Steeped in ancient customs and traditions, India has had a complex legacy of social evils – unyielding, inhuman and oppressive – often justified by misinterpreted religious texts and deeply entrenched in the social structure. These practices have evolved from social customs into rigid, systemic barriers that caused widespread degradation, particularly affecting women and lower-caste communities.
Over the last few centuries; aiming to modernise Indian society through education and rational thinking, several influential social reformers collectively shifted the society’s perspective from unquestioning adherence to rigid customs to a more prudent, humane and inclusive outlook. It is claimed that their efforts dismantled oppressive customs and laid the foundational values of modern Indian democracy. But recent reports and analyses corroborate the observation of a challenging social landscape, with several trends indicating a resurgence or continuation of long-standing social malaises.
Social issues in India are today driven by rapid urbanisation, economic disparities and deeply-rooted traditional structures. Despite women successfully scaling the chasms of gender disparity in areas such as education and health, profound inequalities continue to persist in the country. While closing the gender gap is not as distant a dream as it was in the past, it is still far from reality due to deep-rooted patriarchal norms and slow progress in top level decision-making roles.
The caste system remains a significant barrier to social mobility, leading to marginalisation and violence against Dalit communities. Rapid urban growth has created slums, social alienation and intensified inequalities, while deeply rooted patriarchy and caste-based hierarchies persist despite legal reforms. These, alongside challenges like corruption, child labour and environmental issues, form a complex landscape that has seen the country going down rapidly on a downward spiral.
Nothing looks more ominous than the unemployment scenario that has engulfed the country. The high concentration of unemployment among the youth is a major concern, compounded by a lack of skills and opportunities. The gathering storm of automation-led job displacement is further precipitating a job scare characterised by high levels of employee anxiety and pre-emptive work-force reductions.
As that profound social illness which creates a cycle of deprivation that restricts opportunities, fuels inequality and hinders societal development, poverty is a collective challenge often caused by systemic issues, including unequal distribution of resources, government corruption and inadequate infrastructure.
Ever since the seventies when the term was coined, ‘Garibi Hatao’ continues to remain a glorified slogan, which has been subject to decades of debate regarding its effectiveness and ultimate impact on poverty in the country. It was amusing to read a web article which pigeon-holed poverty in India as an unseen villain or a structural force that perpetuates inequality, drives malnutrition and stunts development, acting as a vampire that drains the vitality of millions.
It is claimed that severe income inequality, low agricultural productivity and high healthcare costs keep millions in poverty in India. Even today poverty in the country implies the struggle for basic, quality and secure living standards for a significant section of the population.
The proliferation of slums could well be a consequence of the great urban-rural divide, acting as a spatial manifestation of extreme inequality. The sprawling ‘pockets of poverty’ within rapidly expanding cities, however, have their own sagas to narrate. While some terms like ‘undeserved neighbourhoods’ or ‘homegrown neighbourhoods’ may be used to remove the stigma attached to them, the physical realities of poor infrastructure and marginalisation remain constant.
However, the patronisation these informal settlements receive from various political godfathers to serve their own vested interests speaks for the extent to which politics has become a ‘system of clientelism’, fostering a ‘vote bank’ culture that prioritises political survival over genuine, long-term urban development.
Likewise, the manner in which political systems and actors often prioritise power, leading to corruption, social division and the neglect of public welfare, the perception that politics is responsible for all of the country’s social ills is a widespread, deeply ingrained and multifaceted phenomenon today.
With changing times, social ills have evolved from traditional, often physically oppressive practices, to more subtle, systemic and digital-age issues, driven by rapid urbanisation, technological advancements and shifting cultural values. While older issues like overt casteism and extreme poverty persist, they are now compounded by modern, complex challenges.
Social ills have evolved from being heavily rooted in institutionalised tradition and physical survival in the past to be driven by technology, psychological distress and structural inequality in the present. For instance, education and healthcare have transitioned from being fundamental human rights to becoming significant social ills in the modern era primarily due to their ‘commodification’, extreme inequality in access and the high financial burden they place on individuals.
While historical social issues were often visible, sanctioned by tradition, and rigid, modern issues are frequently systemic, invisible or digital. Addressing these challenges requires a combination of government action along with strong engagement from civil society and grassroots movements. The persistence of these issues highlights that legal reforms alone are insufficient, and a shift in societal values and attitudes is necessary to foster a more inclusive and equitable society.
(Pachu Menon is a senior columnist and author based in Goa.)
