Introduction:

Social inclusion is the process of improving the terms on which individuals and groups take part in society—improving the ability, opportunity, and dignity of those disadvantaged on the basis of their identity. Exclusion can rob individuals of dignity, security, and the opportunity to lead a better life.

Body:

Costs of social exclusion:

• At the individual level, the loss of wages, lifetime earnings, poor education, and employment outcomes are the commonest measures of costs. Social exclusion is often solidified through discrimination, which can have physical and mental health costs.
• At the national level, the economic cost of social exclusion can be captured by forgone gross domestic product (GDP) and human capital wealth. Exclusion or the perception of exclusion may cause certain groups to opt out of markets, services, and spaces, with costs to both individuals and the economy.
• A recent International Monetary Fund (IMF) paper shows that the current gender gap in the labor force costs countries at the bottom half of gender inequality around 35 percent of GDP.
• A 2018 World Bank paper estimates that Africa alone lost $ 2.5 trillion in human capital due to gender inequality and 11.4% of total wealth in 2014.
• Another study found that exclusion of the ethnic minority Roma cost Romania 887 million euros in lost productivity.

Steps taken by the government for Inclusive Growth:

The government has realized the importance of inclusive growth and has taken steps accordingly. Some of the steps taken by the government are:

• Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan
• Right to Education
• Midday meal scheme
• MNREGA
• Housing for All
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana
• National Social Assistance Programme
• National Health Mission
• Rashtriya Swasthya Suraksha Yojana
• Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyothi Bhima Yojana
• Skill India, Make in India and Digital India
• Right to Information
• Other initiatives like Payment Banks, Small Finance Banks.

When the social indicators of an individual and a society improves by social inclusion measures, it leads to improved economic growth as they start contributing in various ways. World Economic Forum has suggested 3 practical ways by which countries can boost social inclusion as well as economic growth:

• First, countries should increase public and private investment in their citizens’ capabilities, which is the most important way they can durably lift their rate of productivity growth.
• Second, governments, together with employers’ and workers’ organizations, should upgrade national rules and institutions relating to work. These influence the quantity and distribution of job opportunities and compensation, and thus the level of purchasing power and aggregate demand within the economy.
• Third, countries should increase public and private investment in labor-intensive economic sectors that generate wider benefits for society. These include sustainable water, energy, digital, and transport infrastructure, care sectors, the rural economy, and education and training.

Other ways:

• Research into the effects and causes of social exclusion.
• Educational and awareness campaigns on the needs of people who are socially excluded.
• To encourage service providers to adapt their services to meet their needs, or the public to generally be more accepting of, and engaging with, particular communities;
• regeneration activities to change and improve the social and economic circumstances of a community.
• providing a local network group, linking groups in an area concerned with different issues affecting a particular community to enable them to make a more effective and joined up approach.
• increasing or coordinating opportunities for particular communities to participate in society. For instance, decision making on certain aspects by local decision making groups like local governments.

Way forward for India:

• Indian government along with the state governments and local governments should continue to focus on eradicating poverty and achieving sustainable development in order to improve the lives of India’s people.
• Through innovative partnerships with an international organization, civil societies, and private companies, inclusive and equitable growth can be targeted.
• Inclusive growth will help in the empowerment of vulnerable and marginalized populations, improve livelihoods, and augment skill-building for women.

Conclusion:

Inclusive growth is of vital importance to fight inequality in all aspects and promote holistic development of individuals in the country. Inclusive growth is necessary for the sustainable and holistic development of all sections of the society. For economic, social and political empowerment of its citizens, the core components of the Inclusive growth must be tackled.