Introduction India, a nation with the world’s largest democracy, is also home to one of the widest income inequalities. The poor often face discrimination not because of their race, gender, or caste—but simply because of their economic status. From being treated with suspicion in hospitals to being spoken down to in schools and ignored in courts, poor people in India often endure a different reality than the well-off. What Is Economic Class Discrimination? Economic Class Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on their income, wealth, or social class. It often manifests in subtle and overt ways across society: A daily wage worker denied timely healthcare. A slum-dwelling child ignored by teachers. A domestic worker paid less than minimum wage without any benefits. This form of discrimination worsens existing inequalities and prevents marginalized individuals from breaking the cycle of poverty. Affected Groups Some of the most affected by economic class discri...
Introduction
India, a nation with the world’s largest democracy, is also home to one of the widest income inequalities. The poor often face discrimination not because of their race, gender, or caste—but simply because of their economic status. From being treated with suspicion in hospitals to being spoken down to in schools and ignored in courts, poor people in India often endure a different reality than the well-off.
What Is Economic Class Discrimination?
Economic Class Discrimination refers to the unfair treatment of individuals based on their income, wealth, or social class. It often manifests in subtle and overt ways across society:
A daily wage worker denied timely healthcare.
A slum-dwelling child ignored by teachers.
A domestic worker paid less than minimum wage without any benefits.
This form of discrimination worsens existing inequalities and prevents marginalized individuals from breaking the cycle of poverty.
Affected Groups
Some of the most affected by economic class discrimination include:
Street Vendors: Harassed by municipal authorities, denied licenses, and often treated like criminals.
Domestic Workers: Underpaid, overworked, and denied dignity or social security.
Slum-Dwellers: Deprived of basic rights like clean water, sanitation, and often forcefully evicted.
Rural Poor: Face barriers in accessing quality education, healthcare, and legal justice.
Urban Poor: Experience exclusion in public spaces, transportation, and even shopping malls.
Common Areas Where Discrimination Occurs
1. Hospitals and Healthcare
Poor people often report that they are treated with indifference or disrespect in hospitals.
Government hospitals are overcrowded and underfunded.
Some private hospitals reject poor patients, despite the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 mandating emergency care for all.
Many rural women still die during childbirth because of lack of access or care.
Poor people often report that they are treated with indifference or disrespect in hospitals.
Government hospitals are overcrowded and underfunded.
Some private hospitals reject poor patients, despite the Clinical Establishments Act, 2010 mandating emergency care for all.
Many rural women still die during childbirth because of lack of access or care.
2. Education
Despite the Right to Education Act, 2009, which mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14, children from poor families often face:
Discrimination from teachers and peers.
Being pushed toward manual work or dropped out due to financial hardship.
Lack of digital access during online learning periods like COVID-19.
Despite the Right to Education Act, 2009, which mandates free and compulsory education for children aged 6–14, children from poor families often face:
Discrimination from teachers and peers.
Being pushed toward manual work or dropped out due to financial hardship.
Lack of digital access during online learning periods like COVID-19.
3. Legal System
Poor people frequently struggle to access justice:
They cannot afford lawyers or court fees.
Their cases move slower.
They may face bias from authorities who assume guilt based on appearance or status.
Even though Article 39A of the Indian Constitution ensures free legal aid, awareness and access remain poor.
4. Housing and Employment
Slum-dwellers face illegal evictions without proper resettlement.
Landless laborers are often underpaid, with no formal contracts.
In cities, people from lower-income backgrounds are denied housing in “better” colonies or flats due to “class-based” judgments.
Constitutional and Legal Safeguards
India’s Constitution and several laws aim to protect all citizens equally—yet enforcement remains weak for the economically disadvantaged. Key protections include:
📜 Article 14 – Right to Equality
Guarantees that every citizen is equal before the law and has equal protection under it.
✦ But in reality, poor people are often denied this equality in practical terms.
📜 Article 15 – Prohibition of Discrimination
Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
✦ Though economic status is not directly mentioned, it overlaps heavily with these identities.
📜 Article 21 – Right to Life and Dignity
Includes the right to live with dignity, which should include access to housing, health, and livelihood.
📜 Article 39A – Equal Justice and Free Legal Aid
Mandates that the state provide free legal aid to ensure justice for all, regardless of economic or other disabilities.
⚖️ Equal Remuneration Act, 1976
Provides for equal pay for equal work and prevents discrimination in hiring based on gender—but poor women, especially in domestic or informal jobs, often earn less with no contracts.
⚖️ Unorganized Workers’ Social Security Act, 2008
Covers workers like rickshaw-pullers, street vendors, and domestic workers, aiming to provide basic welfare.
⚖️ Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014
Protects vendors from eviction and harassment, but its implementation is patchy at best.
Real-Life Examples
In 2020, a video went viral of a rural migrant worker denied entry into a hospital in Uttar Pradesh because he was barefoot and appeared poor.
In Mumbai, several domestic workers were banned from entering housing societies during COVID-19, even though their employers could freely come and go.
In Delhi, multiple reports have surfaced of manual scavengers dying on duty, despite the practice being banned under the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013.
Why Does It Persist?
Economic class discrimination continues because:
Wealth equals power – Poor people often cannot protest or seek justice.
Social attitudes – Many still see poverty as a personal failure, not systemic.
Weak enforcement – Laws exist but are not implemented effectively.
Lack of awareness – Many poor individuals don’t even know their legal rights.
Possible Solutions
Strengthen Legal Aid
Legal awareness camps and mobile clinics can help poor communities understand their rights.
Empower Local Bodies
Municipalities and Panchayats should include voices from slums and street vendors in decision-making.
Dignity at Work
Formalize domestic work, waste-picking, vending, etc., and include them in labor welfare schemes.
School Reforms
Train teachers to treat all children equally and make classrooms inclusive across class lines.
Social Campaigns
Just like caste and gender, we need mass awareness against class-based stereotypes.
Conclusion
Economic class discrimination is one of the most silent yet powerful forms of injustice in modern India. Even though our Constitution promises equality and dignity for all, many poor citizens are still treated as second-class people in their own country. By strengthening laws, educating the public, and giving real voice and value to poor communities, we can move toward a more equal India—not just in principle, but in practice.
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