Social Justice – Education and Health
Social justice means fairness, equality, and dignity in society. It ensures that no person is denied opportunities because of caste, gender, religion, region, or economic condition.
Among all dimensions of social justice, education and health are the most important. They are called foundational rights because:
- Education gives people the knowledge and skills to improve their lives.
- Health gives them the strength and ability to use those opportunities.
Without proper education and healthcare, the dream of social justice and equality remains incomplete.
Why Education and Health are Key to Social Justice?
- Education reduces poverty, breaks caste and gender barriers, and creates equal opportunities.
- Health ensures that people can live with dignity and contribute to society.
- Both create a level playing field for the poor and marginalized.
- They are essential for achieving the goals of welfare state and inclusive growth.
Constitutional Provisions
| Article | Provision | Relevance to Social Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Preamble | Justice – Social, Economic, Political | Education & health are means to achieve this |
| Art. 14 | Equality before law | Equal access to schools & hospitals |
| Art. 15 | Prohibition of discrimination | No denial of education/health due to caste/religion |
| Art. 21 | Right to life & dignity | Interpreted as right to education & health |
| Art. 21A | Right to free & compulsory education (6–14 years) | RTE Act, 2009 |
| Art. 39(e,f) | Protection of children from abuse, opportunities for development | Child education & health |
| Art. 41 | Right to work, education, public assistance | Welfare programmes |
| Art. 45 | Early childhood care & education | Anganwadi, ICDS |
| Art. 46 | Promotion of SCs, STs, weaker sections | Scholarships, reservations |
| Art. 47 | Raise nutrition, standard of living, public health | Mid-Day Meal, Ayushman Bharat |
Note: The Constitution treats education and health not as charity, but as rights and state responsibilities.
Education and Social Justice
Importance
- Provides equal opportunities.
- Empowers marginalized groups (SCs, STs, women, minorities).
- Helps in social mobility (moving up the social ladder).
- Creates awareness about rights and duties.
Major Educational Policies and Programmes
- Right to Education Act (2009) – Free and compulsory education up to 14 years.
- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) – Universal primary education.
- Mid-Day Meal Scheme – Improves nutrition and attendance.
- National Education Policy (2020) – Focus on skill, digital literacy, and inclusiveness.
- Scholarships & Reservations – For SCs, STs, OBCs, minorities, and girls.
Table: Education for Social Justice
| Programme | Target Group | Social Justice Impact |
|---|---|---|
| RTE Act, 2009 | Children 6–14 years | Equal access to basic education |
| Mid-Day Meal | School children | Reduces hunger, increases enrolment |
| Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya | Girls (esp. disadvantaged) | Promotes gender equality |
| Scholarships for SC/ST/OBC | Marginalized communities | Upliftment of weaker sections |
| NEP 2020 | All students | Skill-based & inclusive growth |
Example: In Odisha, schemes like Gangadhar Meher Siksha Yojana (free textbooks, uniforms, cycles) promote education among rural poor.
Challenges in Education
- Dropout rates remain high, especially among girls and tribals.
- Quality of education in government schools is poor.
- Digital divide – many rural students lack access to online learning.
- Regional imbalance in higher education opportunities.
Remark: Education is available but not always accessible and equitable.
Health and Social Justice
Importance
- Good health is necessary for dignity, productivity, and development.
- Health inequalities directly affect social justice.
- Poor and marginalized suffer most from lack of healthcare.
Major Health Policies and Programmes
- National Health Mission (NHM) – Strengthens rural & urban health services.
- Ayushman Bharat (PMJAY) – Health insurance for 50 crore poor people.
- Janani Suraksha Yojana – Safe motherhood, free institutional deliveries.
- POSHAN Abhiyaan – Nutrition improvement for children and mothers.
- National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme – Target to eliminate TB by 2025.
Table: Health for Social Justice
| Programme | Target Group | Impact on Social Justice |
|---|---|---|
| Ayushman Bharat | Poor families | Access to affordable healthcare |
| Janani Suraksha Yojana | Pregnant women | Safe motherhood, reduced MMR |
| POSHAN Abhiyaan | Children, mothers | Nutrition, reduce malnutrition |
| NRHM / NUHM | Rural & urban poor | Accessible primary healthcare |
| Mission Indradhanush | Children under 2 yrs | Universal immunization |
Example: Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (Odisha) provides free health care for poor families, ensuring equity in health access.
Challenges in Health
- India spends only around 2% of GDP on healthcare (low compared to developed nations).
- Rural areas lack hospitals, doctors, and medicines.
- High out-of-pocket expenditure pushes poor into debt.
- Malnutrition and maternal mortality still high in many states.
- Inequality in private vs public health facilities.
Remark: Access to healthcare is still a privilege for many, instead of being a right for all.
Education and Health – Two Pillars of Social Justice
Both are closely linked.
- A healthy child can attend school regularly.
- An educated mother ensures better nutrition and healthcare for her children.
- Together, they break the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and ill-health.
Judicial Support for Education & Health
- Unni Krishnan vs State of Andhra Pradesh (1993) – Right to education part of Right to Life (Art. 21).
- Mohini Jain vs State of Karnataka (1992) – “Right to education” declared fundamental.
- Paschim Banga Case (1996) – Right to health is part of Right to Life.
- State of Punjab vs Mohinder Singh Chawla (1997) – Health and medical care fundamental rights.
Achievements in Education and Health
Education
- Literacy rate increased from 18% (1951) to ~77% (Census 2011).
- Gender gap in education reducing.
- Rise of SC/ST/OBC students in higher education due to reservations.
Health
- Life expectancy improved from 32 years (1950) to ~70 years (2020).
- Infant mortality rate (IMR) reduced.
- Polio eradicated in India (2014).
Contemporary Issues
- COVID-19 Pandemic exposed weaknesses in both education (digital divide) and health (infrastructure gaps).
- Privatization of education and health creating inequality.
- Mental health issues ignored.
- High dropout rates among girls, tribals, and rural poor.
- Malnutrition persists despite schemes.
Way Forward
- Increase budget allocation for health (to at least 3% of GDP) and education (to 6% as per NEP target).
- Strengthen public health and school infrastructure.
- Promote digital inclusion for online learning and telemedicine.
- Focus on equity-based policies for marginalized groups.
- Encourage community participation in health and education management.
- Improve awareness about nutrition, hygiene, and importance of schooling.
Conclusion
Education and health are not luxuries, they are basic rights and essential for social justice. A society cannot be just and equal if large sections remain illiterate, unhealthy, and deprived.
India has made progress through RTE, Mid-Day Meal, Ayushman Bharat, POSHAN Abhiyaan, etc., but challenges remain. The goal should be universal, affordable, and quality education and healthcare for all.
Only then can India realize the vision of its Constitution – a society based on justice, equality, and dignity for every citizen.
Quote:
“No society can claim to be civilized if it denies education and healthcare to its weakest sections.”
