Table of contents
Subject: GS 1
Syllabus: Indian Society
Questions
- Urbanization and development redistribution must go hand in hand if the next phase of urbanization is to achieve equity and inclusiveness in India. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
- Though India is largely a peace-loving nation. Cases of communalisation of Indian society surface now and then. What are the factors behind it? Elaborate on the steps needed to ensure harmony and tolerance. (250 words, 15 marks)
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Q1. Urbanization and development redistribution must go hand in hand if the next phase of urbanization is to achieve equity and inclusiveness in India. (150 Words, 10 Marks)
Introduction:
- As India is moving towards NEW INDIA, it is witnessing changes from modernisation and industrialisation. All the changes led to the urbanization of the country, and it is the reflection of the overall development process. or
- Urbanization is the induced process of moving towards cities, changing the modes of production from agriculture to industry and service-based. It is often observed that urban development leads to a skewed distribution of wealth. Some people reap the benefits of urbanization, while some are left out in the process.
Man Body:
Development and its distribution must go hand in hand because:
- Intra-city divide promotes class divide: The stratification of cities in the form of North Delhi- South Delhi, North Bombay- South Bombay.
- This leads to the division of geography in class, thus leading to the development of anti-social elements to change the status quo.
- Urban-Rural divides: to avoid migration and overcrowding of the cities.
- Quality of life: India’s GDP and per capita income are on the rise, yet the quality of services like healthcare, education, and public services lag in our society.
- This is due to improper channelising of fruits of urban development into developmental sectors.
- Internal security concerns: The primary cause of Naxalism lies in the fact of underdevelopment of tribal areas and hinterlands.
Challenges in achieving equity and inclusiveness in India:
- Financing: The total investment in smart cities has gone around Rs 1 Lakh Crore.
- Thus, banks and other financial institutions are hesitant about such a large scale of investment.
- Lack of center-state coordination: The parallel bodies in the form of third-tier (generally municipal bodies) and specialized institutions (state bodies like city transport) are not in tandem with each other.
- This was highlighted recently in the Bangalore protest.
- Absence of a forward-looking plan: Centers and states have a plan of urbanization with select projects and not a coherent national framework with a vision.
- For example, International Financial City is to be established in Gujarat, but its relation with current financial capital is unclear.
Some Steps taken by the government:
- Smart City Mission: Smart cities are being developed in core infrastructure so as to provide a decent quality of health, education, and other services to all its citizenry despite their income.
- PM AWAS Yojana: Slums are the major concerns of urbanization; this affects both the physical and mental aspects of the people. PM AWAS Yojana intends to provide housing for all by 2022.
- RURBAN Mission: The mission aims to reduce the rural-urban divide with an emphasis on employment and infrastructure creation in rural areas to prevent migration.
Conclusion:
- It is quite clear that urbanization, whenever it happens, is bound to create socio economic problems. It is the role of governments and administrations to counter such challenges in a planned and scientific manner so that the fruits of development are shared equitably.
Q2. Though India is largely a peace-loving nation. Cases of communalisation of Indian society surface now and then. What are the factors behind it? Elaborate on the steps needed to ensure harmony and tolerance. (250 words, 15 marks)
Introduction:
- Communalism is a feeling of strong allegiance to one’s ethnic group rather than to society as a whole. The basis of allegiance may be: such as language, ethnicity, region, religion etc. In India, communalism as a social phenomenon is based on mutual religious hatred.
Main Body:
- Recent incidents
- Hubballi city in north Karnataka saw a communal flare-up recently, the trigger being an inflammatory social media post.
- Communal clashes broke out in northwest Delhi’s Jahangirpuri recently during a Hanuman Jayanti procession.
- Factors responsible for the growth of Communalism in India:
- Economic: Poverty:
- Mass poverty and unemployment create a sense of frustration among the people. It generates backwardness, illiteracy, ignorance, etc.
- The unemployed youth of both communities can be easily trapped by religious fundamentalists and fanatics. They are used by them to cause communal riots. The weak economic status often breeds communalism.
- Economic: Poverty:
- Historic:
- British rule: On the basis of the “Two Nation” theory of Jinnah, India was partitioned. The “Divide and Rule” policy of the British Government served their colonial interest. The partition of India was the outcome of their politics.
- Presence of Communal Parties: Religion in India has become an important agency of political socialization. A number of communal and sectarian political parties and organizations are present in India. Muslim League, Jamaat—Islami, Hindu Mahasabha, Akali Dal, and Vishwa Hindu Parishad are directly or indirectly responsible for the emergence of communalism.
- Isolation of Muslims: Indian Muslims have developed a tendency of isolationism even long after the creation of Pakistan. They remain aloof from the mainstream of national politics.
- Hindu Chauvinism: The growth of Hindu chauvinistic attitudes have further strengthened the communal tensions in India. The Hindu religious groups like Shiv Sena, Hindu Mahasabha, and Vishwa Hindu Parisad often pressurise the government to take steps suitable to the interest of Hindus.
- Social Cause:
- The two major communities of India have been suspicious of each other. The Muslims complain about the threat of the Hindu majority.
- Cross-Border factors: Communal tensions in India sometimes are highly intensified due to the rule of two neighbouring theocratic countries. These countries try to create communal problems in the border states. The communal problems of Punjab and Jammu Kashmir are caused due to provocation of Pakistan.
- Political: Both the Union and the State Governments often fail to prevent communalism in the country. Due to a lack of prior information, they fail to take any preventive measures. Also cases of vote bank politics.
- Steps to check the growth of Communalism:
- Economic:
- Poverty is one of the major factors for communal violence. Poverty alleviation measures are thus important for promoting communal harmony.
- Eradicating the problem of unemployment among the youths, illiteracy and poverty and that too with honesty and without any discrimination.
- Reducing educational and economic backwardness of minorities like Muslims.
- This can uplift their socio-economic status and reduce their deprivation compared to Hindus (Sachar committee).
- Social:
- The religious leaders and preachers should promote rational and practical things through religion promoting peace and security.
- Children in schools must be taught through textbooks and pamphlets to maintain brotherhood and respect for all religions.
- Creating awareness in the society about the ill effects of communism through mass media.
- Political:
- Political communism should be avoided recent Supreme court’s directives.
- Identification and mapping of riot prone areas. For Example, Delhi police used drones to monitor to maintain vigil during communal festivals.
- Media, movies and other cultural platforms can be influential in promoting peace and harmony.
- Social Media should be monitored for violent and repulsive content and taken off immediately.
- Economic:
- Recommendations of Committee on National Integration
- Joint celebration of community festivals.
- Observing restraint by Hindus while taking processions before the mosques.
- Formation of peace and brotherhood communities at the local level to prevent anti-social elements from engaging in communal riots.
- Respect for religious customs, rituals and practices.
Conclusion:
- Jawaharlal Nehru had pointed out the issue and termed it as the greatest danger. And so he said that anyone who loves India would hate communalism and anyone who hates India would love communalism.
