Economic rights
Topic: Political Theory: Freedom and Rights · NCERT: Class 11, Ch 5 "Rights"
Meaning
Economic rights are rights to the material basics of a decent life. NCERT lists adequate wages, decent working conditions, housing and medical care. They matter because political rights mean little to someone whose basic needs are not met. The vote means little to a pavement dweller with no food or shelter. Most of these rights appear in India's DPSP (Arts. 39, 41, 47), and the courts have linked livelihood to Art. 21.
Example
In Olga Tellis (1985), the Supreme Court held that the right to life includes livelihood. MGNREGA (2005) guaranteed rural employment. The VB-G RAM G Act 2025 replaced it from 1 July 2026 with a 125-day guarantee. The NFSA 2013 gives a legal right to food.
Don't confuse with
- Political rights: these are rights to vote, contest elections and form parties. Economic rights give people the means to use those rights in a real way.