Professor Amartya Sen has advocated important reforms in the realms of primary education and primary health care.
Education and health care are some basic human rights to which all human beings are entitled to. The Supreme Court has from time to time interpreted Article 21 of the Constitution and has brought ‘Right to health’ and ‘right to primary education’ (Article 21A) under fundamental rights. Therefore, both primary education and health care is an important aspect of a democratic setup.
Prof. Amartya Sen has lamented about the primary education and health care situation in India and advocated for reforms. According to him:
- Without developing social sectors like school education and basic health-care services, and without carrying outland reforms, it’ll not be possible for India to possess a participatory and widely shared economic growth.
- Education and health care aren’t only vital for quality of life, they need much to contribute to economic development and social change.
- India must broaden its base within the spheres of education, healthcare, and women’s equality to foster the economic process.
- India ranks alongside Haiti and Sierra Leone when it involves government spending on health as a share of the entire health expenditure of the people.
- He has made a strong case for radical reform in primary school curriculum which would reduce the curriculum overload in primary education in the country, making home tasks redundant and private tuition unnecessary.
- The government must prioritize expenditure on education and healthcare instead of ill-directed subsidies and tax exemptions.
- Increasing government expenditure on primary education and health care to at least 5% of GDP. While the government spends only 1% of GDP on health, education spending in India has been slower than the world average.
- There is a need for proper utilization of funds by plugging the loopholes arising from procedural and institutional bottlenecks.
- Taking inspiration from the Yashpal Committee Report which seeks to make learning more meaningful and enjoyable by relating formal education to the living world of the children.
- The mantra of availability, affordability, and assurance must be followed for improving the status and performance of Health care in India.
- Expanding the reach of health services to rural and remote areas is hindered by the limited availability of providers there. Therefore there’s a requirement to enhance the standard of Public Health Centres in those areas.
- Cooperation and collaboration of both the general public and personal sectors.
Suggestions for improvement in primary education and health care
India is the only country in the world that is aiming to become a global economic power with an uneducated and unhealthy labor force. Effective implementation of existing policies for skill development, fundamental education reforms, public-private partnerships, and international collaborations can help the state to become a worldwide superpower.
