Chamber’s Dictionary defines ‘right’ as “a just claim or title, whether legal, prescriptive, or moral… sometimes, rights that which are due to anyone by just claim, legal guarantees, moral principles, etc.” On the other hand, the same source defines ‘privilege’ as “a right, immunity or benefit enjoyed only by a person or persons beyond the advantages of most” or “a special right, immunity, or exemption granted to persons in authority or office to free them from certain obligations or liabilities.” Thus it transpires that while the concept of rights applies to all members of the general public, privilege is conferred on a selected few by virtue of holding a certain position of belonging to a certain group.
In a democratic setup, every citizen of a given country has certain rights in that land. It is only natural that people who belong to a nation expect the government that rules the country to bestow them with certain rights so that they can live a decent and peaceful life. Therefore, all governments should provide the basic rights to every individual in their respective countries, irrespective of caste, creed, race, religion, ethnicity, or gender. Basically, the most important of such rights is the right to live and earn a livelihood. Humans deserve the right to inhabit any part of a country they belong to and do any type of job of their choice to earn their bread. Similarly, they should also have the right to speech or, in other words, the right to express their opinions.
Another important right that every person in this world should have is the right to education. Governments should ensure that every child in the country receives basic education and provide it free of cost, or at least for a nominal cost. Unfortunately, there is a trend even these modern times, that some countries deprive girls of this right. This trend should be discouraged so that females also can compete with men. Yet another significant right that citizens in a country should receive is the right to opportunity. All governments should provide equal opportunities to every citizen, irrespective of color, race, religion, region, or sex. This will rule out discrimination and provide the citizens a sense of security, and thus they will remain loyal and patriotic to that country. The right to vote is another significant element for a citizen in a democratic setup. Every individual deserves the right to participate in the political process and thereby decide who should be entrusted with the responsibility to govern them. There are several other rights that governments should guarantee their citizens, and the above mentioned are only a few of them. However, every citizen should understand his or her responsibilities and stand up to them before asking for their rights.
Privilege, on the other hand, is a certain special right offered to a selected few by virtue of holding specific offices belonging to a certain status or due to special achievements in various fields. Though the opportunities that every person receives are the same, all cannot excel in their respective fields. The ability to be different, perform better than others, and certain unique qualities are factors that distinguish achievers from ordinary people. It is also the government’s onus to grant privileges to those who display exemplary qualities or attain significant levels of achievements so as to provide motivation to them as well as others to follow them as role models. Special rights so offered to high-ranking officials, sportsmen, artists, and achievers in other fields are examples of such privileges. However, governments should exercise discretion while granting privileges to ensure that it is endowed on deserving individuals only.