Citizenship

It is true that Citizenship as full and equal membership of a political community involves both rights and obligations. The most important right that a citizen could enjoy in most democratic states today in the contemporary world includes the political, cultural and economic rights such as are Right to Equality, Right to Vote, Right to Constitutional Remedies, Freedom of Expression, Right to have Property and basic facilities, Minimum Wage or Right to Education.

Citizens have an obligation to their state and their fellow citizens they are both legal and moral in nature. They have a strong responsibility to contribute to their community as well as the state. Citizens are the ones who inherit, preserve and promote their heritage and culture and natural resources of their country.

All citizens may be granted equal rights but all may not be able to equally exercise them due to various Factors: 1. Poverty 2. Lack of education 3. Socio-economic inequality 4. Lack of awareness of Political rights 5. Corruption in government and its services

We can see how each and every citizen has provided equal right but they are not able to exercise it equally. For example, all the children have a Right to Education but some children cannot avail this right due to poverty, gender basis, labour or lack of awareness and opportunities. Many sections of the society including women, scheduled caste and scheduled tribe are not aware about the rules, norms of the constitution which is favouring them and safeguard their right thus are not able o seek legal remedies thus face violence and harassment. Different needs and claims of the people should be considered when framing the policies for more equal access and their engagement.

Two current struggles in India which had full enjoyment of citizen right and people’s participation are:

1. IPC section 377 – in 1861 British government criminalised homosexual sexual activities under section 377 of Indian Penal Code. With a wave of protest and resentment against this section and right for the LGBT community many debates, struggles and reforms were made. In the early January of 2018 the Delhi High Court struck down the provision of article 377 by saying that it violated the fundamental right of life and equality that are guaranteed to a citizen by its constitution. This movement in India which supported the gay and lesbian rights expressed to lead a normal life and demanded decriminalisation of homosexuality by state which was earlier considered as crime. Delhi court has been taken a step forward to decriminalise it.

2. Narmada Bachao Andolan – In 1989 Narmada Bachao Andolan was a big social movement which consisted farmers, Adivasis, human right activist and allied many NGO’s against the several dams being built crosswise Narmada River. Narmada Andolan had its both political and economical effect of the people who were displaced for the construction of the dam. The movement was against building large and high dams which will flood the area, displace the people and harm the natural resources. The movement was to decrease the building of dam and provide displaced people with compensation and rehabilitation. The Supreme Court in March 2008 was called to find resolution in regards with rehabilitation and resettlement. The court ruled the verdict on Narmada Andolan and immediate halt at work was made with proper compensation.

Both the movements are still fighting for people’s human rights and leaving a strong impact on the state ensuring to recognize their struggle and equality. The first movement on LGBT was a movement for freedom of expression, life and security. They wished to lead a life normally like the other citizens. The second movement of Narmada Bachao Andolan focused on the Right to Shelter, food, employment, life security for being the citizens of India.

Some of the problems faced by the refugees are:

1. Refugees are not given much importance in the society. They are not treated well by the local residents and they develop sense of fear and insecurity.

2. Refugees living conditions are poor, as sometimes they are asked to live in camps or sometimes with the tag of illegal migrants.

3. Refugees have a problem working legally as they have identity crisis and native people develop threat to their jobs and opportunities.

4. They are forced to work at low wages with no high status or many privileges.

5. Refugees face the problem getting basic life necessities such as food, shelter and employment.

6. Refugees are not provided with legal rights given by the state like the security and the minimum standard of living.

7. They are often exploited physically and emotionally. They are exploited by the authorities or local residents only on the grounds of not being the citizen of the state they are taking shelter in.

The concept of Global citizenship would be really helpful for refuges as it will make easier to handle problems that has an extension across national borders and require cooperative action by several state’s people and government. It will also be beneficiary for the stateless people by providing those basic rights and solutions to their problems so that they can lead peaceful and secure life.

Migration of people to different regions within the country is often resisted by the local inhabitants contributes to the local economy by the migrants. They prove to be a great asset for the boost in the economy of the country they are Woking in. People migrate in the search of better and resourceful life, to have good employment and secured future. They are available to work as labours at low wages. They constituently make up the service sector.

The goods and services that are provided by them in the state they have migrated to bring a swift change in the country’s GDP. The migrants also bring some new skills, techniques and knowledge with them that can be acquired. They pay taxes, contributor in economic growth and becomes the part of the cycle to generate local economy and to gain self-sustainability.

“Democratic citizenship is a project rather than an accomplished fact even in countries like India which grant equal citizenship”. Some of the issues regarding citizenship being raised in India today are:

1. Considering the case of India, we are privileged to enjoy many political, social and economical rights which are ensured to each and every citizen of that state. But it does not always prove to be a complete and positive translation on grounds.

2. The major factor which prevents the citizens to access and enjoy their basic rights is the Socio-economic inequality which strongly impacts the country. The discrimination on the basis of caste, class, gender and language is still practiced rather than being the complete constitutional accomplishment.

3. Indian Citizens have right to move freely within the territory of the state and to work. They have a right to life and to enjoy basic life amenities to lead a healthy, respectful and prosperous life.

4. Migrants are not provided with these political and social rights as they are not the citizens of the country thus, not able to enjoy the rights and privileges fully.

5. Women, children or the scheduled caste and tribe people are not able to enjoy their constitutional rights and remedies due to lack of knowledge and awareness despite having fundamental rights, constitutional provisions and legal remedies in the Indian constitution of democratic India.

6. Many refugees from Bangladesh or Tibet or other countries that migrated to India remain stateless and are compelled to live in the camps or as illegal migrants. Only few of these refuges are given the citizenship of the country.

There can be lots of interpretations, facts and points which supports the fact that democratic citizenship is still a project and a far cry till it achieves its goals both at lower and higher level to completely accomplish it.