The human rights situation in India is very precarious. Untouchability, child labor and casteism are widely prevalent in India. The question of state terrorism has also assumed importance. There are a large number of innocent deaths owing to the indiscriminate firing by security forces in a bid to bring the situation under control in troubled states. The recent emphasis on human rights worldwide, is primarily due to the need for a viable ideology in the post-cold war period. India has often been attacked by western liberal democracies for violating basic human rights. These forces rely on the Indian press and human rights groups to paint a picture of state repression. But the single biggest nuke behind human rights violation in the country is the slow economic growth and poverty.
To accuse India of Human rights violation in its efforts to the Constitution guarantees fundamental rights to all citizens irrespective of caste, creed or language. There are special provisions for the protection of religious and linguistic minorities, not seen in any other country. Minorities have not only the right to retain their identities but the State is obliged to help them do so. A provision for affirmative action is part of the Constitution to promote equality and give favorable treatment to the oppressed groups. The biggest single muse behind human rights violation in India is the slow economic growth and poverty. Many human rights abuses like child labor, or even caste discrimination, can be directly attributed to poverty. Removal of poverty is also linked to the check on population growth as it is mainly the poorer sections that are today indulging in irresponsible re-productive behavior.
This issue falls more under economics rather than politics. Group violence of various kind that involves atrocities and killing are in a way, linked to the weak Indian State that is hamstrung by, a weak judiciary, an ineffective police force and a general climate of lawlessness that has been promoted by the political class as the legacy of the freedom struggle.
