The concept of social equity and discuss the changing norms for citizen participation in public administration

Introduction

CONCEPT OF SOCIAL EQUITY

So far as the norm of ‘social equity’ is concerned, it could be called relatively new. The term has been conventionally referred to as equality, and now is being understood in terms of social justice. In the contemporary context, it is called social engineering. With the gradual change in the terminology, some new inputs have been incorporated to widen its scope.

The concept of social equity and discuss the changing norms for citizen participation in public administration

For example, present concept of social equity is not just confined to earlier emphasis on caste reform, removal of untouchability etc. On the contrary, it includes the expansion and democratisation of social structure making society more and more equitable in terms of social resources, human capital, genderequity, educational awareness, demographic composition and ethnic profile.

To broaden the canvas of social equity, factors of common good, community services, multiculturalism, cultural freedom, human rights, ethnicity, social harmony and ecological concern have also been made an integral part of it. Managing diversities and respecting cultural identities are the major challenges for India and other countries as well. No country is entirely homogenous. Nearly 200 countries of the world have some 5,000 ethnic groups. Two thirds have at least one substantial minority, either an ethnic or a religious group consisting of at least 10 per cent of the population.

Cultural liberty is vital for maintaining social harmony. Therefore, the State should work out appropriate ways and means to manage it. The present era of globalisation has been criticised as culturally ‘homogenising’ because communication and information technology, economic integration and trade flows have been continually shrinking the world and changing the landscape of cultural diversity. In addition, the spread of democracy, accent on human rights and new global networks have given the people the necessary means to mobilise around a cause, insist on a response and strive to achieve it. In this scenario, social equity cannot be actualised unless the State and its citizens respect diversity and maintain unity through common bonds of humanity. The process of development and change brings the question of ‘what is social equity’ to the forefront. George Frederickson (1987) defines it as "The need or requirement to deliver public services fairly or equitably ... to connote the value of fairness in the use of administrative discretion...and government programmes designed to help the minorities, women, poor, or others who may have limited political power."

The concept of social equity and discuss the changing norms for citizen participation in public administration

CHANGING NORM OF PARTICIPATION

Participation in the governance processes is the new ‘mantra’. Old concept of democracy revolves around direct participation by the citizens in policymaking. This kind of participation is quite old and almost a classic one. Participation in modern times is indirect and takes place through representation. The modern form of indirect and representative democracy is based on people’s participation. However, the findings of behavioural political scientists have found the participation levels to be faulty and half-hearted one. According to the Elitists, only few influential exercise participation and power in the so-called representative democracy. The Pluralists speak of involvement of varied groups and organisations in participatory democracy. Therefore, the new norms of participation are to insure the involvement of the people from all the classes, especially from the weaker sections and minorities. The advocates of participatory democracy lay stress upon the availability of opportunity to 5 all subaltern sections. Not only is percentage of participation important but representativeness is also deemed necessary.

The concept of social equity and discuss the changing norms for citizen participation in public administration

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