Reduced Inequalities: A study on Perceptions, Challenges and Socio-Economic Effects

Increased inequalities have become one of the most burning international problems of the 21st century. The gap between various groups in society is still increasing due to economic inequalities, social exclusion, inequalities in access to education, medical care, jobs, and discrimination on the basis of gender, caste, ethnicity, and level of income. Sustainable Development Goal 10 focuses on eradicating inequality within and among nations by achieving inclusive development, equal opportunities and social security. This paper will examine the perception of the people about inequality, the critical areas where inequality has been experienced, and the effectiveness of the measures in place to reduce the gaps. The research measures the awareness, experiences, and attitudes of the respondents on income inequality, education inequality, gender inequality, digital divide and social inclusion using primary data obtained using structured questionnaires. The results suggest that the level of awareness is high but there are still some gaps in the implementation, outreach of policies and the level of equal access to the resources. The paper demonstrates the necessity of more robust policy frameworks, inclusive economic policies, and community-based interventions to employ sustainable and equitable development.