Question

Poor rural labourers like Thulasi often do not have access to good medical facilities, good schools, and other resources. You have read about inequality in the first unit of this text. The difference between her and Ramalingam is one of inequality. Do you think this is a fair situation? What do you think can be done? Discuss in class.

Answer 1

Though inequality at any level is a cause of concern, it would not be easy to term the situation as fair or unfair. There could be several reasons for a person to be well-off and for another person to be in an unequal position. Yet, it is the duty of the government to make sure that the problem of inequality is addressed. It is the responsibility of the government to achieve equality and justice for all the citizens of the country whether in the urban areas or in the rural areas. One way of improving the situation of agricultural labourers is to ensure that they are not exploited. A minimum wage policy for agricultural labourers needs to be in place so that they do not have to work at low wages. The other way of improving their situation would be to set up some sort of employment guarantee scheme whereby they have a definite source of income throughout the year. The National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) is a step in this direction.