TRIBALS: Assimilation or Integration

1. Who are tribals? How they are different from others?

Tribals are the indigenous people who lived in inaccessible forest areas for many years. As they were isolated, they developed distinct characteristics from the mainstream culture. These characteristics are

• Distinct language, dialects, culture, customs and traditions.
• They are more egalitarian people, not as shrewd as Delhi people
• They have better gender equality than our societies and hence better sex ratio.
• They protect and conserve forests as they depend on them. Not like us, who just want to cut forests.
• They have a system of youth dormitories where a couple can live together before marriage. In that sense they are forward looking as in our culture live-in is still not permitted.
• There is no formal system of schooling. Skills are transferred from father to son.

2. They have a different system than ours, so let them practice that why we are creating troubles for them?

• It is good to be different. In fact, in today's World people like to be different so as to gain attention.
• Even, tribals lived peacefully in forests and nobody bothered them.
• Now, when the population is rising fast, resource constraints is there so we are moving towards forests and cutting them for our benefits.
• In this process, tribals are getting pushed deep into forests and getting cornered from all sides.
• So, it is a case of domination of a powerless culture by a powerful Indian culture.  

3. In what ways we are dominating them? 

• We are buying their lands for very cheap prices.Land alienation is happening at a faster rate.
• Non-tribals are dominating in their areas.
• Even they can't make liquor which is their tradition and have to buy it from market at high prices.
• In court cases, they don't understnd language and are cheated by the non tribals.
• Many foreign companies are doing illegal mining there and affecting their source of drinking water and environment badly.

4. What are the steps taken by government to protect them?

• Government prepared a list of scheduled tribes and provided protective discrimination. But, only urban educated tribals are getting benefited from this policy.
• Prezident and Governor have powers to declare some areas as scheduled areas.
• Special development programmes were started in tribal blocks. But, this helped rich and non-tribals more than the poor and tribals.
• Tribal sub-plan was created to benefit tribals and not the non-tribals.
• Greater political autonomy was given to them in the form of Jharkhand and Chattisgarh. But, Jharkhand is a great failure.

5. So, it is natural that diffusion of culture will happen. Non tribals will go into tribal areas. So, what is the solution? 

• Yes, thats true that mixing of culture will happen and we can't keep the tribals totally isolated.
• But, what we are doing now is assimilation of their culture in our culture.
• We should not destroy their culture by saying that our culture is superior. It is not about being superior but about being different.
• Rather we must integrate them. It means we must let them develop themselves according to their own wish and intelligence. We must help them maintain key components of their culture and if they want they can adopt some of ours. Nothing should be forced.

6. Do you think integration is possible?

• Frankly speaking, NO
• We cultured people are so adamant and proud of our culture that we won't let them practice their culture. 
• Also, we are less tolerant and more greedy. We want to take easy path of just exploiting the tribals and not helping them.
• Laws are good and they have good intentions but the implementation will be done by the dominant people. So, a loss for tribals.

7. What are the issues related to displacement induced by development? 

• For many development projects such as dams, roads, bridges and mining we need to cut forests
• The tribals living in those areas are then dispossessed of their natural setting. Suddenly their culture loses the meaning. They lose their way of life such as living with rivers, animals and trees.
• They are forced to enter into mainstream economy. As they don't have enough skills to participate in the economy, they end up being rickshaw pullers, Women end up becoming prostitutes and children end up in child labor.
• Thus, it is not at all inclusive or intelligent way of going about development. Developing others at the cost of tribals is leading to conflict and tension. NAXALISM is the live example.

CASTE SYSTEM: Continuity or Change

The above given statement is a very strong statement. It is not only against caste system but also against Hindu religion. But, why Ambedkar was against Hindu religion. It is because the Hindu religion provides the legitimacy to the caste system. A myth in Hindu religion says that Brahmins came from the mouth of BRAHMAJI, Khastriyas from arms, Vaishyas from the stomach and shudras from the feet. The Hindu religion also specifies the kind of work these castes are supposed to do. Thus, Ambedkar thought that only by attacking the Hindu religion he can attack the caste system. Therefore, he adopted Buddhism as everybody is equal in the Buddhist tradition. Now, let us study caste system in detail.

1. What are the features of traditional caste system?

• It is attached to you by birth and you can't change it. 
• It divides the society into different castes which are arranged in a hierarchy. Thus, it provides for inequality at birth. 
• It is hereditary in nature. It means that the son inherits his caste  from his father. 
• Every caste had a particular occupation associated with it. Nobody was allowed to change his caste based occupation.
• Marriages were to take place in one's own caste.
• There is concept of purity and pollution. It means that the upper castes wouldn't accept kaccha food from lower caste. Also, there were certain religious disabilities on the lower castes including the untouchability. .

2. What changes had happened in the caste system today?

• There is no provision of changing your caste so it is still attached to you by birth.
• The hierarchy of castes is broadly same. But, the inequalities associated with birth has been tackled to some extent by the policy of protective discrimination.
• It is still hereditary.
• Occupations associated with castes have changed. Today, with industrialization and modernization there are ample opportunities with the lower castes to come out of their age old degrading ocupation.
• It is also changing but the change is very very slow. Those who marry outside their castes are looked down upon and even killed by their parents in some areas dominated by KHAP Panchayats. Mostly, the urban educated people are marrying outside their caste.
• With people eating in restaurants, traveling in buses and intermixing of people these disabilities are going down.Constitution has played an important role in tackling untouchability.

3. Today, most of the people project caste system in bad light. Is it really bad or are there some positives associated with it?

• Its goodness or badness depends on the values through which people judge it. If we see from traditional values it was positive but if we look it from the modern values of equality, liberty and freedom then it is bad.
• Also, the caste system provided the solidarity among the people of their caste. Secular interests of the members of one caste are seen to be common. It provides an identity to the people which helps them to deal with others. Thus, it is an arrangement which provides solidarity and unity among its members.
• From the value system present today it is bad as it gives undue advantage to some at the cost of others. We need equality at birth though people can become unequal later according to their talents.

4. Indian constitution out rightly rejects discrimination based on caste. But, still castes play an important role in people's lives.Has constitution failed to ingrain the modern values in the lives of people?

• Our constitution is very ambitious and forward looking document. Through constitution we thought to bring change in the Indian society. Constituion is just 60 years old but the caste system is present from ages. So, it is too early to say that constitution has failed.
• It is commendable that through constituion we have tackled the negative aspects such as untouchability and other disabilities.
• Caste is only present in informal terms such as job recommendations in private sector, marriages, etc. which are not harmful as such.

5. What has been the role of politics in reviving caste system?

• It is sad that politicians still resort to caste for their votes. Some see it as natural because castes are ready-made groupings available to politicians which they can influence upon. As a caste group has some common interests the politicians cater to those interests to get votes.
• Dalit movements, farmer's movement and various other movements have revived the caste feelings in the people.
• We can say that caste system has declined but the caste feelings are still there which we call as "casteism".

GLOBALIZATION: Good or Bad

1. What do you understand by Globalization?

• It is the process of interaction and integration of domestic economies with the international economy. 
• It happens through movement of people, technology, capital, trade, investment and services.
• Apart from material things, even values are transferred. For e.g. Sunny Leone !!!!.

2. What facilitates globalization?

• Government policies. Basically the degree of openness of the economy.
• Information Technology and telecommunications infrastructure.
• Electronic economy i.e. transfer of money at click of a mouse.
• Transnational Corporations as they produce and sell goods in different countries.
• International Organizations such as WTO, UN, etc.

3. How has globalization impacted various sector of our Country?

• Employment: In-formalization of economy is happening. MNC's are outsourcing the work to informal sector. Closure of sick and loss making enterprises along with downsizing has resulted in unemployment. As competition is tough, companies are hiring more on contract basis to avoid giving benefits to the employees.
•  Trade Unions: They are voluntarily suspending their trade union rights for a specific period. Thy are accepting cut in wages and salaries. Thus, their bargaining power has decreased.
• Agriculture: Input cost is increasing as HYVs, fertilizers and other inputs are controlled by profit seeking MNCs.GM crops will further affect them as they will have to buy new seeds every time. Even government can't subsidize them beyond 10% as mandated under WTO rules.
• Women: Feminization of agriculture as men migrate to other areas for jobs. Women are more involved in home based work which is low paying and unskilled work.
• Environment: Global warming as countries are all connected. MNCs are taking benefits of lax environment rules of developing countries. Kyoto protocol is also helping the process.
• Trade and Investment: FDIs and FIIs are coming to developing countries leading to more jobs. But, the share of LDCs is much less than the developed countries. Economies are connected leading to the spread of recession to other countries. Exports and imports are affecting the value of currency.
• Inequality: Rich is becoming more rich and poor more poorer. Those who have skills, assets and capital are benefited at the cost of others. Those absolute poverty has gone down but the relative poverty is increasing. Regional inequality is also growing as MNCs are investing in those states who have better infrastructure.
• Family: From joint to nuclear family.
• Education: E-universities. foreign universities setting their campuses in India.
• Democracy: Spread of democratic ideals. For e.g. Arab Spring
• Crime: Organized and cross border crime has increased. Terrorism and cyber crime are new challenges to internal security.
• Technology: More transfer of technology is taking place both for war and peace.
• Consumerism: Consumerism is growing. Demand for fast food and consumer durables have increased.
• Migration: Illegal migration of people and animals is happening.
• Human Rights: Awareness about these have increased. Awareness about disability has increased.

4. Is globalization bad in itself or is there any problem in its management?

• Globalization is not new but is happening from ages. 
• Globalization as such is neutral. Problem is not the globalization but about managing it properly.
• Economy is becoming increasingly global but the social and political institutions are still local in character. For e.g. use of caste in politics and Khap panchayats.
• Power has shifted from local authorities to unaccountable MNCs.

5. How to mitigate the negative impacts of globalization?

• Invest in agriculture through ago-processing industries. Go for cooperative farming and incentivize MSME's more.
• Promote those sectors and technologies which are labor intensive as India is a labor surplus country.
• Hugely invest in backward areas through building infrastructure, developing irrigation and watershed management in central India.
• Increase spending in social sector. Don't privatize the facilities which are basic rights of people such as water.
• Make NREGA universal (urban + rural) and also for the skilled people.
• Raise the productivity of informal sector by investing in appropriate technology.
• Skills development of new people and re-skilling of old so that they can get jobs in MNCs.

DECLINING CHILD SEX RATIO: Development or Disempowerment

1. What is the present sex ratio in India?
   

YEAR	TOTAL SEX RATIO	CHILD SEX RATIO (0-6YEARS)
1991	927	945
2001	933	927
2011	940	919

• The observations are very strange. Overall sex ratio is increasing but the Child sex ratio is continously decreasing.
• It shows that younger generation is more active in sex-selective abortions than their parents. It is very sad that educated young people are doing so. SHAME ON US!!!!

2. Why younger generation is resorting more to sex selective abortions?

• The reasons are more economic than social and religious.
• Younger generation is going for a small family. As they plant to have 1-2 children their obvious choice is a boy because boy will be of great help in old age. Also, mother earns respect if a male child is born. Some stupid function is also organized if a male child is born but not when females are born.
• Internalized patriarchy is also a reason for this. Even educated people are victim of this internalized patriarchy. What kind of education are we giving to the younger generation. Rather than critically looking at the traditions, education is perpetuating those traditions.
• High economic development is facilitating this as the technology for sex selective abortion is accesible and affordable. Therefore, sex ratio is worst in developed states of north India.

3. What does the low sex ratio conveys about the development of the society?

• Sex ratio is the index of the status of women in the society and in my view the position of women determines the real development of society rather than GDP.
• Low sex ratio also shows the dependence of woman and her inability to take independent decisions. It is the male member which does the family planning and women just follow him.

4. Why the status of women is low in Indian society?

•  In our society woman represents the honor of family. Therefore, in upper castes and classes they face restrictions in their interactions with outside world. They don't earn and are a burden on the family. As they are a burden they are given less importance and hence their status is low.
• Situation is better in low castes and classes as women go outside the home and earns money to support the family. Thus, her earning capacity leads to higher status in the family.
• Because of this low status she has to compromise more than their male counterparts leading to frustration and fatalistic attitude which led to internalization of patriarchy in them. Then they perpetuate the patriarchy to the next generation.
• This economic dependence on men is also the reason for exorbitant dowry demands and atrocities on women. Stupid people don't attach any monetary value to the household work the woman is doing. 
• Lat but not the least they are more involved in child rearing and bearing which makes them dependent on men.

 5. In which areas the sex ratio is adverse?

• In the northern and western part of India it is bad than the eastern and southern parts of the region.
• It is more in villages than in cities.
• It is more among lower castes and poor than upper castes and rich.

6. How to tackle the issue of low sex ratio?

• Make the women independent. Provide them more employment and utilitarian education. 
• Minimize the violence against women. Please don't commit rapes. Don't harass them on workplace. Let them work and enjoy the life peacefully. If you find the girls attractive just look at her and appreciate her beauty. Don't try to acquire her forcefully. She is not an object but a human being with feelings.
• Punish the doctors who do sex selective abortions. Use technology to detect the culprits such as fix a detector in sonography machines and account for each diagnosis.

URBANIZATION: Inward Migration or Outward Expansion Of City

1. What is the meaning of term Urbanization?

• It is a process of getting Urbanized. It means that the region started showing urban characteristics such as large industrial areas, large housing settlement and civic amenities.
• Urbanization is an indicator of development of a society. More urbanization means more opportunities and more employment for the people.
• It is the rapid and unplanned urbanization which is problematic as infrastructure is unable to support the rising population. This also goes against the principles of sustainable development.

2. How does this urbanization takes place?

• Broadly it can happen in two ways.
• One is the migration of people from the rural to urban areas. As cities provide more opportunities for earning and improving the standard of living, people migrate to urban areas. This can happen through both push or pull factors.
• Second is the expansion of urban areas to the nearby villages. This is what happened in Gurgaon and other NCR regions. Technically, an urban area is defined as having apopulation of more than 5000 people. More than 75% of its population must be involved in non-agricultural activities an the density of population must be greater than 1000 persons/ square mile.

3. How does the urbanization affects the way of life of people?

• First of all, it must be clear that urban way of life is different from rural way of life. Rural areas have more of traditional way of living but the urban areas have been affected by modernization and westernization.
• So, when people migrate from rural areas they bring rural way of life into urban areas and when expansion of city takes place the urban way of life reaches the rural areas. So, there is symbiotic relationship between both.
• But, conflicts also arose because of this transfer of values. For e.g. Inspired by modern values if a person challenges the caste system and marry outside his caste then the Khap Panchayats retaliate back by out casting the person.Other negative impacts on rural areas are breakdown of joint family system, increasing divorce rates, etc.
• Positive ones are bringing urban prosperity in rural areas, urban employment is symbol of status in villages,inflow of technology such as TV, internet, etc.

4. What are the problems of Urban areas?

• Inadequate Housing leading to Slums
• Unsafe and Insufficient Water Supply
• Insufficient and Inadequate Transport Facilities
• Pollution and Environmental Decay
• Crime and Deviant Social Activities.
• Lack of Proper Employment leading to Poverty
• Lack of Proper Solid Waste Management

5. How to solve these problems?

• Provide subsidized housing for the poor people. Implement RAY in letter and spirit
• Water pipelines must be properly managed. Keep them away from sewer pipelines. Also ensure regular water supply at the minimum price.
• Encourage public transport. Go for metro trains as done in Delhi and other cities.
• Regulate strict pollution controls. Ban the vehicles not following the pollution norms. Set the industrial plants away from the city. Provide LPG connection to the poor people so that they don't use fuel wood. Also, promote renewable sources of energy.
• Recent NIRBAHAYA incident is an example of urban crime. Monitor the anti-social elements carefully. Provide them some employment.Map the vulnerable areas and deploy more police. Sensitize the people about women safety.
• Open more industries by implementing the manufacturing policy. Train them and provide the required skills. 
• Segregation of waste at source needs to be done. Conservation of water must be promoted.

6. What are the problems of slums and how they can be solved?

• The occupancy per room is very high. In Mumbai, average occupancy around 5 persons per room. Other infrastructural problems are lack of electricity, drinking water and nutritious food.
• It acts as a transition point from rural to urban migration. It helps to maintain the rural way of life in urban areas. 
• It provides anonymity to its members which is conducive to criminal tendencies. Child delinquency is a major factor in urban crime.
• One solution can be the reconstruction of slums by clearing the slums and replace them by low coast housing with infrastructural facilities. But, it needs a lot of will power and needs assertion from slum people. Mainly, the authorities are interested in clearing slums for some shopping mall or cyber parks.

7. What is PURA model and how it will help to address the problems of urbanization?

• PURA means Providing Urban amenities in Rural Areas. Its aim is to develop a group of Gram Panchayats and provide livelihood opportunities in that area so that people don't migrate to urban areas. Thus, they will enjoy urban facilities by living in rural areas.
• It focuses on connectivity. These are Physical connectivity through proper roads and railways, Electronic connectivity through mobile phones and internet, knowledge connectivity by adopting the modern technical knowledge leading to economic connectivity and prosperity.
• This concept was given by former president Abdul Kalam Azad and 7 pilot projects are undergoing to implement the PURA model of development.

COMMUNALISM: Promoting Solidarity or Creating Divide

1. What is Communalism?

• It is a feeling of belonging to one's own community. In technical terms, it is an ideology which believes that the secular interests of the members of a community are common. It also implies that different communities have different secular interests. These communities can be based on religion, caste, region, etc.
• It is healthier if it is in moderate form. It means that every community is focused on its own interests without any regard to the interests of other community. In moderate form it promotes the solidarity among the members of its community.
• But, it is divisive in the extreme form.It means that the secular interests of communities are not only different but in conflict with each other. Therefore, if community A wants to fulfill its interests then it will jeopardize the interests of community B. But, community B is determined to fulfill its own interests and doing so will jeopardize the interests of community a. This will finally lead to communal clashes.

2. It is generally said that communalism is predominantly an urban phenomenon and mostly the cities are the breeding grounds of communal tensions. What do you think about this observation?

• Yes, it is true that urban areas are hotbeds of communal clashes. Various reasons can be cited for this observation
• People come to urban areas in search of jobs but when they are unable to find the job the frustration keeps in. Most of them end up working in informal sector and living in slum like conditions. Though there are opportunities but equality of opportunities is not there. this further increases the frustration. Somewhere the skewed pattern of economic development is also responsible for the rise of comunalism.
• People in cities come from diverse backgrounds. As caste and region can't be the basis of solidarity the religion is an easy way to organize people and thus communalism becomes an ideology of protest.

3. What is the role of leaders and political parties in fuming communal sentiments?

• Leaders of the community play a major role in articulating and generating the communal sentiments.
• They take advantage of misery of people and project that the reason of their miserable situation is another community.
• These leaders are not interested in religion or religious sentiments but make use of them for their political gains.
• Political parties too find it easy to organize people on the basis of religion as a wider vote base can be achieved by appealing to the religious sentiments of people. In the process, they neglect the real issues of tackling unemployment, poverty and health and focus on imaginary interests of religion.
• Also, the undue concessions given by the governments to appease certain communities also leads to communal tensions. For e.g. Rajiv Gandhi overruled the Supreme Court judgement by amending the constitution in Shah Bano case.

4. How can we tackle this menace of communalism present in Indian society?

• Short term solution lies with the political leaders and the administration. Many experts believe that in 99% of cases the communal clashes are predictable. But, the administration doesn't act because of either its incapacity or collusion.
• Also, the support of politicians to the communal forces must go down. The politicians must focus on the real issues which are affecting the people and not the imagined interests. 
• In long term, the process of secularization must happen. It means that the religion should become a private affair and it should not affect the public life of people. For this to happen we need to provide secular and utilitarian education to the people so that they get employment and don't fall prey to political opportunism. 

 5. How far can be the recent communal violence bill be able to handle the problem of    
     communalism?

• Laws always have certain limitation to bring about large scale changes. Certainly, this bill will not completely stop the communal violence in the country.
• But, it can certainly minimize and prevent the communal clashes. How?
• It fixes the accountability on the part of administration. So, it will be difficult for the political parties to manipulate the administration because there will be fear of punishment on the district officers.
• It also takes into account of the rehabilitation and compensation given to the victims of communal violence. Till now, the compensation given was very less in comparison to the actual loss occurred.
• Nevertheless, it is a positive step to tackle the menace of communalism in our country.

IN SHORT, IT IS THE MIXING OF RELIGION WITH POLITICS WHICH HAS CREATED  THIS PROBLEM. SO, THE RELIGION MUST NOT BE MIXED WITH POLITICS AT ALL

SEDITION CHARGE FOR CHEERING PAKISTAN TEAM: Ignorance or Politics

1. What is the matter?

• Few students from Kashmir studying in a college in Meerut (on a scholarship offered by PM of India) cheered for Pakistan team. They were sitting in the TV room of their hostel. Subsequently, the college authorities suspended them and sent them back to Kashmir. The matter was reported to the police and the local police charged them with sedition. 

2. Was it right for the college authorities to suspend them or report the matter to the police?

•  The college authorities claim that they suspended the students for breaking furniture, disturbing the decorum and cheering for Pakistan. As Meerut is a sensitive city and many communal riots happened in the past, the authorities took a safe approach and sent them back to Kashmir.
• No, it was not right to suspend them on this issue. They should have been called and a simple warning would have solved the purpose. By reporting it to the police, the authorities actually blew the matter out of the proportions.
• Also, I think that the local police was ignorant in applying sedition charge in this case. Normally, police doesn't use its mind to apply the charges. In many cases it is the court which finally corrects the charges.

3. Was it right for the students to cheer for Pakistan?

• Of course, yes. While watching a sport, the passions are high and enthusiasm is there. If they cheered for a winning team who played better then what's wrong with that. Should people stop appreciating the game or talent of sports person just because of artificially created barriers?
•  The sedition charge was applied mainly because the students were from Kashmir and more so they were cheering for Pakistan.
• Also, they were young and should have been handled with care. What message they will send to their fellow Kashmiris?
• What about the freedom of expression of those students. Why the application of laws be so selective?

4. Do you think the sedition charge would have been applied if the opposition were Sri Lanka or England?

• I don't think so. It is because of our sensitivity towards Pakistan issue that the charges were applied.
• Previously, in Chennai, Indian crowd cheered for Pakistan team when they won a match against India. No sedition charge was applied then.

5. What are the larger implications of this incident on youth of Kashmir?

• This will further alienate the Kashmir youth. They will be reluctant to come and study in Indian universities in future.
• It will hamper the process of national integration of Kashmir with India

6. What is the meaning of sedition? Isn't it too harsh to apply sedition charge in this case?

• It is an act against the security of a country.
• It is applied when somebody spreads hatred or is involved in contempt of government.
• Yes, it is too harsh to apply sedition charge because those students were not hampering the security of country by cheering for Pakistan by siting in a TV room.

7. What does it show about the Indian democracy?

• Indian democracy provides many basic rights to the people which includes freedom of expression, etc
• In this way it promotes diversity and any differences can be resolved through  discussions and debates.
• But, in this case, the uniformity of behavior was emphasized. The students were not given an opportunity to clarify themselves and were forced to leave the hostel.
• Also, all the 67 students were sent back. Why? The ideal thing would have been to identify the people who shouted and warn them.This shows the deep prejudice against Kashmiris in the minds of Indian people.

8. What kind of nationalism it is?

• This is a kind of idiotic nationalism which is peripheral in nature.
• It is not patriotism on the part of college authorities or police but chauvinism.  
• If we want Kashmiris to cheer for India then make them feel that they belong to Indian nation. By force, it is impossible to make them cheer for India.

9. What are your views on politicization of cricket or sports in general? 

• Sports can play only a limited role in influencing the politics. But, the politics can affect the sports very badly. For e.g. When the relations between India and Pakistan deteriorates then the cricket teams don't visit other country.
• So, as far as possible the sports must be kept out of politics. 
• Cricket diplomacy had also failed to improve relations between India and Pakistan

10. Will Sania Mirza be charged by sedition if she cheers for her husband who plays for Pakistan or if she cheers for Pakistan in enthusiasm?

• If it is done then it will be a blot on the Indian democracy.

INFORMAL SECTOR: Boon or Bane

·        1. What do you mean by informal sector employment? 

• It consists of economic activities characterized by small scale, low capital intensity, inferior and simple technology, low productivity, reliance primarily on family resources and labor.
• These are largely unregulated by labor legislation, have no formal training, have easy entry and limited clientele 
• Thus, it is unorganized and unprotected sector. Labor relations are social and personal rather than contractual.

·       2. What are the reasons for its growth?

• Poverty 
• Lack of formal sector employment 
• Migration from rural areas to urban areas because of our failure to develop rural agriculture and rural industrialization. 
• Liberalization of economy combined with arrogant attitude of  formal sector employment.

·        3. In what sectors it is?

• Stall holders, lottery ticket seller, parking, house maids, potters, repairman, newspaper seller, pimps and prostitutes, drug peddlers, pick pockets, beggars, rag pickers and scavengers. In short, it is everywhere.

·        4. Is it necessary for economy?  Should we regulate it? Is it feasible to have no informal sector at all?

• It provides employment to around 92% of India’s labor force. Trying to bring in any legislation will create market imperfections creating hurdles in the smooth functioning of the market led economy. Also it will require huge infrastructural investment beyond the capacity of the Government. But the Government has to play a role of facilitator and promoter so that the workers employed in the informal sector are able to get requisite level of protection and security.    

·        5. What is the level of poverty of informal sector?

• According to Social development report in 2004-05, 41% of workers in informal sector belonged to below poverty line households.

·        6. What is the composition of informal sector? What is their wage profile?

• Self Employed: 56%. Theoretically they are always employed but practically they are not employed always. Casual wage earners and poorer sections of self employed many times belong to the same household 
• Casual wage employment: 33%. Here the reason of poverty is both low wages and underemployment. On an average they earn about Rs 50 a day for a family of three and didn’t get employment for 13% of days.
• Regular wage paid employment: 11%

·        7. What all castes are affected by it?

• Mostly the disadvantaged sections of society resort to informal sector. S.C’s, S.T’s Muslims and a section of OBC constitute informal sector.

·        8. Is it more in rural or urban areas and why?

• In rural areas it is mostly agricultural but in urban areas it is also there in modern sectors of economy.  In agriculture it is 58.5%, industry 19% and services 22.5%.

·        9. Is child labor a part of informal sector? Why? What about women?

• Child labor constitutes a part of informal sector because children work with low wages and don’t demand any benefits. Women constitute around 20% of informal sector employment. They are mostly concentrated in household works such as housemaid and agriculture.  

·        10. What is the impact of liberalization on informal sector?

• With liberalization the competition increased and therefore we adopted better technology to compete with foreign cheap goods. In the process the modern sector became less employment intensive. The informal sector is growing at a much faster rate than formal employment (0.1%).

·        11. How does it add to the growing economic inequality?

• Ratio of output per worker in formal employment to that in informal employment were 10.4 in 2004-05. Output per worker decides the income of laborers and therefore higher gap in output per worker is leading to economic inequality.

·        12.How can we ensure growth in formal sector employment?

• We need to make modern sector more employment centric 
•  Output growth in the traditional sector needs to be increased. 
• For this we need to divert investment from modern to the traditional sector.

·        13. Is government doing anything to take care of social security related to informal sector?

• National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP) comprising old age pension, family benefit and maternity benefits to address the social security needs of the people below poverty line.
• The social insurance schemes include several schemes launched by the Central and the State Governments for the benefit of weaker sections through the Life Insurance Corporation of India and General Insurance Corporation of India. 
• Janshree Bima Yojana Yojana is a group insurance scheme and covers natural/accidental death, partial or total permanent disability due to accident and the people below poverty line and marginally above are eligible to join the Scheme. 
• Another group insurance scheme for the agriculture landless labour, ‘Krishi Shramik Samajik Suraksha Yojana-2001’ launched in July, 2001 provides for pension and insurance besides providing money back. The contribution of the beneficiary is Re.1 per day while the Government contributes Rs. 2/- per day. 
•  Several public institutions and agencies are also imparting various kinds of social security benefits to the selected groups of workers. Among these Self Employed Women’s Association (SEWA) has made significant achievement in promoting social security through the formation of cooperatives. 
• Welfare funds are constituted from the cess collected from the employers and manufacturers/producers of particular commodity/industry concerned. 
• The Government has also enacted a Central legislation for the building and other construction workers towards creation of welfare funds at the level of States. There are around 20 million construction workers in the country. A small cess is collected on the basis of the cost of a construction project which makes the corpus of the welfare fund for the construction workers.

·        14. What is the strategy of government?

• Apart from giving social security, the government is designing special programmes to directly generate employment for informal workers such as NREGA which recognized employment as a right for an informal worker and providing employment an obligation for the government. 
• But this kind of intervention will only make them dependent on government. It will not help in enhancing output productivity or making informal workers more self sufficient. It will not address the problem of widening labor income between formal and informal sector.

·        15. Will our growth be affected if we invest more on informal sector than the formal sector?

• Apparently it looks like that our growth will be affected. But we need to choose between inclusive growth and growth without equity. We need to find out a way by which we can do both i.e. maintain growth and improve the conditions of informal sector.