Questionnaire 1 (attached also)

Socio-Economic Rights and Role of State

In Bundelkhand, Shakun a 29 year old widow with two kids from Sahariya tribe in Rajvara
village is somehow managing to survive by consuming mud for past several years. She has no
card made by any government department whereby she could claim any entitlements under any
scheme. The village is hit by the drought and since past few years no rains have adversely
affected the agriculture. Most of the males have migrated in search of work. Therefore many
women like Shakun are left to fend for themselves. Bhagwati, another woman whose husband
has migrated is asking for doles from the higher caste communities in the next village. Shakun is
surviving in bad shape. Her stomach ache is not going. She cannot digest a roti now as whenever
someone tried to feed her the same she vomits that out. Her two kids are left to fend for
themselves. (May 2016)

In parched Latur there has been an utter devastation and farmers are agitating over depletion of
water and the district administration has invoked Section 144 CrPC. The government is sending
Jaldoots or water trains into the area. However, conflict and clashes are still reported as people
with power or those hailing from higher caste are consuming the same while not allowing the
same to reach to villages where people from lower caste stay. (April 2016)

Sachin, a 10 year old boy living in Marathwada region left home on a bicycle to fetch water from
a well located about a kilometer away from their home. This is his daily routine for past several
months, however that day he lost his balance while lifting water and drowned himself. The well
has no boundary wall and Sachin does not know how to swim. (May 2016)

Sukhlal, a 36 years old farmer, committed suicide in a village in Punjab. The police found a diary
and a few pieces of dried roti in his pocket. On one of the pages of diary it was written, “Live life
like a flower and if you die, die with dignity”. He had loan of Rs 15,0000/- which he has taken
for his daughter’s wedding and he could not repay because the crop failed. His name was
dropped from the Antodaya Scheme when the digitalization drive was carried out by the
government recently as he was ill and could not go to the local office to get his name registered

1
under the Scheme. His three kids are surviving on Mid Day Meals given in the school once a
day. (April 2016)

These are only few incidents which were reported by some of the online alternative magazines.
The mainstream media hardly carry any such news items as reporting such news will not affect
their ratings. The state has not done much except providing symptomatic relief at some places
like sending water trains. And this concept of drought or farmer suicide is not new. Since the
colonial regime famines, drought, disasters, epidemics have been happening yet the science and
technology could not be used to find solutions to such issues.

Article 21 of the Constitution of India provides for right to life with dignity to all irrespective of
socioeconomic background and the state is bound to ensure that the constitutional rights
guaranteed under part III and part IV must be met. However, during the recent years, under the
pressure from the international institutions like WTO and IMF the state is rolling back its
responsibilities and has been denying the citizens their rights. More specifically, it is the poor
and the underprivileged who are suffering the most in the current socio-economic regime. The
situation is that 330 million people are afflicted by the drought and because of the lackadaisical
approach adopted by the state they are denied of their basic right to access to water. Over 300
districts in 13 states of the country, including Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and
Karnataka, are facing shortage of drinking water. Privatization is taking its toll. In many states,
the water level has gone down to the extent that even drinking water is not available at many
places and women have to walk miles in search of water. Farmers are committing suicide
because the crop failed as there is no water to irrigate and therefore they could not pay the debt.
The compensation provided by the government in many cases is too less that hardly could help
families in rural areas to rehabilitate or start afresh. Agricultural land is being acquired from the
farmers at low rate in the name of development thus depriving them of their livelihood. Forests
are being destroyed for mining and other commercial purposes without recognizing the rights of
tribals who have been inhabitating and surviving in the area where minor forest produce is their
only livelihood. The economic policies are helping the corporate sector rather than masses to
acquire wealth by grabbing natural resources. In such situation what should be done? Who
should be held responsible for the plight of millions of citizens in the country who are deprived
of their basic rights? Can the urban educated Indians who enjoy a privileged life in cities escape

2
from their ethical responsibilities to see that those living in villages be left at the mercy of state?
These are some major questions. Considering this we at PUCL are posing some of the queries to
common people.

1. Shakun, Sachin, Sukhlal are few names. There are millions like them who are forced
to live in such awful situation where even the welfare scheme could not help. What
do you think could be done for such people?
2. Who do you think should be held responsible for such situation where millions are
left to fend for themselves?
3. Can a policy which is blind towards the rights of poor and marginalized be held right
under the eyes of law?
4. A number of farmers like Sukhlal have been committing suicides. And this is not only
in one state but in almost every state that farmers are committing suicides for various
reasons. What do you think should be done to prevent those?
5. Drought is affecting 330 million people in India currently. This has been happening
over past several years because of climate change and global warming and there is a
deficit in rainfall. What do you think should be done in such situation to prevent
droughts?
6. Do you think that the government is doing right to roll back the welfare measures and
holding people responsible for their own well being?
7. In case you are being given the responsibility to make decisions for India what will
you do?
8. Many of the welfare schemes implemented by the government are not implemented
properly on the ground. For instance in above cases both Shakun and Sukhlal could
not get anything because either their name is not there or has been deleted for some or
the other reason. What should be done in such situation?
9. In the name of development, the government has made big dams while destroying
many villages and yet water could not be made available because these huge
structures created have either become dysfunctional because of low and cheap
material being used. Who should be held responsible for such irrational and illogical
decisions?

3
10. India is considered to be an agricultural country. How far this statement is relevant in
the present context? Do you think India should retain its structure as an agricultural
based economy or should it compete with other nations and become a strong
industrial economy?
11. The capitalist economic model adopted by the government has not benefitted the
country. Do you agree or disagree with the statement?
12. A minister opines that `if you want development of the country then certain
causalities or untoward incidents can be avoided or overlooked’. Do you agree with
him? What are your views on such remarks?
13. Currently, the commercial media has been reporting on sensational news items to
enhance their ratings. Do you think that it is ethical on the part of media to not to
report or highlight the news items that affect rural areas or poor people?
14. In case you are heading any media channel/magazine/newspaper what will you do?
15. The government is making way for the corporate sector in India through schemes like
Make in India, Skill India etc by giving them subsidies, by helping them to acquire
land at cheap prices, by making labor laws flexible, by allowing them to exploit
natural resources like land, water and forests. Do you think that this is a right
decision?
16. Should the government keep on providing subsidies to rich and corporates at the cost
of poor?
17. Science and technology has been used today to do wonders. From exploring the space
beyond solar system to everyday technology like mobile phones, laptops etc the
marvels of science and technology are numerous. Yet these have not been used to
develop mechanisms like dealing with situation of drought and flood, or tsunami or
earthquake or any other form of natural or manmade disasters. Do you think that it is
intentionally that biased decisions are taken to promote the luxurious life for the rich
while avoiding concerns that affect the poor?
18. What should be the role of science and technology in creating an equitable society?
Can the science and technology help to do so?

4
19. Recent reports show that inequality is increasing in India where only a few Indian
amass huge wealth and the rest 95% are sharing only 2% income and wealth. What do
you think should be done in such situation?
20. There are a large number of tribal communities in India who are surviving on forests
and forest produce. However, forests are also rich source of minerals. A big
multinational applies to the state government to acquire the forest land because it
wants to extract minerals in return of making investments. You as a Chief Minister of
that state have been given the responsibility to decide on the issue. What will be your
decision?
21. A common saying is that `Poverty anywhere is a threat to Prosperity Everywhere’.
What are your views about the same?
22. The policies of globalization, privatization and liberalization in India have adversely
affected poor making poor more poorer. Do you agree?
23. People mostly poor are denied are their fundamental rights provided under the
Constitution of India. As a lawyer or under law what actions do you think can be
taken on behalf of the poor?
24. A large number of people are migrating from the rural areas to urban areas in search
of employment. More specifically if you see in a city like Delhi the situation is
becoming worse day by day. As a Chief Minister of Delhi what will you do?
25. The successive governments elected over decades in India have hardly addressed the
situation of poverty rather through the policy of blame game they try to shift burdens
on others. The one who suffer most in such situation is poor and the marginalized.
What do you think should be done to address this situation?
26. As an urban educated citizen one has an ethical responsibility towards those who
cannot voice their concerns or fight for their rights. What do you think you can do for
the millions of people like Shakun, Sachin or Sukhlal?