(After we have understood the topic well, we will move on by rephrasing the topic while not being repetitive)
A more justiciable society is the one which needs less of charity. Justice has been a bedrock of civilizations from ancient times. From ancient monarchies to present-day democracies, all are based on the principle of justice. It ensures that inequalities are minimized, discrimination is eradicated and equal opportunities are provided to all citizens so that they can flourish. In this type of setup, people have equal access to opportunities and resources. In such an equal society, people do not
depend on charity for their survival, rather they create their opportunities and thus the root cause of poverty gets effectively addressed.
(For transitioning from the intro to the main body, we need to elaborate on our course of action.)
Our current discourse tries to explore the concept that a just society needs less charity through the establishment of equitable systems and policies.
(We will move further by elaborating our key words i.e. justice and charity. What comes to our mind when we think of justice:- the blindfolded statue kept in our courtrooms signifying that all are equal in the eyes of justice. Justice is assured by the Preamble – socio, economic, and political. Justice – a value that we know will not discriminate where criminals will be punished and innocents will be rewarded.)
Justice
Humanity survives on the bedrock of justice. It has served as the foundation of societies whether monarchies or democracies. It forms the cornerstone of a fair and equitable society. By fair and equitable society we mean equitable distribution of resources, and opportunities keeping in mind the needs of all the members of society.
(Coming to the next keyword i.e. Charity. What comes to our mind when we think of charity, what are concerns related to it)
Charity is often LinkedIn to giving someone something free of cost or without any exchange of goods or services. There are concerns related to charity –
- Do all who seek charity are genuine ones?
- Do all the proceeds of charity go to the right hands?
- Can it be made legal?
- Repercussions of making it legal.
- But what if someone genuinely needs it?
(Here, we try to combine our keywords into our topic of concern and smoothly move ahead)
It is often felt that dependence on charity diminishes in an ideal society. In this type of society, justice is firmly entrenched. The reason behind this is that justice can address the root cause of societal aberrations while charity provides us with much-needed symptomatic relief.
(Now, we will move on by indulging into the historical context of justice)
Historical Context
Globally, there have been substantial instances to prove that justice has served as the bedrock of civilizations. In the Indian context also, there have been kingdoms that relied on justice. For instance – the Mauryan and Gupta empires known for justice, relied on Dharmashastras, and endeavored for a just society ensuring fair trade practices, punishment for criminals, fair law and order, etc.
(We have told about various aspects of justice. But at first instance, why do we need it? Now we will discuss it)
What is the need for justice?
Justice is needed for a society to flourish. The need for justice is summed up under the following heads:
Promoting Equality
A just society always ensures equal opportunities to its citizens irrespective of gender, race, caste, class, ethnicity etc. Thus, a just society always urges to promote equality. For instance – the Indian Constitution ensures equality to its citizens by endeavoring for a just society.
Ensuring Economic Stability
Justice plays a significant role in ensuring equality. Equality ensures equitable distribution of resources thus ensuring economic stability. Economic stability thus leads to less dependence on charity. Eg. Japan’s implementation of fair labor laws has led to a stronger middle class which negates its reliance on charity and it has also ensured an economically stable Japan.
Establishing Social Harmony
A just society creates an environment where mutual trust and respect are respected. In a country, where citizens are assured of their rights and fair treatment less likely to resort to unrest.
What role does charity play in the absence of Justice?
Charity acts as a void filler
It is often seen that when justice systems falter, charity institutions come into the picture. For example, in war-torn regions, various charitable institutions and philanthropists from all over the world jump to provide immediate relief i.e. food, shelter, and the necessary medical aid.
Concern regarding Charity
Experts have often debated against freebies. They argue that rather than giving food to someone we should provide them the means to feed themselves. It ensures sustainable systems for the future which justice aims to secure.
In the Indian context also different NGOs and charitable institutions step into at times of natural or anthropogenic hazards along with government efforts to provide essential food items, medical aid etc., etc.
Over-reliance on Charity poses many Challenges to us
Sustainability
Charity is not a sustainable solution as it depends on voluntary donations. Voluntary donations often fluctuate with the changing economic conditions of the donor. Also, sometimes donors steal the limelight does charity and after that, he doesn’t show any interest in donations.
Charity leads to a culture of dependency
Charity often fosters a culture of dependency. People instead of getting empowered rely heavily on external charities. This dependence has far-reaching consequences on self-sufficiency and local innovation. It also has the potential to rob the communities of self-reliance.
Charity has the potential to mask the deeper issues
Charity has the potential to mask deeper systemic issues. While it is good to provide food to the hungry we must ponder upon why they are dependent on others for their needs. By just addressing the surface issues and not its root cause, charity could unintentionally perpetuate the status quo.
(We will now move further by discussing how increasing justice in a society leads to the reduced need for charity)
Increasing Justice reduces the need for charity
Justice Empowers Individuals
Justice ensures empowerment. It helps an individual have access to basic human rights like food, shelter, education and fair employment opportunities. This awareness about basic rights helps an individual in reducing dependence on external aid. For example – Women’s SHGs have written stories of not just success but also of self–worth and the growth of the community.
Justice leads to Structural Reforms
Justice tries to address societal imbalances by enacting structural reforms. Fair judiciary systems, equal opportunities for employment, fair and transparent governance can amount to reducing social disparities thus reducing the need for charitable interventions. In Indian context, RTE aims to empower everyone thus reducing the need for charity.
(After we have discussed various aspects of the topic, we will move forward by talking about steps for strengthening justice in society)
Steps and Measures for strengthening of Justice
Legal Reforms
Legal reforms are necessary to truly inculcate justice into our society. This requires a regular updation of our laws as various laws got updated recently.
Awareness campaigns
It is the need of the hour to run awareness campaigns where people are educated about their legal rights. These awareness campaigns empower individuals to seek for redressal against grave injustices.
Decentralisation of Power
Decentralisation of Power leads to making justice available to one and all at grassroots level. PRIs in Indian villages play a pivotal role in ensuring justice.
Community Participation
Allowing people to participate in policy making process helps the administration to come out with solutions tailored to the unique needs and challenges of each community. (after we have discussed all the aspects of the topic, we will now move towards concluding our discussion. Conclusion is a summary of the whole topic. It should include all the main aspects discussed in the essay)
Conclusion
Justice serves as the foundation upon which equitable societies are built. It ensures that every individual irrespective of his caste, race, gender, or religion has equal rights and opportunities to thrive. These rights and opportunities attempt to fill in the gaps. In the absence of these, charity comes in to fill these gaps.
We need to develop our society into a society that is deeply embedded in justice thus reducing the need for charity. Such a society is empowered, and self-sufficient and it renders symptomatic relief redundant. Looking at what Nelson Mandela said, “Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity. It is an act of justice.” Thus it becomes a high priority for various stakeholders and policymakers to internalize the ethos of justice in all its endeavours. It is only then that we can truly move towards
a world that inculcates equality and fairness fully in letter and spirit.
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