitlements for the ‘poorest’ citizens of India can be understood and defined by referring to the fact that India is a welfare state as proclaimed by our constitution. Fundamental Rights are guaranteed by the Indian Constitution for every citizen of India, with special provisions suggested for tribals, dalits and other vulnerable and marginalised communities. The Directive Principles of State Policy further substantiate and hold these rights including rights of political justice. The Millennium Development Goals talks about reducing poverty, hunger, universal primary education, gender equality and empowering women etc.

The fundamental rights are complemented by special provisions for women, minorities, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes and several other disadvantaged communities. These provisions were made in both original existing articles in the constitution as well as through amendments to provide for affirmative action. scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward castes and several other disadvantaged communities.

Based on experiences of Development Alternatives in the field and discussions at various policy forums, entitlements for the poor, marginalised and women can be viewed within three broad aspects:

• Fundamental Rights or Primary entitlements: To ensure a reasonable level of basic services like health, education, drinking water, shelter etc. for poor, SC, ST, OBC, women and marginalized communities, as enshrined in the constitution.

• Fundamental Rights or Primary entitlements: Whereby Govt. subsidies and affirmative actions reach the desired beneficiaries –Poor, SC, ST, Women and other marginalized communities.

• Political Spaces or Tertiary entitlements: Ensuring effective local governance systems with inclusive participation, responsive attitudes, improved accountability and capability of functionaries etc.

Entitlement realization for dalits, tribals, OBC, women and marginalized communities involves two parallel processes:

• Developing competencies of poor –through awareness, capacity building, follow up support.

• Developing Access –influencing state systems, delivery mechanisms, making legal and redressal system responsive and through regular on going monitoring of the status of entitlements obtained /not obtained . By engaging policy makers it can influence the government’s strategic framework and their programmes and schemes for better realisation of entitlement by the poor.

Working within the frame of these two parallel processes, Development Alternatives continues to strive for sustainable improvement in the quality of life through basic needs fulfilment and livelihoods promotion of the poor communities with a distinct focus on women’s empowerment and self-help initiatives.  q