Equality vs equity

1. CONCEPTS OF EQUALITY AND
EQUITY
by:-
Dr. Satish Kumar
Assistant Professor
Lovely school of Education
Lovely ProfessionalUniversity
Phagwara, Punjab, India
satishnurpur@gmail.com

2. CONCEPT OF EQUALITY
• What is Equality?
• The Preamble to the Indian Constitution secures to all
citizens of India equality of status and opportunity. This is
tried to achieve through various provisions in the
Constitution as well as through various laws and policies
enacted from time to time.
• Equality of opportunity refers to the way individual are
treated relative to one another. It stands for the equal right to
display and not to develop differences or inequalities; the
right to be recognize as equal (Marshall).

3. CONCEPT OF EQUALITY
• Articles 14 to 18 provides for right to equality which aims to
secure all citizens their civic equality.
• Articles 325 and 326 aims to secure all citizens political
equality.
• And, Article 39 under the Directive Principles aims to secure
all citizens economic equality.

4. •There should be no discrimination
on the following ground:
• Everyone must have equality in respect of fundamental
rights, right to contest elections etc.
• Every religion must be treated as equal.
• From the religious point of view every citizen must have
the right to practice and profess his own religion.

9. Concept of Equity
• The quality of being fair and impartial.
• Equity means freedom from bias or impartial treatment. Impartiality is
implied in equality because equality is not possible without equity. Equity
(समान हिस्सा) is supplementary to equality.
• Equity means justice, giving everyone what belongs to them, and
recognizing the specific conditions or characteristics of each person or
human group, gender, class, religion, age.) It is the recognition of diversity,
without this providing a reason for discrimination.
• Example: A perfect example of the practical demonstration of the
difference between the two concepts, is the feminist movement. Now, if
women demand they should be treated in the same way as men, that
would not be possible – equality would not be possible – because women
and men are different, and cannot be treated in exactly the same way.
However, if they demanded equity in how the world treats them, it would
be a genuine demand, because now they are demanding that they be
given the same rights as men have as human beings. It is equity that is
desirable, not sameness

10. Difference Between Equity & Equality
• Equality is described as a state, where everyone is at the
same level But equity is the virtue of justice where individual
differences are under considration.
• Equity involves fair distribution. Whereas, equality involves
even distribution.
• Equity recognises differences & attempts to counteract
unequal individual opportunities. Whereas, equality recognises
sameness and treats everyone as equal.
• Equity ensures that people have what they need. Equality is
about providing everyone, the same things.
• Equality equals quantity, whereas equity equals quality.

11. •Equality of Educational Opportunities
• Equality of opportunity means to give equal chance to every
individual for the development of his capacity. It is an accepted
working policy of all the democratic nations to make provision for
equal opportunities. As Dr. Radhakrishnan had pointed out long
time back:
• “Democracy only provides that all men should have equal
opportunities for the development of their unequal talents.”
• India is a democratic and secular country. The success of
democracy depends upon education of its citizens. It is important
that educational opportunities are provided to all citizens to
develop their personalities into the fullest extent.
• The Constitution of India provides for educational opportunities to
all citizens of the country. It also provides that the State shall not
discriminate between persons on grounds of their religion, caste,
race, sex or place of birth. The Preamble of the Constitution also
assures equality to all the citizens. It means that our Constitution is
committed to the principle of equality.

12. Constitutional Provisional
The Constitution of India declares the right to equality as a
„fundamental right‟.
• Equality before law: Under Article 14, equality before the
law or equal protection of the laws is guaranteed to all.
Article 14 declares that “the state shall not deny to any
person equality before the law or equal protection of the
laws”.
• No discrimination: Article 15: prohibits discrimination on
certain grounds. Discrimination against any citizen on
ground of religion, race, caste sex or place of birth is
forbidden. This Article also provides equal right to make
use of public places.

13. • Equality of opportunity: Article 16 guarantees equality of
opportunity in matters of public employment. Article 29 (2)
lays down that “No citizen shall be denied admission into any
educational institution maintained by the state or receiving aid
out of state funds on grounds only of religion, race, language
or any of them”.
• No untouchability: According to Article 17 untouchability is
abolished and its practice in any form is prohibited.
• Right to open Institution: Article 30: of the Constitution
gives the right to all the classes to open institutions of their
own will.
• Special facilities to weaker section:
Special facilities are provided to scheduled castes, scheduled
tribes and other backward classes and women. Facility of
reservation has been provided to scheduled tribes, scheduled
castes and other backward classes.

14. • Constitutional Provisions for Ensuring Equality in Education:
The Indian Context
• There are various provisions in the Indian Constitution that aims to
ensure equality in education. Some of the most important
provisions are discussed below:
• Free and Compulsory Education: Education is a Fundamental
Right under Article 21 (A) of the Constitution of India. The
Constitution of India under Directive Principles as well as
Fundamental Duties also provides for universal, free and
compulsory education for all children.
• Education of Minorities: Article 30 of the Indian Constitution
related to rights of minorities to establish and administer
educational institutions.
• Safeguard for Linguistic Minorities: Article 29 (1) provides for
the safeguard of linguistic minorities.
• Education for Weaker Sections: Various Articles of the Indian
Constitution safeguard the educational interests of the weaker
sections of the Indian society particularly those who are socially
and educationally backward such as scheduled castes and
scheduled tribes.

15. • Article 46 lays down, The State shall promote with
special care the educational and economic interests of the
weaker sections of the people and, in particular, of the
scheduled castes and scheduled tribes and shall protect
them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
• Justice
Social
Economical
Political

16. • Secular Education: Under the Constitution, minorities,
whether based on religion or language, are given full rights to
establish educational institutions of their choice.
• Equality of Opportunity in Educational Institutions: Article
29 (1) provides for equal access to educational institutions
maintained by the State without discrimination on grounds
only of religion, race, caste, language or any of them.
• Women’s Education: The education for women is of special
focus in India. The Constitution says that state shall not
discriminate any citizen on grounds of sex. The Government
can also make special provisions for women and children.
The well-known National Policy on Education was concerned
about the status and education of women in the country.

17. The handicapped children are a weaker section of the
people. Their education and economic improvement thus
becomes a responsibility of the federal government under
Article 46 of the Constitution.
All these provisions are sufficient to prove that in present
day Indian Structure no individual is discriminated on the
basis of religion, caste, creed, sex, etc.

18. NATIONAL
INTEGRATION
.

19. Meaning
• National integration is the awareness of a common
identity amongst the citizens of a country. It means
that though we belong to different castes, religions
and regions and speak different languages we
recognize the fact that we are all one.

20. Definition
• The National Integration Conference Report, 1961 states
– “National integration is a psychological and educational
process involving the feeling of unity, solidarity and
cohesion in the hearts of people, a sense of common
citizenship and a feeling of loyalty to the nation.”
• Dorothy Simpson, “a feeling that binds the citizens of a
country.”

21. Needs
• For peaceful co-existence
• For realization of basic ideals of democracy such as
„Equality, Justice and secularism.‟
• For social, economic and overall development
• Eradicating of racial, religious, cultural and national
prejudices

22. Hurdles in the way of
National Integration
• 1. Castism
• 2. Communalism
• 3. Religious diversity
• 4. Religious rigidity
• 5. Political parties
• 6. Diverse languages
• 7. Social differences
• 8. Economical differences
• 9. Lack of leadership {Mislead people}
• 10. Unsuitable education

23. Education and National Integration
• Education is a dominant element in national integration as
it is an unifying force, and creates awareness among
people. Specially in `India where there is so many types
of diversities, education and system of education is only
way which can unify the nation while keeping the diversity
alive. Its only education process in which diversity can be
cherished by celebrating it as multiculturalism.

24. Role of Education
• Education as a tool/Instrument for Development
• Fostering NI is a matter of attitude & value so cannot
be achieved by framing Laws
• Attitudes & Values require input at cognitive &
affective level which can be achieved through
education & not by law-enforcement
• It can be included as an important component of
Value-Education
• Right attitudes & Values can be easily developed at an
early age

25. Role of education
• Restructuring the school curriculum/syllabus (curriculum that
promotes NI)
• Uniform policy of Education across the country
• Learning of many languages
• Visits & excursions to different places/states for direct contact
with people of different states
• Celebration of Festivals of different states (Onam, rathyatra,
Durgapuja, Holi, Lohdi, Uttarayan, Navratri )
• Posters/photographs of great men & women of different states
(poets, authors, artists, leaders, thinkers)
• Student exchange programmes
• Awareness regarding current affairs in different states

26. Role of education
• Inviting eminent members of different communities of different states to talk
about their specific cultures (customs, traditions, food-habits, their traditions
of Music, dance, drama, folk-arts, ways of worship)
• Sensitizing students about the suffering of people of other states at the time
of natural calamities as well as other problems such as communal violence
• Encouraging them for active participation in the rescue operations &
Charitable activities
• Traditional dress day
• Showing travel documentaries on ‘variegated culture, Flora & Fauna of
different states.

27. National integration council
• National Integration Council was formed in 1961 as a
government advisory body.
• Purpose- Address the problems of communalism, casteism and
regionalism.
• Dr. Manmohan Singh then Prime Minister chaired fifteenth
meeting held in 2010 under in which NIC was extended up to
147members.
• The latest meeting (sixteenth meeting) was held on 23
September 2013.

28. 73rd Constitutional Amendment
Act
• The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was passed by the
Parliament in April 1993.
• The Amendment provided a Constitutional status to the Panchayati
Raj Institutions in India through insertion of Article 243 to Part IX
of Indian Constitution.
• The Act was enforced upon all the state governments through
Constitutional Amendment in Article 243 M, that all states should
amend their Panchayat Acts in conformity with the Constitutional
provisions.
• Panchayati Raj system in India was started for first time in
October 2, 1959; Nagor (Rajasthan)
• Panchayati Raj is Democratic Decentralization of power

29. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct
• 1. This act has added a new Part-IX to the Constitution of India.
• 2. It is entitled as ‘The Panchayats’ and consists of provisions
from Articles 243 to 243 O.
• 3. This act has added a new Eleventh Schedule to the
Constitution which contains 29 functional items of the panchayats. It
deals with Article 243-G.
• 4. The act has given a practical shape to Article 40 of the
Constitution (Directive Principles of State Policy) which says that,
“The State shall take steps to organise village panchayats and endow
them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable
them to function as units of self-government.”
• 5. The act gives a constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
• 6. It has brought them under the purview of the justiciable part of the
Constitution. In other words, the state governments are under
constitutional obligation to adopt the new panchayati raj system in
accordance with the provisions of the act. Consequently, neither the
formation of panchayats nor the holding of elections at regular intervals
depends on the will of the state government any more.

30. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct
• Salient Features of the Act
• (A) Creation of a State Elections Commission to conduct elections to PRIs,
• (B) In order to review the financial position of the PRIs, each state to set up a
State Finance Commission for five years.
• (C) Tenure of PRIs fixed at five years and, if dissolved earlier, fresh elections to
be held within six months,
• (D) Creation of a three-tier Panchayati Raj structure at the zila, block and
village levels,
• (E) The minimum age for contesting elections to PRIs to be 18 years,
• (F) Reservation for women in panchayats (chairman and members) up to one-
third seats,
• (G) Reservation of seats for SC/ST in panchayats in proportion to their
population,
• (H) Indirect elections to the post of chairman at the intermediate and apex tiers,
• (I) All posts at all levels (with two exceptions) to be filled by direct elections,
• (J) Organisation of gram sabhas.

31. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct
• Voluntary provisions vary from state to state
• As local self-government is an item in the State List, the state governments have
been given a reasonable discretion to take decisions in the following areas.
• Reservation for backward classes,
• Financial powers,
• Autonomy of the panchayats, and
• Devolution of powers to perform functions of the Eleventh Schedule and
planning.
• The Eleventh Schedule of the Act enumerates 29 subjects which fall in the
purview of the panchayats. The Act has refrained from putting those into the
Seventh Schedule of three lists for the simple reason that states are free to
determine the Panchayati Raj activities and adjust this Eleventh Schedule as per
situations and resources. The Schedule is quiet flexible and exhaustive.

32. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct

33. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct
• The 11th schedule preserves the distribution of powers between
the State legislature and the Panchayats as follows:
• 1. Agriculture, including agricultural extension.
• 2. Land improvement, implementation of land reforms, land
consolidation and soil conservation.
• 3. Minor irrigation, water management and watershed
development.
• 4. Animal husbandry, dairying, fisheries and poultry.
• 5. Social forestry and farm forestry.
• 6. Small scale industries, including food processing industries.
• 7. Khadi, village and cottage industries.
• 8. Rural electrification, including distribution of electricity.

34. 73rd ConstitutionalAmendmentAct
• 9. Maintenance of community assets.
• 10. Public distribution system.
• 11. Poverty alleviation programme.
• 12. Education, including primary and secondary schools.
• 13. Adult and non-formal education.
• 14. Health and sanitation, including hospitals, primary health
centers and dispensaries.
• 15. Family welfare, Women and child development.
• 16. Social welfare, including welfare of the handicapped and
mentally retarded.
• 17. Welfare of the weaker sections, and in particular, of the
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.

35. Women Empowerment
• ‘EMPOWERMENT’ MAY be described as a
process which helps people to declare their control
over the factors which affect their lives.
• Empowerment of women means developing them
as more aware individuals, who are politically
active, economically productive and independent
and are able to make intelligent discussion in
matters that affect them.

36. Women Empowerment
• Empowerment is the braking of personal limitation. Self-
decision regarding education, participation, economic
independency, public speaking, awareness and exercise of
rights, political participation and many more factors ensure
women empowerment.
• Women empowerment as a concept was introduced at the
International women Conference in 1985 at Nairobi, which
defined it as redistribution of social power and control of
resources in favour of women.

37. What problems Women Faced
• Lack of education,
• Financial constraint,
• Low mobility,
• Low ability to bear risk,
• Low achievement,
• Absence of ambition for the achievement,
• Low Social status
• No or less access to jobs
• No or less practice of human rights
• Female Feticide

38. Rationale behind Women Empowerment
• Control Gender Disparity
• Promote equality
• Economic Necessities
• To gain 100% Literacy rate
• To promote an overall development of society
• Recognising that women are equally intelligent
• To reduce scope domestic violence and sexual
exploitation
• Counting the invisible contribution

39. How to improve the situation
• Education
• Improve in knowledge and awareness
• Self-defining power
• Creativity
• Physical strength
• Equality
• Economic independence
• Women identification
• Having political power in society
• Provide some assistance

40. Women empowerment in India
after independence
• The Constitution of India guarantees equality to all
{Article 14}
• No discrimination by the State (Article 15)
• Equality of opportunity (Article 16)
• Equal pay for equal work (Article 39-D) & Article 42
• Special provisions to be made by the State in favour
of women and children (Article 15-3)
• Feminist activism in India gained momentum in the
late 1970s.
• Anti-liquor campaigns in so many states

41. Women empowerment in India
after independence
• Self-help groups and NGOs such as Self Employed
Women’s Association (SEWA)
• Many women have emerged as leaders of local
movements; for example, Medha Patkar of the
Narmada Bachao Andolan
• The Government of India declared 2001 as the Year
of Women's Empowerment
• The National Policy For The Empowerment Of
Women came was passed in 2001
• In 1961, the Government of India passed the Dowry
Prohibition Act

42. Women empowerment in India
after independence
• Domestic violence addressed in 1983 under Criminal Law
Act section 498A
• In 1994 the Indian government passed a law forbidding
women or their families from asking about the sex of the baby
• National Commission for Women Act, 1990
• Widow remarriage act was enacted in 1856 with the major
effort of Vidya sagar.
• Women help line is 1091
• Central Social Welfare Board at present is functioning under
the administrative control of –Ministry of Women and Child
Development

43. Empowerment of Women and 73rd Constitution
Amendment Act,1993
• Special Powers to women in all three tiers of Panchyati Raj-
Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samitis and Jila Parishad
• Rationale- Social and Economic status of women could not
be improved without political powers
• Reservation of 1/3 seats for women
• Legaly permitted in to take part in decision making of village
matters
• This provision is not less than revolution in improving status
of women