Bridging Inequalities for India’s Future

Shagun Parihar
writetomlakishtwar@gmail.com
Every stable society is built on a foundation of justice, equity, and mutual understanding among its people. Yet, persistent inequalities of caste, class, gender, or geography undermine this foundation and threaten stability. India’s democratic journey is marked by its struggle to overcome these barriers while pursuing economic growth. In the past decade, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP-led government has articulated a vision: holistic development is not possible without true social inclusion. Empowering marginalized groups and bridging the rural-urban divide are central to this approach, with the understanding that democracy’s strength lies in the participation and dignity of its most disadvantaged citizens. Achieving justice and equity for all is both the goal and measure of national development.
For decades, tribal communities have been marginalized and often excluded from the mainstream development narrative. Their geographic isolation and the lack of targeted initiatives have led to ongoing challenges like poverty, displacement, and limited access to education and healthcare. The Modi government has launched several initiatives aimed at including tribals in the growth process. The Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRS) have been expanded to ensure that tribal children can access quality education in their own environments, allowing them to keep their cultural context. Similarly, the Van Dhan Yojana helps tribal groups market forest products with added value. This reduces their reliance on exploitative middlemen and provides them with sustainable incomes.
Additionally, the Digital India programme is starting to reach tribal districts, improving digital connectivity and financial inclusion through mobile banking and Jan Dhan accounts. These initiatives not only offer essential services but also instill a sense of dignity and self-determination among tribal communities. This allows them to move from being welfare recipients to active participants in India’s growth story. The empowerment of Dalits has long been a significant concern in Indian democracy. While affirmative action in education and employment has enabled some upward mobility, economic inequality and social stigma persist. Recognizing this, the government emphasizes entrepreneurship and the dignity of work as key paths to empowerment.
The Stand-Up India Scheme gives bank loans to Dalits, tribal communities, and women entrepreneurs to start new businesses. This encourages them to shift from seeking jobs to creating jobs. Complementing this is the Mudra Yojana, which provides microfinance support to individuals without collateral, enabling Dalits and other marginalized groups to participate equally in the economy. Flagship programs like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan have also made significant impacts on Dalit empowerment. By focusing on the dignity of sanitation workers and eradicating open defecation in villages and towns, the scheme challenges entrenched notions of purity and pollution. Moreover, the initiative for affordable housing under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana ensures that Dalit families gain both shelter and social legitimacy in urban and rural areas.
One of India’s most persistent inequalities is the gap between rural and urban life. Cities attract investment, infrastructure, and opportunities, while villages often remain stuck in poverty and agrarian distress. To create a truly holistic model of development, this divide needs to be narrowed. The government has made various efforts to bring rural India closer to urban living standards. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana continues to provide all-weather road connectivity to villages, reducing their isolation and connecting farmers to markets. Electrification drives ensure that even remote villages have access to power. Furthermore, Digital India initiatives are bringing internet connectivity to rural households, opening up new opportunities in education, healthcare, and e-commerce.
Programs focused on rural employment and livelihoods, like MGNREGA, have been strengthened with digital monitoring to guarantee timely payments and greater transparency. Meanwhile, PM-KISAN Samman Nidhi, which provides direct cash transfers to farmers, has become a safety net for millions of small and marginal farmers. By modernizing agriculture with support for organic farming, irrigation schemes, and soil health cards, the government aims to transform villages into centers of productivity instead of areas of backwardness. Urban areas are also benefiting from initiatives like the Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT, which aim to create modern, sustainable, and people-friendly cities. The vision is not of two separate Indias, urban and rural, but of a connected and integrated nation that values development for all citizens.
The vision of the Modi government, captured in the phrase “Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas,” represents a shift from a narrow, growth-focused model to a more inclusive one. By recognizing that inequalities are significant barriers to social stability, the government places empowerment at the center of national progress. The focus on health through the Ayushman Bharat initiative, which offers free medical coverage to vulnerable populations, is a major step towards universal healthcare. Initiatives like the Jal Jeevan Mission aim to provide piped water to every household, addressing both physical and social gaps. Access to clean water has historically depended on caste and class.
The BJP-led government under Narendra Modi has focused on empowering tribals, Dalits, and narrowing the rural-urban gap, each as critical elements in advancing justice and dignity, the necessary pillars of a stable and prosperous society. These initiatives illustrate a shift from growth for its own sake to a conviction that a nation can progress only when its most marginalized are uplifted. While challenges and structural inequalities persist, the groundwork laid for financial inclusion, healthcare, education, and rural development aligns with the main argument: that inclusive development is essential for India’s future. If these steps continue with commitment and vision, India could achieve true prosperity and social justice within the next decade. A just society forms the strongest foundation for the nation’s future.
(The writer is MLA from Kishtwar Constituency J&K Legislative Assembly).

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