Human Security and its Challenges in India

“Extreme poverty anywhere is a threat to human security everywhere.” - Kofi Anan.

February 14, 2023

Aditya Kumar Srivastava | 2201013 | aditya.srivastava22b@iiitg.ac.in

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Human security concept was introduced in 1994 by the United Nations Development Programme. The concept of human security represents a powerful, but also controversial at the same time.

India is a diverse state characterised by different ethnic groups. India is having a different case as here; different communities live and have been consistently trying to retain their identity. Many times, this has given scope for inequalities to great extent; there are divisions in society based on caste, creed, class, religion, community, etc. Some groups feel themselves as being at the tail of the society.  On the economic side also, various schemes are being made to remove economic and social problem. There is now an increasing awareness among various groups about their rights and claims that make it easier to demand human security. 

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Political Security

The state is primarily in charge of guaranteeing security and making sure the system is always ready to handle any situation. Since independence, India has taken great care to protect its territorial and boundary.

Economic Security

Poverty is one of the problems that have been stopping the growth of India. With the introduction of different schemes by govt, it has been expected that the economic problems would be resolved in coming future.

Food Security

According to UNO -India, there are nearly 195 million undernourished people in India, which is a quarter of the world's hunger burden. Also, roughly 43% of children in India are chronically undernourished. India ranks 68 out of 113 major countries in terms of food security index 2022. (Wikipedia, uno).

Health Security

Most communities in India have primary health care facilities, but they are not well-equipped to handle even minor illnesses. Public access to healthcare is generally quite poor, and the situation in rural areas is even more appalling. Reforms in this area are required to ensure everyone's health.

Environmental Security

India's growth ambitions are expected to disturb the ecological balance of the country because it has one of the world's fastest expanding economies. It needs to work harder in this field keeping in view its traditional knowledge.

Community Security

In India, groups are broadly classified into minorities and specifically. These include caste, tribal groups, women, children etc, the condition of women in rural India is not very promising, primarily due to lack of education and awareness regarding their rights. Though laws are being made to improve it but the efforts are yet to take off.

Personal Security

Threats from the government, other states (such as wars and cross-border terrorism, etc.), and threats from other people's organisations are among them. They can be aimed at children such as child abuse, neglect, child labour, or child prostitution or at women such as domestic violence, abuse, or rape.