Book of Integration Council New - Ministry of Home Affairs

SHRI PARKASH SINGH BADAL
CHIEF MINISTER, PUNJAB
Respected Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh, Home Minister,
Shri Shivraj Patil, esteemed Members of the Council, distinguished Ladies
and Gentlemen.
We are meeting at a time when the country's social structure and its economic
health are facing some of the greatest challenges since Independence. Not only
is the development process passing through an extremely testing time but even
the social fabric of the nation is under severe stress, with caste relations and
communal harmony facing threats from several quarters. It may sound a bit
harsh but the impression one gets of India at this juncture is of a nation almost
at war with itself. All this calls for an immediate and massive nationwide initiative
to retrieve the situation.
Social Structure : Caste and Identity Divisions and Rhetoric
It is an unfortunate reality even after 60 years after Independece, the country
continues to be divided on the basis of castes and class. We are sitting at a very
sacred platform. Therefore, let us do some honest soul searching about our role
as political parties and leaders about this. Unfortunately, social groups and
political outfits have exploited these factors because of "vote bank politics". All
political parties need to introspect and find ways to re-orient their approach and
their policies in this matter.
Scheduled Castes / Scheduled Tribes
The scheduled castes and scheduled tribes constitute one of the most
significant segments of our population. They have been exploited for centuries.
What is even worse, no steps have been taken by successive governments to
better their economic development, living conditions and social status. They still
struggle to get two square meals a day and have no access to basic amenities of
life such as elementary health care, education, housing and living environs fit for
human habitation, clean drinking water etc. This has further sharpened the caste
identity divisions in the country, ultimately leading to social tensions and even
violence. Even the policy of reservations has been adopted and implemented in
a manner which has further increased these divisions. More than 90% of the
SCs/STs live Below Poverty Line even when this Line itself is drawn in such a
way that only the dead and the dying qualify under this category. The main
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