Reddit is the new site of north-south divide – ThePrint

Report on Regional Divisions in India and Their Implications for Sustainable Development Goals

Analysis of Online Discourse on Social Cohesion

Online platforms, particularly Reddit, have become significant arenas for discussing regional tensions within India. These discussions highlight critical challenges to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), revealing deep-seated societal fissures that impact inequality, justice, and economic growth.

Challenges to SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

Discourse on Reddit frequently centers on issues of discrimination and social exclusion, directly contravening the aims of SDG 10, which seeks to promote the social, economic, and political inclusion of all, irrespective of origin or ethnicity.

Manifestations of Inequality

• Linguistic Imposition: Incidents, such as a demand for an auto driver in Bengaluru to speak Hindi, spark conversations about linguistic dominance. This friction undermines cultural diversity and social inclusion, key targets of SDG 10.
• Discrimination Against Migrants: Users from states like Bihar report widespread stereotyping and derogatory remarks, portraying them as uneducated or suited only for low-wage jobs. This form of discrimination is a significant barrier to reducing inequalities and ensuring equal opportunity.
• Colourism and Ethnic Slurs: Personal accounts of colourism and racially charged slurs against individuals from both North and South India are prevalent. These experiences of discrimination, shared under the protection of anonymity, underscore the persistence of prejudices that SDG 10 aims to eliminate.

Implications for SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Debates surrounding political and economic governance reflect a perceived lack of fairness in national institutions, challenging the core principles of SDG 16, which advocates for effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels.

Erosion of Trust in National Frameworks

1. Political Representation and Delimitation: Discussions on Reddit frame the proposed 2026 delimitation of constituencies as a threat to the political representation of South Indian states. This is viewed as penalizing states that have successfully implemented population control measures, thereby questioning the inclusivity and fairness of democratic institutions.
2. Fiscal Federalism and Tax Devolution: There is significant online debate regarding the distribution of union taxes. Users from southern states express resentment that their higher tax contributions are used to subsidize northern states, which they perceive as poorly governed. This sentiment undermines the perception of accountable and equitable governance, a cornerstone of SDG 16.

Impact on SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

The experiences of internal migrants, as documented on Reddit, reveal obstacles to achieving SDG 8, which promotes inclusive and sustainable economic growth and decent work for all.

Barriers to Inclusive Employment

• Workplace Alienation: Numerous users report being alienated in corporate environments due to language barriers. Both Hindi and non-Hindi speakers describe being excluded from conversations when managers or colleagues speak in a language they do not understand. This creates a non-inclusive work environment, contrary to the principles of decent work.
• Stereotyping of Migrant Labour: The negative stereotyping of migrant workers, particularly from Bihar, contributes to a hostile environment and limits their access to fair opportunities and dignified employment, thereby hindering inclusive economic growth.

The Role of Digital Platforms in SDG-Related Discourse

Reddit’s structure facilitates both positive and negative outcomes for fostering dialogue related to the SDGs. Its format allows for in-depth, data-supported arguments that go beyond superficial exchanges.

Anonymity and Echo Chambers

• A Platform for Voicing Grievances: The anonymity offered by the platform empowers individuals to share personal experiences of discrimination, contributing to a broader understanding of the challenges to achieving SDG 10 and SDG 16.
• Formation of Echo Chambers: Regional subreddits often become echo chambers where one-sided perspectives on issues like delimitation and tax distribution are reinforced without challenge. This can entrench divisions and work against the goal of fostering peaceful and inclusive societies (SDG 16).

Analysis of the Article in Relation to Sustainable Development Goals

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities: The article’s central theme is the “north versus south divide,” which manifests as social, economic, and political inequality. It details discrimination based on regional origin, language, and skin color (colorism), directly addressing the goal of reducing inequalities within a country.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions: The discussions on political delimitation and tax devolution question the fairness, inclusivity, and accountability of national institutions. Concerns that delimitation is an “attack on South India’s political representation” and that tax distribution is inequitable point to a perceived weakness in institutional frameworks that are meant to be representative and just for all regions.
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth: The article touches upon the experiences of migrant workers and professionals. It highlights issues of workplace alienation where employees are excluded based on language, and the stereotyping of migrants from states like Bihar. These issues relate to the goal of promoting inclusive economic environments and protecting labor rights for all, including migrant workers.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of… race, ethnicity, origin… or other status.” The article provides numerous examples of social exclusion, such as a Kannadiga man being bullied by North Indian classmates in his native Bengaluru, and Bihari migrants facing derogatory remarks and stereotypes in both South and North India. These instances highlight a failure to achieve social inclusion based on origin and ethnicity.
• Target 10.3: “Ensure equal opportunity and reduce inequalities of outcome, including by eliminating discriminatory… practices.” The personal stories of colorism (“called a kaala (black) who wouldn’t be ‘visible in the dark’”) and derogatory slurs against Biharis are clear examples of discriminatory practices that create unequal opportunities and outcomes for individuals.
• Target 16.7: “Ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision-making at all levels.” The debate over delimitation directly engages with this target. South Indian users on Reddit express fears that the process will diminish their political representation, suggesting they feel the decision-making process is not inclusive or representative of their region’s interests, especially after successfully implementing family planning.
• Target 8.8: “Protect labour rights and promote safe and secure working environments for all workers, including migrant workers…” The article describes non-inclusive working environments in large MNCs where managers and colleagues speak in regional languages (Telugu or Hindi), deliberately excluding those who do not understand. This points to a failure in promoting a secure and respectful working environment for all employees, irrespective of their origin.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicator for Target 10.2/10.3: The article does not cite official statistics, but the Reddit posts themselves serve as qualitative data. An implied indicator is the “prevalence of self-reported experiences of discrimination or harassment based on regional origin, language, or skin color.” The numerous personal anecdotes shared on subreddits like r/Bangalore and r/Bihar are direct evidence of this phenomenon.
• Implied Indicator for Target 16.7: The intensity and volume of online discussions on topics like delimitation and tax devolution can be seen as an indicator of “public perception of fairness and inclusivity in national governance and resource allocation.” The article notes that these topics consistently find their way across various subreddits, indicating a significant level of public concern about representative decision-making.
• Implied Indicator for Target 8.8: The accounts of workplace alienation provide a basis for an indicator such as “number of reported incidents of linguistic or regional exclusion in the workplace.” The specific examples from employees in Hyderabad and other corporate settings show that this is a measurable issue affecting the work environment.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: theprint.in