World Day of Social Justice is annually marked on 20 February. The objective of this day is to raise a voice against social injustice happening all across the world. On this day various communities come together to address issues such as illiteracy, religious and physical discrimination, poverty, ethnicity and culture among others. By doing so, we as a community need to work towards making a socially integrated and inclusive society.

IHA Foundation with the support of United Interfaith Foundation – India marked this day today by organizing a conversation on ways and means to promote social justice, and efforts we need to take as a society to highlight the power of solidarity to provide advance opportunity for all in India.

The theme for this year's World Day of Social Justice is "Achieving Social Justice through Formal Employment". Through this theme, we plan to promote the need to transition to formal employment, which is a necessary and important condition to reduce poverty and inequalities in society.

The COVID19 pandemic has put a spotlight on the vulnerability of workers in the informal economy. They are twice as likely to be poor compared to formal workers. We need a recovery from the crisis that is inclusive, sustainable, and resilient. The availability of only decent and consistent work can lead to increase in productivity and sustainability of enterprises and economy in general, which in turn can help in the growth of our Country.

Religious Leaders and Faith heads came together to discuss about the social injustices which are still prevailing in society and how they can contribute in promoting social justice. Present were Fr Franklin Menezes (Pro Vicar of the Cathedral of Most Holy Rosary), Satnam Singh Ahluwalia (Chairman – IHA Foundation and General Secretary United Interfaith Foundation – India), Swami Giri Surya Swami, (President Gangasagar Math), Divakar Chaitanya Ji Maharaj (Head Chinmay Mission Kolkata), Maulana Sk. Md. Hamid Hossain (Imam Of Sola Ana Mosque), Moulana Syed Zaki Hasan Rizvi (Imam e Jumma, Kolkata). A special delegation KAFILA-e-MUHABBAT from Jammu & Kashmir was also present representing the various Panchayats and leaders of the valley, who had come to spread the message of peace and justice.

"Our Ardaas, Pujas, Namaaz, prostrations, temple and church bells, offerings, sacrifices, oil, fire and ashes enable us to invoke, meditate and experience bliss. But religious practices that anaesthetize us from social injustices are dangerous. Indeed, our striving for social justice should neither stem from social compulsions nor political contracts but from a basic premise: everyone surely desires to be respected and to be treated equal to everyone else", said Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, Chairman IHA Foundation and General Secretary United Interfaith Foundation – India.

Satnam Singh Ahluwalia, further added, "Manav di Seva, Param Dharam" (Service to Humanity is the Highest Religion), we must all strive to ensure that the generations to come are empowered and educated, as through education and skill development only, we can provide employment and enable people to come out of poverty."

"Social Justice is all about equality. It is based on the principles of equity, access, participation and rights. Everyone deserves equal economic, political and social rights & opportunities. The fulfilment of such equality is the crux of social justice and the Constitution of India solemnly guarantees such equality in social, economic and political justice, freedom of expression of speech, belief, religion and worship as well as equality of status and opportunity.", said Ananda Basu, Advocate High Court Calcutta.

"We live in a very polarised, broken and fragmented society. This is a situation created by those with vested interests and with hidden agendas. Many of the social justice issues stem from our world-view, perceptions and attitudes. Our deep-rooted prejudices in areas such as race, gender, religion, sexual orientation etc. my prayer is that the God of justice leads from injustice to justice for all." Said Fr Franklin Menezes, Pro Vicar of the Cathedral of Most Holy Rosary.

Regards
Dashmeshbir Singh Sodhi
Country Coordinator
IHA Foundation