Does Every Citizen's Consent Matter Equally?

"In a democracy, every vote may count equally, but does every citizen's consent carry the same weight?" Years have passed, yet the practices remain the same: the poor continue to suffer while the rich continue to prosper. Is there an end to this cycle? Perhaps not. Over the years, countless movies have portrayed these issues, yet little seems to change because we, as a society, often treat such incidents as mere emotional twists in a story rather than reflections of reality. For many, injustice remains confined to the screen. The media, often called the fourth pillar of democracy, frequently fails to push for meaningful change, and when we criticize politicians, we forget one important fact: it is we, the people, who choose those politicians. In books democracy promises us one thing, one person, one vote, one voice. However the reality tells us a different story, let's be real have you ever seen a farmer's child getting the privileges we get? The answer is no, they suffer for basic necessities like basic education, clean water, or even basic respect, and then we talk about equality. Time is running out, we as the youth of India need to bring the change to save our country. Have you heard of a Non-Performing Asset, more commonly known as an NPA? It refers to a loan that has not been cleared. While the term may sound scientific or weird, the debate surrounding it raises an important question about equality, the same equality we are promised on papers. When a big company fails to repay loans worth thousands of crores, there are meetings, negotiations, and small legal battles. But when a farmer or a small shop owner cannot repay a much smaller loan, the struggle often becomes deeply personal and immediate. This difference in experience has led many citizens to ask the question, does economic influence affect how institutions respond to failure? The obstacle is not if the law treats people differently. In books, the laws are the same, but the question is if access to resources is equally available for everyone or not. The real thing is that if a person has connections, access to lawyers, or has influence their voice is loud enough to supress the voice of others. If democracy means equality, then it must extend beyond the voting booths. It must exist in our society, our institutions, our opportunities and above all equality should exist in our hearts. “Democracy is not just the right to vote; it is the right to live in dignity." — Naomi Klein -Anaya Srivastava