Question

What do you observe in the illustrations above? As you can see, sometimes providing the same thing to every individual does not provide the same benefits on account of differences among them. These differences can be due to inequality and discrimination which may have been carried historically too. To be able to ensure that everyone gets the support they need, we look at the principle of equity (as you can see in the figure on the right). There are many initiatives taken by the government as well as civil society organisations to ensure that equity is established in such cases. The Beti Bachao Beti Padhao campaign was to build awareness in society as well as to provide support to girls’ education. Can you think of other such examples?

Answer 1

The illustrations show the difference between equality and equity. In the first picture, everyone receives the same support, but they do not all benefit equally because they have different needs. In the second picture, each person receives the support they need, allowing everyone to enjoy the same opportunity.

Some examples of initiatives that promote equity are:

• Mid-Day Meal Scheme – provides nutritious meals to schoolchildren, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
• Scholarships for disadvantaged students: Help students from economically weaker sections continue their education.
• Reservation policies: provide opportunities in education and employment to historically disadvantaged communities.
• Accessible facilities for persons with disabilities: such as ramps, lifts, Braille materials, and special learning support.
• Free or subsidised education schemes: help children from poor families access education.