Content:
- From a republic to a republic of unequals
- An ideal way to treat India’s corneal blindness problem
- Timely reiteration
From a Republic to a Republic of Unequals
Relevance :GS 2 (Indian Polity )
Practice Question :Explain economic inequality crisis in india . Suggest key measure to address the issue .(250 Words )
Significance of Constitution Day
- Marks 75 years since the adoption of the Indian Constitution, a transformative document for governance.
- Highlights the inclusive and intellectual debates of the Constituent Assembly representing a wide ideological spectrum.
Liberty and State’s role :
- Liberty: Essential for the realisation of human potential.
- State’s Role: Necessary intervention to reduce inequalities in post-Independence India.
- Balancing liberal values with welfare measures like affirmative action and reservations to ensure equality.
Egalitarian Vision of the Constitution
Inspired by John Rawls’ egalitarian liberalism, emphasising:
- Equal basic liberties.
- Equal opportunities.
- Difference principle (benefits to the least advantaged).
Reflected in:
- Part III (Fundamental Rights): Guarantees individual freedoms.
- Part IV (DPSPs): Directs state action to minimise inequalities.
- Article 38(2) and Article 39(c) explicitly mandate reducing income and wealth inequalities.
Judicial Interpretation of Egalitarian Ideals
- D.S. Nakara (1982): Advocated decent living standards and cradle-to-grave security.
- Samatha Case (1997): Defined socialism as reducing income disparities and promoting equal opportunities.
- Justice Krishna Iyer’s interpretation of Article 39(b): Resources as community assets for equitable distribution.
Impact of Economic Reforms on Inequality
- Pre-1990s Welfare State: Reduced top 1% income share from 21% (1930s) to 6% (1980s).
- Post-1990s Neoliberal Reforms: Shift from welfare to market-oriented policies:
- Top 1% now controls 22.6% of total income (2022-23).
- Structural changes favour private capital over equitable growth.
Evidence of Worsening Inequality
Paris School of Economics (2024):
- Top 1% wealth share: 40.1% (2022-23).
- Extreme inequality levels resemble pre-Independence disparities.
State of Inequality in India Report (2022):
- Top 10% earn ₹25,000/month, while 90% earn less than this amount.
Intersection of Economic and Social Inequalities
Wealth Concentration by Caste:
- 90% of billionaire wealth held by upper castes.
- SCs (2.6%) and STs (0%) are underrepresented.
- OBC share of wealth reduced from 20% (2014) to 10% (2022).
- Rise of Billionaires: From 9 (2000) to 119 (2023), illustrating widening disparities.
Threat to Constitutional Vision
- Neoliberal Policies:Undermine the welfare state, increasing wealth concentration.Violate Article 39(c) and constitutional egalitarian principles.
- Overlapping Inequalities: Social inequalities amplify economic disparities, giving systemic advantages to dominant groups.
Call for Reflection
- Need to critically assess policies against constitutional ideals.
- Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s warning: Social and economic inequality threatens political democracy.
- Reaffirm commitment to constitutional values to create a more just and equitable society.
An Ideal Way To Treat India’s Corneal Blindness Problem
Relevance : GS 2 (Health )
Practice Question : Discuss an ideal approach to addressing India’s corneal blindness problem . Explain challenges in the current healthcare infrastructure .(250 Words )
Context: Acute Shortage of Corneas
Current Need vs Supply:
- Required: 1,00,000 corneal transplants annually.
- Availability: Only 30% of this demand is met.
- Impact: Many individuals live with avoidable blindness due to unavailability of corneal tissue.
Magnitude of Corneal Blindness
- 1.2 million Indians suffer from corneal opacities.
- Corneal blindness is the second leading cause of blindness in those aged 50+ and the primary cause in younger individuals.
Treatable Cases:
- One-third of corneal opacity cases can be treated through transplantation.
Systemic Gaps:
Eye Banks:
- Required: 50 high-functioning banks.
- Current: Only 12-14 meet high standards.
Corneal Surgeons:500 surgeons performing 200 transplants/year.
- Current: Insufficient skilled professionals.
- Proposed Solution: ‘Presumed Consent’
Mechanism:
Treat all eligible deaths in hospitals as potential cornea donors unless explicitly opted out.
Advantages:
- Reduces delays in retrieval (corneas must be retrieved within 8-10 hours post-death).
- Simplifies the process by bypassing the need for next-of-kin consent.
- Potentially increases supply significantly.
Challenges with Presumed Consent
Ethical Concerns:
- Risk of undermining voluntary donation by removing the consent process.
- Can erode trust in the healthcare system and the donor-recipient relationship.
Global Evidence:
- High organ donation rates in Spain, the U.S., and Portugal are achieved through public education and soft opt-in/required request models, not presumed consent.
Effective Alternative:
- Hospital Cornea Retrieval Programme (HCRP):Involves grief counsellors approaching families to seek explicit consent for donation.
Successful examples:
- LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI):
- Over 70% of 1,40,000 corneas harvested in 35 years through HCRP.
- Eliminated waiting lists for corneal transplants in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha.
Benefits:
- Supports the grieving process for families.
- Builds trust and public support for corneal donation.
Actionable Steps
Investments in Infrastructure:
- Increase the number of high-functioning eye banks from 14 to 50.
- Train and deploy 500 active corneal surgeons nationwide.
Public Education:
- Raise awareness about corneal blindness and the donation process.
- Emphasise the transformative impact of donation on recipients’ lives.
Scaling HCRP:
- Expand the programme to all general hospitals.
- Employ and train more grief counsellors to improve donor rates.
Timely Reiteration
Relevance : GS 2 (Judiciary )
Practice Question :Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s reaffirmation of secularism and socialism in India’s constitutional framework.(150 Words )
Secularism Reaffirmed:
- Supreme Court rejected challenges against ‘secular’ and ‘socialist’ added via the 42nd Amendment (1976).
- Emphasised secularism as integral to India’s constitutional framework.
Clarification on ‘Socialist’:
- The term does not enforce a rigid economic system but ensures economic and social justice.
- Allows flexibility for policies like market-driven reforms while addressing inequalities.
Historical Context:
- Original Preamble (1949) excluded these terms.
- Terms were added during the Emergency but retained after thorough debates in the 44th Amendment (1978).
Judicial Precedents:
- S.R. Bommai Case (1994): Secularism declared a basic feature of the Constitution, immune to amendments.
- Other rulings emphasised neutrality of the State and freedom of religious practice.
Interpretation of the Terms:
Secularism:
- Unique to India, ensuring State neutrality toward all religions.
- Allows individuals freedom to practice and propagate their faith.
- Rejects the Western model of strict Church-State separation.
Socialism:
- Focuses on economic and social justice, not ideological rigidity.
- Balances market competition with policies for equitable growth.
The Debate:
Court’s Position:
- The Emergency-era origin of the amendment insufficient to invalidate the terms.
- Parliamentary debates in 1978 reinforced their relevance.
Significance of the Verdict:
Upholds Constitutional Values:
- Secularism and socialism remain foundational principles safeguarding equality and justice.
- Reinforces their compatibility with evolving governance and policies.
Timely Reiteration:
- On the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, the verdict reaffirms India’s commitment to inclusivity and fairness.
- Counters attempts to dilute secularism or question its relevance.
Conclusion:
The Supreme Court’s decision reinforces secularism and socialism as guiding principles for governance, ensuring inclusivity, justice, and adaptability to changing socio-political contexts.
