Ruing the "capitalistic framework" of Indian policy, CPI-M leader Brinda Karat today said such policies had aggravated "inequitable distribution" of resources in the country.
Karat also called for some hard political decisions and a strong citizens movement to make sure the country's "priorities" are right.
"We claim to be so power-driven and talk about the century of India, but can we really have an Indian century when 42% children go hungry," she said at a conference on children's rights.
"It is shameful that the state of our children is not among our priorities," she said.
Karat charged the framework of government policy has inequality embedded in it, and "what is unfortunate is that it is increasing by the day".
"It is the same country where super-rich are free to reap profits, and our policy framework is capitalistic, that inequalities persist. This makes our the distribution of our resources questionable," the CPI-M leader said.
Karat said the Right to Education can be a giant leap forward for children but for that it will have to be made sure that every child has justifiable right to education.
"For that to happen funds are needed, and also parents who believe their child's labour is not needed for their family's survival... but it does not look possible in a situation where there is inequitable resource allocation."
She also said the mentality of male-preference and caste discrimination needs to be done away with if the Right to
Education is to actually become universal.
Speaking during the same conference former IPS officer Kiran Bedi said a spirit of volunteerism, particularly among the teachers, needs to be promoted in the society to make sure
even children from low-income backgrounds are given the right
direction.
