A Social Charter for India: Citizens' Perspectives of Basic Rights

At the tenth SAARC Summit, it was agreed that an inter-governmental social charter for South Asia under the aegis of SAARC would be prepared. In India, the Council for Social Development formulated the citizens’ social charter. The development of the social charter was an open, inclusive and participatory process, involving civil society, academic communities and research institutes—all with a strong commitment to the concerns of the deprived. A Social Charter for India: Citizens’ Perspective of Basic Rights presents the charter that was born out of these deliberations. Part One of the book include chapters on the basic rights of Indian citizens, Supreme Court judgments, and the current situation in India in areas of social development such as health, education, environment, women, children, other weaker sections of society, social integration and governance. Part Two contains the text of the social charter.