A State-Level Seminar

“Contemporary Discourse on Social Justice”

11^th March 2023

Under the joint aegis of Human Development and Research Centre (HDRC) and St. Xavier Social Service Society (SXSSS), a one-day seminar "Discourse on Social Justice in Contemporary Period" was organized on March 11, 2023 at the premises of SXSSS, Ahmedabad. 112 participants from different walks of life -academics and social practioners took part in this well-organized seminar.

In his welcome address, Mr Mathai KO, the Director of HDRC said that social justice creates a wider consciousness among the deprived community in the present scenario. He highlighted the historical context of social justice for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalized sections.

In the keynote address, Fr. Isaac Rumao, Director (SXSSS) said that only the implementation of the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution can ensure social justice to the marginalized communities. Emphasizing the need for social justice in contemporary times, he enumerated five principles of social justice as Access, Equity, Diversity, Participation and Human Rights. He described the views of Plato, Aristotle, John Rawls, Amartya Sen which all confirm these principles. He said that social injustice, violation of human rights, and decline of democratic values badly affect any society.

Shri Nitin Gurjar, Senior Dalit activist was the chief guest of the seminar. Dr. Sanjay Solanki, Faculty of Law, M.S. University, Baroda explained the significance of the Preamble of the Indian Constitution and the fundamental rights enshrined in it. He explained the Directive Principles of State Policy in contemporary time and the laws made for the holistic development of the marginalized sections. Shri J. D. Chandrapal, a Bahujan activist based in Ahmedabad talked about the existing social justice and Bahujan Samaj interface. He said that Dr. Ambedkar divided the caste into classes like SC, ST, OBC etc., for the social justice to the marginalized. Presently we have created Bahujan Samaj. In the current scenario two things are important, the first is the annihilation of caste system and the second is the integration of caste.

 

Prof. Vandana Maurya, Dept. of History, LD College, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad explained the historical background of women's emancipation and women's movement in contemporary times, especially women's collective participation for social justice. She echoed Dr. Ambedkar words that ‘I measure the progress of a community with the degree of progress women have achieved’. Mahendra Jethmalani, Director Patheya Budget Centre, Ahmedabad explained about budget allocation and its utilization for social justice, especially in Schedule Caste Sub Plan -SCP and Tribal Sub Plan -TSP budgets. The above presentations were followed by a question answer session in which people took very active part.

Mr Anil Mecwan gave a vote of thanks to all the speakers and participants for making the seminar a success.

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