Social issues in India

(Department of Mass Communication and Journalism,

Gauhati University. jidankalita@gmail.com)

What are social issues? The answer to the question can be found if we look around in the society we live in. An individual problem affects only a particular person, while on the other hand, public issues if we consider it, is a wider concept that is faced by society as a whole. They generally refer to the issues of a country that harms its social and cultural aspects. Social issues are something that is to be dealt with or handled collectively.

India emerged as an independent nation on 15th August 1947 after a long struggle against the British. India as a country has been facing challenges for decades. Contemporary India is flecked with numerous issues that are labelled with social problems. There still exist many social issues which the people of the country generally oversee or practise inside their closed doors whereby they don't want to discuss them. However, social changes over the years have brought some sort of improvement or a new set of circumstances wherein an otherwise overlooked issue might be given importance. For example, population explosion was not viewed as a serious issue at the time. Moreover, it is also important to note that an issue will be considered a social issue when enough people will consider it undesirable. Sati in India was not deemed to be a social issue unless and until Raja Ram Mohan Roy criticized the practice and thereby a considerable number of people agreed with him.

UNEMPLOYMENT: It is one of the most serious and global phenomena. An individual depends on their work for their livelihood as well as for a status. Unemployment in India can be classified as seasonal, cyclical and technological. Millions have lost their jobs due to the pandemic enforced lockdown. According to data, the rate of unemployment in India rose to 9.3% from January to March 2021 where women are more affected.

POVERTY: Poverty is one of the leading social problems in India. It means the unavailability of adequate means of money to fulfil the basic requisites of human life, e.g. food, shelter and clothes. As India is one of the most populated countries in the world it acts as a major factor for gearing up for poverty. A case study on social issues demonstrates that the higher growth of the population is also a factor for increasing unemployment and poverty.

CASTE SYSTEM: The caste system generally means the division of people into different groups based on their caste. It includes four groups of people in Indian society. They are Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vaisyas and Shudras or the Dalit people.

Among these, the Brahmins were considered to be superior in society. The Kshatriyas are placed under the Brahmins, which consist of the warrior group. The Vaishyas include the businessmen groups. And the Shudra was placed at the lower position in this caste system consisting of the sweepers, washermen etc. They were named "untouchables".

Though today such classification has been declared illegal, it still prevails in many parts of India, mainly in rural areas.

CHILD LABOUR: Childhood is believed to be the best phase of human life, the symbol of innocence, happiness and joy. It is often seen that children across the country are engaged in some of the other work which even sometimes includes the hazardous to earn some penny because of poverty or unemployment, and therefore, the children are burdened with looking after the earnings of their family. It results in child labour.

It is said to the work done by children below the age of fourteen, which deprive them of their childhood and studies. Children are forced to work in various factories, small-scale industries, shops or household works. Child labour affects the growth and development of a child in various aspects, including the physical, mental, psychological and social.

POSITION OF WOMEN: Women in the form of goddesses in India have been worshipping for ages. During ancient times women were being treated with great status in society. But as time elapsed, the position of women deteriorated and they were being treated as an object with no rights, respect or status to be enjoyed in society. However, with time it has been improved to some extent by the work of various social workers or revolutionist movements. But if we look around there is still more that needs to be improved even after India got Independence.

Today both men and women enjoy equal opportunities, but as far as the freedom and safety of women are concerned, India lags. Issues like domestic violence, rape, the portrayal of women in media, etc., become major issues and must be tackled immediately.

COMMUNALISM: Communalism refers to attempts to overemphasize the importance of religious identity and stimulate communal violence between different religious or social groups. Within India, tensions between Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs have been present since the time of the India-Pakistan partition. Muslims, Sikhs and other religious minorities are protected by the Indian constitution under provisions for justice, tolerance, equality and freedom. Despite these provisions, communal violence has been a part of India since the very beginning. Usually, communal violence is more politically motivated in the name of a vote bank than fueled by religion.

CONCLUSION: Society can solve social issues together if they come together, join hands and work towards ending them. These issues act as a barrier towards the progress of society and therefore there is a need to unite ourselves and move forward to tackle the issues. Governments have been giving their efforts, provisions have been laid down in the various laws of the country, however, if we as an individual don't act upon it or start handling the issues it won't be of great help. And therefore, there is a need and the time has come where we need to wake up, else it will continue to grow. It can be only solved through mass consciousness, education, humanity, and a positive attitude towards it among the people living in the very society.