An activist working among the poor says that the poor don't need Fundamental Rights. What they need are Directive Principles to be made legally binding. Do you agree with this? Give your reasons.
I do not fully agree with the activist's view. While making Directive Principles legally binding would benefit the poor, Fundamental Rights remain equally important for them.
Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles are complementary to each other. Fundamental Rights restrain the government from doing certain things and mainly protect the rights of individuals. Directive Principles exhort the government to do certain things and ensure the well-being of the entire society.
For the poor, Directive Principles contain crucial goals like welfare of the people, social, economic and political justice, raising the standard of living, and equitable distribution of resources. They also include non-justiciable rights such as adequate livelihood, right to work, equal pay for equal work, and right against economic exploitation. Making these legally binding would indeed benefit the poor significantly.
However, Fundamental Rights cannot be ignored. They protect individuals from violations, as seen in instances where minimum wages are not paid—a violation of Fundamental Rights. The poor need protection against exploitation and discrimination, which Fundamental Rights provide.
The Constitution makers envisioned both as essential. The government has implemented Directive Principles through measures like zamindari abolition, nationalisation of banks, and reservation for scheduled castes and tribes. Instead of choosing one over the other, both Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles should work together for the welfare of the poor.
Explanation
This question tests the student's understanding of the relationship between Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles. The textbook clearly states they are complementary—Fundamental Rights restrain government from acting wrongly, while Directive Principles encourage government to act positively for society's welfare. The poor need both: Fundamental Rights for protection against violations (like non-payment of minimum wages), and Directive Principles for welfare measures. The answer should reflect this balanced view from the context.
Solution Steps
Step 1: State your position clearly - partial disagreement with the activist
Step 2: Explain the complementary nature of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles
Step 3: Highlight how Directive Principles benefit the poor with specific examples from context
Step 4: Explain why Fundamental Rights remain essential for the poor
Step 5: Conclude by emphasizing both are needed together