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- Vulnerable means easily harmed, and less able to protect oneself.
- Groups here means sections or communities of society.
- So vulnerable groups are the sections of society that are most easily harmed and least able to protect their own interests.
- The chapter calls them the weaker sections and the most vulnerable sections of society .
- Based on what the chapter names:
- The chapter also says communities must be protected regardless of caste, gender, religion or regional background .
- "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 the Scheduled Tribes , and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation."
- It says the State , not the government of the day.
- Two promises: promotion of their interests, and protection from injustice and exploitation.
- It is the duty of the government to protect all communities, regardless of caste, gender, religion or regional background.
- It must ensure resources are distributed equitably .
- Special attention must go to the most vulnerable sections , without discrimination .
- The book says equitably , not equally.
- That word is doing real work.
- Historical factors have led to an unequal distribution of opportunities and resources .
- Without special care, these groups would stay behind even if the law treated everyone the same.
- Example: a child whose family has never been to school needs extra support.
- Free books or a scholarship help that child reach the same starting line as a child whose parents were educated.
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The sections of society that are most easily harmed and least able to protect their own interests - the chapter calls them the weaker sections.
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The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes.
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That the State shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections. It shall also protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation.
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Equally means everyone gets the same. Equitably means everyone gets what they need to reach a fair position, correcting for past disadvantage.
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Because historical factors have led to an unequal distribution of opportunities and resources. Without special care they would stay behind, even if the law treated everyone the same.