Equity - a must for world peace

Small is beautiful they say, yet could be devastating when overlooked and neglected. It is the total disregard for what is small that contributes in no small measure to a dysfunctional whole be it familial social, national or even international levels. Hence, the need for a levelled playing field in all sectors of socio/econ/political into equity - a pre-cursor for human dignity and social justice - now very much the concern area if we are to achieve social development goals.

The neglect of ethno/religious/political minorities, the disregard for the outcaste, the insignificance of the economically disadvantaged the small farmer and industrialist, the oppressed women and children - these are among what is termed 'small' who when allowed to remain ignored over a continued period of time could be ideal springboard for all that goes with volatility.

The move towards individual rights recognition is therefore strongly recommended - going beyond what was earlier group rights.

Loan disbursement only to large scale high brow corporate conglomerates into building financial empires for even generations unborn while in their quest for making big time monies throw away a pittance to those that slot to make them what they are - the stinking rich. In terms of social equity and development, what has all this status quo to offer? The poor get poorer, the rich, richer. Compelled by circumstances beyond their control, small time farmers, even mortgage future harvests while small industrialists close shop, unable to compete with foreign goods. When from pin to piano is imported and a wet blanket is what a local industrialist gets when initiating some small industry, equity becomes unthinkable.

Economic liberalisation

The avenues opened up following economic liberalisation and free education has enabled those with resources towards upward social mobility who in turn are now transforming into being elites within the elites - the new rich as they are called. Yet this growth in terms of equity is negligible.

However, in neighbouring India, Nepal, Maldives and Bhutan, one finds the slow pace of economic liberalization warranting an equally slow social transformation process. Therefore, despite chances of upward social mobility, Sri Lanka and these countries share commonality of heightened social inequity. Hence, the deduction of development and social inequity being two distinct and highly polarized states.

Wealth in the hands of a few that neglect the deprived larger social whole cannot be condoned until and unless those affluent few are heavily into sustaining the other as is the case in Scandinavia's social democracies. The rich in these countries welcome taxation as they too stand to gain in social security.

The concept of equity finds no parallel and is operation worthy in socio/econ/political fields to maintain systemic equilibrium. Some avenues into equity are power sharing through devolution, taxing the rich to facilitate the poor, strict enforcement of laws to prevent exploitation of women and children, small time industrialists and farmers' access to micro credit that warrant national policy formulation and implementation for the realisation of equity and thereby the prevention of social upheavals.

Violent societies record high degree social inequity unlike for instance social democracies that make up the Scandinavian countries. In the absence of the rule of law, inequity and inequality are only to be expected. Deprived economic majorities, disgruntled political, ethnic, religious and caste minorities, crime and violence are necessary follow up in the absence of the rule of law.

Physical growth alone is non-reflective of the quality of life. Economic liberalisation and democratization alone will not result in equity. Unless checked every step of the way, what follows as a result would be highly polarized states of physical growth and deprivation resulting in inequity followed by crime.

Certainly we live in a utopian state believing crime to be eliminated only by the state repressive mechanisms. These institutions of control often protect the rich and powerful. Despite all resources at one's disposal, white collar crime persists - bribery, corruption and what not, leaving one to understand how despicable the situation could be in times of poverty.

For instance, the poor man out there on the pavement stands with his wife and child, dressed in rags not knowing what his dinner would be.

He watches the temple priest drive away in a chauffer driven limousine. Come night, the guy robs the temple till. Yet the law turns a blind eye on inequity - the root cause of crime. Instead, the poor man is put behind bars. That's as far as economic marginalisation goes.

Violence

In the realms of religio/ethno political marginalisation - the inequity arising thereof precedes crime and violence. Discrimininatory legislation and attitudes lead these minority groups into terror tactics.

Yet, these groups are seen as terrorists, insurgents, criminals insane persons and what not while overlooking the causes for such dastardly acts. Delving indepth one finds the absence of equity to be the prime factor.Against this backdrop, one could even question the role played by world bodies such as the UN, IMF, World Bank and so on in working towards equity. Human dignity, and social justice to these organisations remain only at conceptual level. It is time these institutions meant for mankind's well-being embarked on a practical and pragmatic work programme in making world peace a reality by endeavouring towards equity.