Directive principles of state policy :
In the constitution directive principles have been provided for establishment of welfare state. Its aim is to create a society based on social justice giving equal opportunities to all for development. In section 4 of the constitution from article 36 to 51 these principles are given. These principles or elements may be divided into the following categories to facilitate their proper study.
I. Directive Principles and Economic Security :
(a) According to article 39, the state shall decide the policy in such a manner that :
1. Men and women both get sufficient means of earning a living equally.
2. The ownership and distribution of the physical resources shall be so distributed that collective interest is served at the highest priority.
3. The wealth and the means of production should not be centralized in such a manner which harms the collective interest.
4. Men and women shall get some salary for same work.
5. The health and power of the male or female labourers and the tender age of the children should not be exploited financially.
6. Opportunities of development and facilities shall be provided to the children by the state.
(b) Article 41 says that the state within its economic limitation shall try that every individual gets employment according to their qualification, education.
(c) Article 42 says that the state shall make provision for securing just and humane conditions of work and for maternity relief to women.
(d) The state shall endeavour to secure, by suitable legislation or economic organization or in any other way, to all workers, agricultural, industrial or otherwise, work, sustenance wage, conditions of work ensuring a decent standard of life.
(e) In this very article, it has been said that the state shall endeavour to promote cottage industries on an individual or cooperative basis in rural areas. By the 42nd amendment of the constitution, two more elements regarding economic security have been added to the directive principles :
1. Free legal support to the weaker sections.
2. Participation of workers in the management of industrial organizations.
(f) According to new article 43A, the state shall endeavour of legislative or any other method to ensure participation of workers in the management of the industries or such institutions.
(g) According to article 48, of 44th amendment in Indian Constitution, it has also been added that the state shall endeavour to organize agriculture and animal husbandry on modem and scientific lines and shall, in particular, take steps for preserving and improving the breeds, and prohibiting the slaughter of cows and calves and other milch and drought animals.
(h) By the 44th amendment (April 1979), it was added that the state shall endeavour to alleviate the existing difference in the income, social status, opportunities and facilities of the people living in different regions of the country and the communities of the people engaged in different occupations.
II. Directive Principles and Social Security and Education :
The following provisions have been made in the constitution to raise the standard of education and social standard:
1. The state shall endeavour to secure for the citizens a uniform civil code throughout the territory of India.
2. The state shall endeavour to provide, within a period of ten years from the commencement of this constitution, free and compulsory education for all children until they complete the age of fourteen years.
3. The state shall promote with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people, and in particular, of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
4. The state shall regard the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health as among its primary duties.
5. By the 42nd amendment, a new article 48 was added and according to it the state shall endeavour to protect and improve the environment and protect the forests and the wild animals.
III. Directive Principles and Panchayati Raj, Ancient Heritage, Sites, and Justice :
Under this, provisions have been made for the development of Panchayati Raj, protection of ancient heritage and the attainment a social justice.
These are as follows :
1. The state shall take steps to organize village Panchayats and endow them with such powers and authority as may be necessary to enable them to function as units of self government.
2. It shall be the obligation of the state to protect every monument or place or object of artistic or historic interests, declared by or under law made by Parliament to be of national importance.
3. The state shall take steps to separate the judiciary from the executive in the public services of the state.
IV. Directive Principles and International Peace and Security :
Following are the directive principles that have been included in Article 51 and are related to international peace and security :
1. The state shall endeavour to promote international peace and security.
2. The state shall maintain just and honourable relations between nations.
3. The state shall foster respect for international law and treaty obligations in the dealings of organised people with one another.
4. The state shall encourage settlement of international disputes by arbitration. It is clear from the directive principles that real democracy can only be established by adopting these principles of state policy.
