A great majority of people in the developing nations are under the line of poverty. They are deprived of adequate access in the basic needs of life such as health, education, housing, food, security, employment, justice and equity. Issues of ustainable livelihood, social and political participation of the vulnerable groups exists as the major problem in the developing nations. Governments have failed to guarantee people's rights in the implementation level. People who belong to the vulnerable groups are unable to acquire and use their rights. In this background, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) have guaranteed the rights to sustainable livelihood, social, political and economic development for all especially those disadvantaged. Many countries have ratified these covenants. In 1979, the Government of India acceded to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).

Article 12 of the ICESCR states that, “The States Parties to the present Covenant recognize the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health.” In the year 2000, the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights offered explicit details of all the possible instances of violation that individuals and groups within a nation are likely to suffer from besides listing out obligations for the state to protect and fulfill the right of everyone to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health through the General Comment 14. Despite international commitment, individuals and groups experience differential access to food, education and health in India. The health rights of vulnerable groups remain detached from the state systems i.e. policy, programme and practice.