Law, Poverty and Development

[2nd Edn. 2011(Pb)]

Contents

Meaning and Concept	1
Dictionary Meaning	1
Another Meaning	1
Terms Related to Poverty	1
Absolute Poverty	1
Relative Poverty	2
Primary Poverty	2
Secondary Poverty	2
Poverty Line	2
Poverty Trap	2
Cycle of Poverty	3
Quotes	3
Indicative Figures	3
Below Poverty Line	3
Understanding who are Poor	4
Who all constitute poor?	4
Need to Define the Problems of Poverty and its Magnitude	4
Social Exclusion	4
Identification	5
Aggregation	5
Manifestations of Poverty	5
Negative Discrimination	5
Types of Income Poverty	6
Poverty Groups	6
Stunted Child	7
Wasted Child	7
Underweight	7
Determinants of Poverty	7
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)	7
Eight Goals	7
Comments	8
Measures of Human Deprivation Devised by United Nations Development Programme	8
CPM	8
Comments	8
HPI	8
Indicators	9
Concepts	9
Harijan	9
Dalit	9
Garibi Hatao	9
Mandal Commission	9
Social Engineering	10
Affirmative Action	10
Inclusive Growth	10
The Creamy Layer	11
Empowerment	11

CHAPTER 2

APPROACH OF THE INDIAN CONSTITUTION TOWARDS THE POOR

Issues Related to Poverty in India	12
Preamble	12
Socialistic Concept	13
A Resume of Constitutional Provisions having a Bearing on Poverty and Development	13
Citizenship	13
Article 5 - Citizenship at the Commencement of the Constitution	13
Right to Equality	14
Equality Before Law	14
Article 15. Prohibition of Discrimination	14
Article 16. Equality of Opportunity in Matters of Public Employment	14
Article 17. Abolition of Untouchability	14
Article 21. Right to Life	14
Illustrations	15
Article 21A	15
Directive Principles of State Policy and Poverty in India	15
Social Justice	15
Fundamental Duties	16
Article 51(A)(k)	16
Other Provisions	17
Article 243D	17
Article 325	17
Part XVI -Articles 330 to 342	17

CHAPTER 3

ANTI-POVERTY PROGRAMMES

Twin Fold Objectives	18
Underlying Aim	18
Payments	18
The Integrated Rural Development Project (IRDP)	18
Guarantee of Employment: Section 3(2)	19
Operational since 1980	19
Target Group	19
Ceiling for Subsidy	19
Pattern of Coverage	19
Actual Beneficiaries	19
Analysis	20
National Rural Employment Programme (NREP)	20
Significant Features	20
Priority	20
Allocation	20
Division	20
Execution	20
Co-option	20
Drawbacks	20
Rural Landless Employment Guarantee Programme (RLEGP) (August 1983)	20
Objective	20
Details	21
Jawahar Rojgar Yojna (JRY)	21
Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojna (SGSY)	21
Sampoorna Grameen Rojgar Yojna (SGRY)	21
Indira Awas Yojna (IAY)	22
Public Distribution System (PDS)	22
The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, 2005 MGNREGA	22
Aim	23
Nodal Agency	23
Implementation	23
Sharing of Expenses	23
Provisions under NREGA	23
Rural Area section 2(0)?	23
History and Funding	23
Section 2(f)	24
Criticism	24
Legal Aspects	24
Ninth Plan Strategy for IRDP	24
Objectives	24
Developmental Activities	25
Rajiv Awas Yojna	25
Panchayat Raj Institutions	25
Criticism	26
Non-governmental Initiatives	26
Self Help Groups	26

CHAPTER 4

BONDED LABOUR

Universal Declaration of Human Rights	27
Begar	27
Forced Labour	27
Constitution of India, Article 23: Right Against Exploitation	27
Slave	28
Debt Bondage	28
International Labour Organisation and Forced Bonded Labour	28
PUCL Case	28
Freedom from Bondage	29
The Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976	29
Salient Features	29
Preamble	29
Bonded Labour, Section 2(e)	29
Bonded Labourer, Section 2(f)	29
Bonded Labour System, Section 2(g)	29
Act to have Overriding Effect, Section 3	30
Abolition of Bonded Labour System, Section 4(1)	30
Section 4(2)	30
Agreement, Custom, Etc., to be Void, Section 5	30
Burden of Proof, Section 15	30

CHAPTER 5

ABOLITION OF UNTOUCHABILITY

Constitution of India Article 17	32
The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955	32
Preamble	32
Definitions	32
Civil Rights	32
Place	32
Provisions of the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955	32
Offences	32
Abolition of Untouchability	33
Presumption by Courts in Certain Cases, Section 12	33
Legal Aid, Section 15A(2)(i)	33
Special Courts	34
Committees, Section 15(A)(2)(iv)	34
Constitutional Bodies	34

CHAPTER 6

DEBT RELIEF

Maharashtra Debt Relief Act, 1975	35
Preamble	35
Salient Features	35
Farmer's Debt Waiver Scheme, May 2008	35
Estimated Beneficiaries	36

CHAPTER 7

DEVELOPMENT

Right	37
Development	37
Background	37
United Nations Charter	37
Fundamental Core Element	38
Right to Development (RTD)	38
Right to Development is a Group Right	38
The Rio Declaration, 1992	38
The Principles of the RIO Declaration	38
Copenhagen Declaration, 1995	39
Right to Development Includes	39
Declaration on the Right to Development	39
Recognition	39
Certain Advances	39
Target	39
Legal Relevance	39

CHAPTER 8

CRIMINAL LAW AND THE POOR

Constitutional Aim	40
Case-Law	41
Victims of Bail Justice	41
Purpose Behind Bail Provisions	42
Interim Bail	42
Bailable	42
Legal Provisions - Criminal Procedure Code Sections 436 to 450	42
Problems for the Poor	42
Victims of Prison Injustice	43
Problems of Under-trials	43
Abuse and Challenges	43
Criminal Procedure Code, Chapter VIII, Sections 106 to 124	44

CHAPTER 9

RENDITION OF LEGAL AID

Corrective Steps	46
Preamble of Constitution	46
Significance	47
The Legal Services Authority Act, 1987	47
Preamble	47
The Statute Highlighted	47
Definitions	47
Supreme Court Legal Services Committee	48
Functions of the Central Authority	48
Functions of the State Authority	48
Entitlement to Legal Services	48
Free Legal Services	49
Lok Adalats	49
Section 19	49
Status	50
Connotation of Terms Used	50
Compromise	50
Settlement	50
Refund of Court Fees	50
Public Utility Service	50

CHAPTER 10

WOMEN, CHILDREN AND THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

Fundamental Duties	52
Situation Before Enactment of Modern Laws	52
Crimes Against women	53
Hindu Succession Act, 1956 (As Amended in 2005)	53
Status of Female Hindus	53
Criticism	53
Gender Bias or Inadequacies	54
Anti-dowry Laws	54
Dowry Prohibition Act, 1961	54
Preamble	54
Section 2 of the Dowry Prohibition Act	55
Stridhan	55
Offences with Regard to Dowry and Wife	55
Penalties	55
IPC Section 406 - Punishment for Criminal Breach of Trust	55
IPC Section 304B	56
IPC Section 498A	56
Nature of Offence	56
Domestic Violence Act, 2005	57
Preamble	57
Domestic Violence - Section 5	57
Appraisal	58
Significance	58
Beneficiaries	58
Live-in Relationship	58
Status of Children	59
Shelter	59
Maintenance	59
Criminal Procedure Code	59
Limitation	60
Bar to Relief	60
Advantage	60
Hindu Adoptions and Maintenance Act, 1956 - Section 18	60
Muslim Marriage	60
Significant Features	60
Other Types of Marriage	61
Status	61
Prohibitions	61
Call for Reforms	61
Suggestions	61
Nikah Namah	62
Punishment	62
The Dissolution of Muslim Marriages Act, 1939	62
Preamble	62
Inadequacy of 1939 Law	62
Challenges for Muslim Women	63
Comments	63
Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Divorce) Act, 1986	63
Comments	63
Imrat-e-Shariah	63
Child Custody	64
Relevance	64
Need	64
The Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act, 1956	64
Family Courts	64
Family Court Act, 1984	65
Special Features	65
Association of Social Welfare Agencies, Etc. - Section 5	65
Criticism/Inadequacies	66
Sex Determination	66
Female Foeticide	67
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1972 (in short MTP Act)	67
Abortion Allowed Where	68
Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994	68
Maternity Benefits	69
Maternity Benefit Act, 1961	69
Preamble	69
Sexual Harassment at Work Place	70
What is it?	70
Other Forms	70
Reasons	70
Offences under Indian Penal Code	71
Vishaka Guidelines	71
Sexual Harassment at Workplace Bill, 2010	71
Preamble	71
Comments	72
Immoral Traffic	72
Legal Status	72
Comments	74
Honour Killings	74
Protection Homes	75
National Widow Pension Scheme	75
Rights of the Disabled	75
Types of Disabilities	76
Contemporary International Approach	77
Mental Health Act, 1987	77
The Rehabilitation Council of India Act, 1992	77
The Persons with Disability (Equal Opportunities, Protection of Rights and Full Participation) Act, 1995	77
Approach	77
The National Trust for Welfare of Persons with Autism, Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation and Multiple Disabilities Act, 1999	77
Inadequacies	77
Challenges (Illustrative)	78
Illustrative Case Law	78
Rights of Mentally Retarded	78
Challenges	78
Mentally III Deserve a Right to	78
International Year of Disabled Persons 1981	78
Mental Health Act, 1987	78
Preamble	79
Case Law	79
Child Labour	79
Actual Difficulties	80
Sectors Involved	80
Child Labour (Prohibition and Regulation) Act, 1986	80
Twin Objective	80
Employment Banned	80
Section 4	80
Challenges	80
Right to Education	81
Article 21A	81
Definition	82
Criticism	82
Street Children	83
Rights of Elderly	83

QUESTION BANK

Multiple Choice Questions	85
Fill in the Gaps	86
Fill in the Gaps	90
True or False	90
Match the Following	90
Model Answers	91

Subject Index

326