Page 193 - SST Class 07

treated equally and should have equal opportu- Fortunately, not many people paid heed to this
nities for the growth of development. No one call. If the public had not rejected this boycott
should enjoy more privileges than others on the call, it would have led those shopkeepers to close
basis of religion, caste, race or place of birth. No their shops for no fault of theirs.
one should be denied equal opportunities. All should be free and self-reliant in matters of

In our country, 37 percent of the people live earning their livelihood. Does it mean that all
below the poverty line. It means that 37 people should earn the same amount, or that all should
out of every 100 Indians live on less than `20 live in the same type of houses, or that qualifica-
per day! tions should not be of any consideration for
The caste system that existed in India gave rise to getting employment? No. It only means that all
untouchability in the past. Although, it has now should have equal opportunities to be employed
been abolished by our constitution, it had or to set up their own businesses.
already created a wall between the so-called high Economic democracy also means absence of all
castes and low castes. It not only divided our exploitation, that is, workers should not be
society, but also deprived a large section of exploited by owners and peasants should not be
people of their basic rights. A democratic society landlords. Equal wages should be given for equal
should be able to remove all these social differ- work. No distinction should be made between
ences. Once, all men and women become equal men and women. There can be no economic
socially, they will also be equal politically. Thus, a democracy if there is no fair distribution of
truly democratic government is possible only with wealth in the society. If wealth is concentrated in
a democratically-organised society. the hands of a few, there can be no economic
Economic Democracy justice.
All members of the society should have equal Democracy is based on two important principles
economic opportunities. — liberty and equality. Individual freedom and
A few years ago, media reports from one of our equal opportunities are necessary conditions for
cities had brought to light a secret campaign be a democracy to be successful. Depriving some-
some vested interests to isolate and boycott one of her or his means of livelihood goes
shopkeepers belonging to a particular religion. against the very ideal of economic democracy. It
Malicious rumors and biased stories were circu- denies one’s right to equal opportunities and
economic growth. Thus, a democratic govern-
lated against them. People were urged not to buy
ment will be meaningful only if its citizens are
things from them.
socially equal and economically free.

Terminology

Discrimination : the unjust or prejudicial treatment of different categories of people, especially on the
grounds of race, age or sex
Dignity : the state or quality of being worthy of honour or respect
Monarchy : a form of government with a monarch at the head
Assimilates : take in and understand fully (information or ideas)
Protested : express an objection to what someone has said or done
Dictatorship : a country governed by a dictator

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