The Status of Marginalized Groups in Indian Democracy

Abstract

The main reason for calling democracy a way of life is that it is based on the human principles of freedom, equality, brotherhood, cooperation, sacrifice and coexistence. Democracy in the true sense is a system of value. Giving every person the full opportunity to develop his personality, as well as every person in the society is just as important as all other people in the society. Democracy is based on such a broad value. If we consider the democratic state in such a broad sense and not just the form of government, it becomes clear that the democratic theory is based on certain basic principles.  Considering the basic principles, these include the rights of the individual, equality, freedom, sovereignty of the people, rule of the majority, belief in peace, creation and control of democratic institutions for policy making, etc. The idea of human rights is basically about emancipation and human freedom.  Human rights have been considered in Indian society since ancient times.  The social message given by Lord Mahavira and the Buddha, "Live and let live", guides the global human rights ideology.  That is why the concept of human rights has been clearly enshrined in the Indian Constitution considering the fundamental rights of the common man. Even though India has been independent for more than seventy years, there are huge disparities at the socio-political and economic levels.  Today, public policy and decision-making is dominated by the capitalist class, the landlords, the upper bureaucrats, the upper castes and mainly men.  This ruling class has an influence on the political and social system. this class, which controls the affairs of the state, is at the center of the whole social system. Therefore, there is a huge number of marginalized groups in the country who are deprived of power, supremacy, justice, decision making and social, economic and political system, Agricultural laborers and the poor. Such groups are weakened socially, economically, educationally due to lack of education and employment opportunities. Even today, these groups are isolated from the mainstream of development. Therefore, in the broadest sense, these groups are exploited, secondary and deprived.