Social Justice: A Case Study on Western Odisha

I. INTRODUCTION

Social justice is more fascinating today with its emerging scope. It is very difficult to give an exact definition of social justice for its inter disciplinary approach. The very definition of social justice has always been complex and contested. Here the terms endorses that the relative distribution of rights, opportunities and resources within a given society where every individual received what is their due from society. Social justice is not a vague concept it seeks to do justice to the citizen of the state. Social justice must be adopting necessary and reasonable measures. Social justice is an umbrella term. It is used interchangeably use as welfare state. It is considered to be vision of egalitarian society same time it all so coextensive with social welfare whatever may be its prime concern is abolition of all type of inequalities i.e., inequality of wealth and opportunity, race religion ,caste distinction and title.

Social justice a movement that evolved to aid societal issues, in which unequal treatment occurs. Initially, the term was used specifically in regards to poverty and the need for a more equal distribution of wealth and resources but today incorporate the segregation of groups based on gender, sexual orientation, religion, political views, age culture and wealth.1

Social justice has different connotations in western and Indian context, where western nation talk about the material basics that distribution of wealth and opportunity in a society in fact so many thinkers defend it. In Indian perspective it resemble in a religious and spiritual basic ancient Hindu Dharmasastras express that do your duty and do not expect the result.2 Justice was equal to dharma which was held the eternal values of peace and tranquility in a society. Casteism and rigid social system is playing a major role in paving the way to social injustice in the society. Every region of Odisha is still suffering from caste discrimination even now Odisha society believes superstition and bad practice of evil social system. Today also casteism influence in extant in Odisha and as a consequence people do not to prefer inter caste marriage and even avoid drinking and fooding from lower caste. Caste system so rooted in the Odisha that it sometime feels that social justice is a myth. Moreover previously concept like Gandhi Sarvodaya Samaj and Ambedkar social democracy vision for social justice guiding to Indian societies.

Social justice is not a new concept it has long back history with the writing of John Rawls, Nozick, Miller, Barker, Amartya sen along with so many thinkers have interpred it in various ways. Social justice cannot be defined as a set of principles that apply in all situations and contexts, as David miller has elaborated ―Nor can social justice be measured along a single metric such as human welfare or

irrespective of caste, creed, colour, sex place of birth. At the same time the demand of social justice might require that people are treated differently according to the diversity of human needs and capabilities. In general social justice is quite same as distributive justice expound by Aristotle according to him that distributive justice means equally proportion of wealth , resources ,rewards and opportunities distributed among the people and in society according to their worth and desert. It also deal with absence of privilege classes and all types of discrimination in a society. The constitution of India has commentary on social justice in its various provisions in such as Article and in Directive Principle of State Policy, fundamental Right, and fundamental duties. The preamble also deals with the equality of status and opportunity among all individual and it combine social and economic justice which is term as distributive justice. Social justice in Indian concept reflects upon two things I. Absences of all types of discrimination in a society and II. Equality of opportunity in every sphere of human life.

The second chapter of this research paper underlies various assumptions to availing social justice under the Indian constitution. The constitution as the cornerstone of the nation was intended to promote social transformation in Granville Austin.4 at the time of independence, the constitution makers were highly influenced by the feeling of social equality and social justice. Social justice is the foundation stone of Indian constitution. Constitution makers well identify the principle of justice. They wanted to search such form of social justice which could serve the expectation of the people. Jabaharlal Neheru said that first work of the assembly is to make India independent by a new constitution by starving people will get complete meal and cloths, and each Indian will get best option that he can progress himself.5 The word Socialist and Secular have been inserted in the preamble which reflects the idea of social welfare state.6 Justice in the Indian constitution underlying on three assumption social, economic and political justice.

Social justice means absence of privileged classes and absence of all types of discrimination regarding caste, religion, sex and place of birth .Economic justice implies elimination of inequality in wealth, income and property. A combination of social and economic justice denotes distributive justice. Political justice denotes that all citizens have equal political participation and enjoyment of equal political rights in a society. as part of fundamental rights for the advantage of SCs, STs and OBCs. The constitution provides reservation in areas of education, employment, land allotment and housing etc. article 330 and 332 of Indian constitution provides reservation in political matters to marginalized peoples. Article 36 to 51 discuss about directives principles of state policy. Here numbers of article provision for ideal social economic democracy. These principles are fundamental in governance of the country and it is the duty of the state to apply these principles in the time of making public policy. According to the justice Gajendragadkar,‖in this sense social justices hold the aims of equal opportunity to every citizen in the matter of social and economic activities and prevent inequalities.‖7 the constitution of India both follow the corrective and distributive justice as far as Indian society is concern.

As far western Odisha is concerned social justice has lost its shape. Social justice is paralyzed with so many immoral and unethical concerns like corruption, illiteracy, low standard of education system, lack of medical facilities, drought, poverty, hunger economic disparity etc. Moreover political and social turmoil pull back to the western Odisha to under development. There are various dimensions of social justice, for instance social, political, economic and legal dimension. In perspective of western Odisha there need to be more legalization of social justice so that people can enjoy their rights and opportunity in a greater concern. No socio-economic development of rural areas has been noticed in the western Odisha from a long decade. So far the various reason have been pointed out why the western part of Odisha missing in the national mainstream of development.

There are still certain places in western Odisha where basic educational facilities are missing. Here the politicians are lack of technical knowledge and involve in dirty politics only. As a result their politics concern for the party ticket and for party defection and give less importance to the society in general. If we talk about the government schools of the regions example like Sundargarh has maximum number of school 2630 among them 409 schools have no toilet for boys and 1644 school has no toilet for girls. Moreover 2099 school has no electricity. If we look upon Bargarh this district has 1809 govt. school and among them 410 has no boys toilet and 337 has no girls toilet and 1365 has no electricity.8

hygiene and social environment depend upon the safe drinking water and sanitation. The status of water and sanitation of western areas of Odisha faces people a very miserable condition. District like Bargarh, Boudh, Sundergarh and Sonepur has no sanitation availability. Due to irregularity in sanitation availability disease like Jaundice engulf all over the western Odisha. There are still a lot of places where electric connectivity is an important issue where people depend upon local sources rather than government. Where the country is gearing up for the Bullet train the western region is still suffering from electricity and livelihood and even missing the railways track in various part of this region. Government hospital and health facility of western Odisha has been in a pitiable condition. No proper accommodation is available in all the government hospital patients are laying in the floor of the hospital and doctors are very delinquent. It is the burning example of Burla hospital one of the largest hospital of Sambalpur District. No available of ambulance for reaching to the remote village and people are carrying their patients on their shoulder and take to the hospital. Infant mortality rate is only 53 per 1000 live birth urban areas as compared to 76. In rural areas only 26.4 percent tribal children are immunized when compared to 43.7percent among the general population in the state and anemia is a very high of 16.2 percent among the women.9 Maternal mortality rate is very is going down to down and various communicable diseases and infectious diseases spreading all over the reason because of low medical awareness among the people. No infrastructural developmental has been observed in Government hospital the entire amount goes to the pocket of Staff rather than development. Western Odisha draws a very decimal picture of poverty. A majority of the region‘s population lack the purchasing power to buy sufficient food. More than 60% people live in below poverty line in several district like Sonepur, Boudh, Bolangir, Nuapada and kalahandi. Inadequate irrigation and drought ruins the backbone of western Odisha where so many deaths occur due to hunger and poverty etc. Unemployment and migration are the problems of whole nation and western Odisha is not an exemption. Mostly youth are educated unemployed and migrating others state like Gujarat, Telengana, Tamilnadu for searching job. Corruption has played vital role in backwardness and least development of western Odisha. As we know many scams corruptions has been witnessed in the last decades Governmental officials and private institution members are taking bribe to provide public service and government scheme. various deprivations and are excluded because of its distance rural location.10 Southern Odisha is tribal dominated area and very poor as compared to other regions of Odisha. The regional and inter group disparity plays a pivotal role in least development in socio-economic field of the regions. In district like Sundergarh and Kalahandi adivasi and tribal live in most Vulnerable condition without having minimum facilities like education, health, information and communication so they are unable to avail public service.

Social justice in true sense can be realizing through effective policy forum. As far as the Government of Odisha is concerned time to time it makes so many policies to establishment of social justice in the regions. But the bitter truth is that all the plan and policy made for pen and paper and not in proper execution. The policies have been used as a vote bank and large number of needy beneficiaries is prepared of it in Odisha. ―Kalia Yojana‖ 2018-19 it is for financial, livelihood, cultivation, support and insurance facilities to farmers. The state government will implement this scheme with an outlay of Rs.10,000 Cr.11 But this policy also like other used as a vote bank and most of the beneficiary whose have land all so didn‘t get this allowances. ―Peetha Scheme‖ 2018 this scheme was lunched for initiative at creation of awareness about various scheme of the state government and improves transparency in distribution of individual and social benefits. This is a part of the 3-T initiative of technology, transparency and team work.12 Odisha food security scheme 2018, food security act of 2013 not covering certain groups in Odisha thus it making their own version.13 Biju Swastya Kalyan Yojana in Aug 15 2018 aims at providing financial assistance for heatlh care to about 3.5 crore people of the state with annual coverage of Rs 5 lakhs per family and Rs 7 lakhs per women members of the family.14 Sarbakhyama Yojana June 2018 for regularizing unauthorized constructions in the state subject to certain conditions. Utthan scheme June 18 2018 for improve education for class 6 to 8 to improve quality education and overall development.15 There have been so many policy frames by Odisha government from time to time but actual problem is that the policies are not well implemented. In Odisha it is a major problem as far as underdevelopment is concerned. There are various

implementation. Common challenges are described below. • Resources and sustainability • Geographic limitations • Cultural and social issues • Communication gap • Lack of administrative capability • Corruption • Organizational structure • Lack of public involvement

A research problem is the primary concerns of a research process. The main objective of undertaking research process is to define why social justice has not reach to the rural and western areas of Odisha? Social justice is a myth or reality? What is the reason behind the slow progress of economic and social progress of the peoples? If we compare western Odisha with other regions it would be noted that we people far lagging behind the development. Social justice and development is a prime concern of Western Odisha Development Council and it more fun to say that WODC is a part of Eastern region of Odisha. Most of all casteism, communalism, poverty, and inequality, less opportunity and unequal distributions of societal values gave birth to the social injustice. In the study proposed here, it will explore the various dimensions and documents the problems of social justice in the western region of Odisha. To some extent the purpose of this paper will serve the individual to access their life peacefully and all round development. Generally social justice is a moral and ethical question that fall under the social and moral responsibility of individual and institution. In fact large number of institution and non- governmental institution make restless attempt to provide social justice however this is very much challenged at individual and community level. There are have been many policy has been made by government for addressing the issues of social justice but most of them policy has no output at all. In rural areas people are giving bribe to the govt. official for fulfilling their basic needs. All the opportunities concerned about the proper policy execution and people need to be more aware of access to their rights and opportunity. In the study proposed here, an attempt will be made to answer the question why social justice is significant and how the policy model of govt. decreases the social injustice.

III. RELEVANCE OF RESEARCH TOPICS:

Social justice is more relevant as far as western Odisha is concern where maximum numbers of people manage their live through mode of Agriculture and they are hardly aware about the political system and rights and opportunity provide by the state and government. Social justice is indispensible part of the society. The progress in Social and economic life of the people highly depend upon the progress of social justice. According to the Barker ―social justice means enjoying of equal rights and opportunity for the development of their inherent qualities‖. It analyzes that by accessing of social justice one can develop of his personality and can understand their potentiality. Social justice need to be more working in western part of Odisha for giving a better life and facilities to its people. The socio-economic condition put question mark in the progress and development of the region. It is very ridiculous that people of western Odisha are still suffering from food security water sanitation and connectivity of electricity in this 21st century. Moreover unsocial things like poverty, corruption, poor health facility never let it alone. Being employed is very tough where government institution and private institution demand high amount of bribe, those who have money, made everything possible. This circumstance plays important role in chasm between rich and poor and help in the growth of economic disparity. In the constitution of India also enumerated social justice in fundamental rights, directive principle of state policy and fundamental duties. A couple of article such as article- 15(2),17 19 19(5),23,24,38,39,41,46,331,332,333 commentary upon the social justice. Social justice can be investigated in two ways I. sustainable livelihood which means access to adequate means of living, such as shelter, clothing, food, education, health and resources. II. Social and political participation in the government and access to all available means of justice. research work. These are review of related literature enables the researchers to define the limits of his field. It helps the researchers to delimit define his problems. The knowledge of related literature brings the up to date information on the bank which others have done and thus helps to state objectives clearly and concisely. It gives and understanding of the previous works done in the related field and thus eliminates unintentional duplication of well-established findings. By the review the literature the researchers can avoid unfruitful and useless problems areas. He can select those areas in which positive findings are likely to occur and his endeavor would likely to add to the knowledge in meaningful way. The following books and research papers have been revised to the purpose of the study. • State of the Adivasis in Odisha 2014: A Human Development Analysis: This book analysis in a great extent to highlighting on the various problems face by tribal and adivasi peoples in the western part of Odisha as well provide certain mechanism to address the issues and challenges of socio economic issues and inter group disparity among the tribal people. This paper on behalf of the book can be able to explore the challenges in their daily lives: social inclusion, health care, education, displacement, poverty and so on. It also focuses on the governmental apparatus to stress upon to implementation of various policy for meeting to all the aspiration and demand of the peoples. • Rawls John, A theory of justice (1971) this book is the foundation for social justice. Here the author analyzes the social justice in various dimension in the assigning rights and duties by the society and define appropriate distribution and benefits and burdens of social cooperation. It shows why people want a fair and equal spread of rights and duties and all so equal distribution of benefits, to value a place in society. Some people enjoy enormous benefits and some are lack of it so society offers the potential of revolution. • Samaddar Ranabir state of justice in India 2009 author has finest analysis in the approach the issues of justice in broader context of post – colonial democracy and look at the limits within which democracy permits justice social justice in particular. This book helps analyze social justice in the undertaken to realized justice in rural areas all prospect and compliments have been follows in attempt this research work. It is also useful in the making of good policy and deliver effective procedure to execution of policy at grassroots level for imparting justice to the needy peoples. • The ―Telegraph online edition newspaper‖ an article by Union Home Minister Srikant Jena in 2018 published Jenas social justice posture when he has raised the different perspective of social justice and development. And here he has said that Odisha tops the list among the poverty stricken states in the country. As many as 40 lakhs youth are unemployed. According to the Raghuram Rajan committee report, the state fares very poor in all parameters of development. He also charged that 2 lakhs crore was looted under during the Naveens regime. Social justice reservation in medical IT sectors many more issues highlighted here. This article helps in attempt to the research paper in many ways, by review this article it is to know that what are contemporary issued has been faced by Odisha and its people. The third chapters of this paper followed by this article that social justice is denied because of collection of social problems come its way. It all so significance in the highlighting of social and economic problems suffered by western Odisha peoples. • Odisha Economic Survey Report 2017-18 ―Planning and Convergence Department Directorate of Economics and Statistics Government of Odisha‖: in this report it shows the social and economic parameter of development. It gives various measures to the cause social and economic development and its problems and prospects. It relies the inclusive growth in the economics sectors and issues related to the investment of irrigation, infrastructure, poverty alleviation, health care, education, development of human resources and industrial promotion. • Dr. Pravas Jain ―A study about the status of social justice in India‖ an international journal of research granthaalayah. This article advice upon that socio economic model of development can be possible through policy model of socialism. This research has been paper attempted on the basic of its agenda of an egalitarian, social order where there is no discrimination among the individual on the basics of caste, religion, race sex place of birth. It

• Dr. Puneet Pathak –―Social justice under Indian constitution‖ here the author trying to discuss about the social justice under Indian constitution and judicial interpretation. By follows the article my paper can preach a constitutional clarity about social justice. The Indian constitution incorporates social justice in various provision extensively, it convey that the basic assumption of justice equate with equal rights, access, and fair treatment in legal system. Justice is necessary implication for a welfare state. It serves the all-purpose to how the rights equality and opportunity of the people guarantee by the legal code of law. No people should deny enjoying the equal rights and opportunity in democratic state.

• To introduce the concept of social justice • To examine the Social justice under the Indian constitution. • To examine the problems and prospects of social justice in perspective of western Odisha. • To assess the role of policy execution of the government in context of rendered social justice. • To analysis and interpretation of data at various district levels. • To provide certain suggestion for achieving social justice in the western Odisha.

• Social justice is needed to be more progressive in western region of Odisha. • Western Odisha concern more over on distributive justice for the development of socio-economic condition of the regions. • Effective policy implementation can truly address the social justice in western Odisha.

The research study is based on the analytical study of the facts. It follows the Survey method and empirical analysis of collection of data from various districts of western Odisha for the analyzing the concept of social justice. In process it will use both newspaper, internet and other source of published materials for purpose of analyses and interpretation in the concept of social justice. It is based upon the empirical and contemporary analysis and a humble attempt is made for the perception of social justice.

VIII. LIMITATION OF THE STUDY:

As stated above social justice is not a new concept but it is quite new type of experience to explore it on western Odisha perspective. So much material has been gathered with regard to this study. Nearly an humble attempt has been made of the collected data from 10 district of western part of Odisha. There are some acute problems which have to be confronted during the study.

Admitted above all the facts and issues of social justice of western Odisha is concern the political environment of western Odisha is not amicable for socio economic development due to party conflict and party defection and ineffective policy implementation. Lack of instrument like redistributive policy and infrastructural development as well poverty, illiteracy and unemployment crack the hole in administration as a result it‘s not able to fulfill the demand and aspiration of the people in time to time.

X. CONCLUSION:

It is indeed pity to say that social justice and socio-economic rights, that majority of the western region of Odisha does not have basic amenities of a dignified life, namely food, shelter, clothing, health, education and housing. This majority consists of the poorest of the poor, tribal communities, Dalits, lower and affluent, the rural regions fared far worse than the urban ones and women as a rule have borne the brunt of deprivation and discrimination. The Constitution of India enumerates a numbers of articles and provisions to for guarantee the social justice, socio economic rights and social and economic security. As a consequence, due to the poor legal security majority of people have denied it. Not only western region of Odisha but also in India so many issues and challenges pose hindrances in the way of social justices. Due to the various problems western Odisha legging behind all parameters of development decimal picture of poverty and illiteracy, inequality in health, social status and poor economic opportunity ruins the structure of western region. Social justice is possible and achievable through effective implementation of policy and programme rights and opportunity available to the citizens. Only the strategies of socialism and greatest happiness of the greatest number of people formula can solve the problems of social justice.

1. Panchamama Alliance Global Community Journal Page 1 2. Concept of justice in Western and Indian Thought-role of Morality Page -30 Shodhganga publication. 3. David miller (2001) “Principle of social justice” Harvard university press. 4. Granville Austin, (1999) Indian constitution: corner stone of a Nation New Delhi: Oxford University press, p 11 5. Minarva Mills vs. Union of India (1980) 3 SCC 625 6. By the 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1976. 7. Gajendragadhkar, Sapra n.7 p.77

9. “The health infrastructure and health service in Orissa” (2018) p. 46 10. Amita shah.(2012) ―poverty and livelihood” among forest based regions in southern Orissa: evidence and policy imperatives in book social exclusion and adverse inclusion: Development and deprivation of adivasis in India. Edited by Dev Nathan and Virginius Xaxa. New Delhi Oxford University Press. 11. Plan and polices – (2019) Odisha government portal https://www.gov.in. “The health infrastructure and health service in Orissa” 2018 p. 46 12. Plan and policies- (2019) Odisha government portal https://www.gov.in

Retrived 18 Dec.2018

M.A., M.Phil., NET, Lecturer in Political Science, Belpahar Degree College, Belpahar, Odisha nirad8984@gmail.com