{"id":180915,"date":"2022-04-23T20:27:03","date_gmt":"2022-04-23T14:57:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.forumias.com\/?p=180915"},"modified":"2022-04-23T20:27:03","modified_gmt":"2022-04-23T14:57:03","slug":"the-missing-i-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/the-missing-i-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"The Missing I In India"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Everyone grows up with individual traits<\/strong> such as gender and intelligence. However, they also have collective identities<\/strong> i.e., a Hindu, a Muslim, a Dalit, a Bengali or a Malayali, and so on.<\/p>\n

Positive side of focus on group identity<\/strong><\/h5>\n

It has empowered the socially underprivileged groups. <\/strong>They have the power of the group\u2019s vote. Therefore, they have accrued bargaining power <\/strong>for their share of the collective pie. Consequentially, inequality has fallen.<\/p>\n

What are the problems with group identity?<\/strong><\/h5>\n

Group identity politics can perpetuate inequality between groups or disadvantage within-groups<\/strong>. In addition, it does not improve the individual circumstances.<\/p>\n

In fact, the most disadvantaged members of the group still get the least benefit from group privileges. For example, in the underprivileged groups<\/strong>, men have received greater social<\/strong> and economic mobility<\/strong> than women in reservations policy.<\/p>\n

The group identity makes it difficult for the members to raise a united voice<\/strong> on various other issues. For example, they would have different interests.<\/p>\n

At present, the politics is organized around traditional group identities<\/strong>. Therefore, the balance between individuals and traditional groups has shifted towards group identity. It has shifted the focus from the individual circumstances to the group.<\/p>\n

Now each group wants a larger share of the pie. Therefore, the group politics have resulted into a zero-sum game<\/strong>. For example, states are reserving jobs for the sons of the soil<\/strong>. The Jats and Patidars demand reservations today,<\/p>\n

It has reduced the level playing field at national level. It has made it difficult to provide equal opportunity.<\/p>\n

Way Forward<\/strong><\/h5>\n

The state should focus on upliftment of the disadvantaged group<\/strong> or disadvantaged members within a group. It will give a sense of recognition, dignity, and the sense of equality.<\/p>\n

There is a need to distinguish between social disadvantage<\/strong> and economic disadvantage<\/strong>. And different tools should be used for each. For example, When a caste face social discrimination, the government can offer economic supports<\/strong> such as reservations. It should continue till social disadvantage is largely eliminated.<\/p>\n

In case of economic disadvantage,<\/strong> the state can adopt a dual approach. <\/strong>It will involve enhancing individual capabilities<\/strong> through good healthcare and education and targeting government benefits <\/strong>to the truly economically underprivileged.<\/p>\n

The judiciary and the executive should renew its thrust towards supporting the individuality<\/strong> and fundamental equality of persons<\/strong>, especially for the underprivileged within a traditional group.<\/p>\n

The individuals should recognise their rights<\/strong> and duties <\/strong>as the citizens of India. It will strengthen their identity as citizens. It will improve their economic capabilities and opportunities.<\/p>\n

There is a need to shift<\/strong> the emphasis <\/strong>back from traditional groups <\/strong>to the individual rights <\/strong>and circumstances<\/strong>. Every individual should be given fair and equal treatment.<\/p>\n

We can forge newer group identities<\/strong>, united by common emerging challenges.<\/strong> For example, women facing discriminatory treatment in job, public transport, inheritance laws etc. can create new powerful coalitions<\/strong> across religious groups.<\/p>\n

We could reach a consensus on a Uniform Civil Code<\/strong>. It will empower individuals within each religious group.<\/p>\n

Source<\/strong>: The post is based on an article \u201cThe Missing I In India<\/strong>\u201d published in the Times of India<\/strong> on 23rd<\/sup> April 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Everyone grows up with individual traits such as gender and intelligence. However, they also have collective identities i.e., a Hindu, a Muslim, a Dalit, a Bengali or a Malayali, and so on. Positive side of focus on group identity It has empowered the socially underprivileged groups. They have the power of the group\u2019s vote. Therefore,… Continue reading The Missing I In India<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10311,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1230,9],"tags":[212,10496],"class_list":["post-180915","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-9-pm-daily-articles","category-public","tag-gs-paper-2","tag-times-of-india","entry"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","views":{"total":0,"cached_at":"","cached_date":1704816200},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180915","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10311"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=180915"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/180915\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=180915"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=180915"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/forumias.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=180915"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}