Social Justice in India: Confronting Caste-Based Exclusion
Context:
- Despite constitutional guarantees of equality under Articles 14, 15, and 17, Scheduled Castes (SCs), Scheduled Tribes (STs), and Other Backward Classes (OBCs) continue to face systemic caste-based violence and exclusion.
- Persistent discrimination undermines India’s claim of being a civilised society and reflects the gap between law and social reality.
Reasons for Persistence of Caste-Based Discrimination
- Persisting Discrimination:
- Rural assaults for defying caste norms.
- Urban discrimination in housing, employment, and education.
- Caste hierarchies continue to deny dignity and opportunity.
- Belief in Caste-Based Superiority:
- Enables social elites to commit acts of violence with impunity.
- Examples: forcing Dalits to drink urine; ostracising Adivasis for asserting land rights.
- Societal Failure:
- Caste violence reflects not only individual prejudice but a broader societal failure to internalise humanitarian values.
- Lack of Government Action:
- Current government efforts are often symbolic, e.g., including Dalits and Adivasis in religious rituals.
- These gestures lack substantial impact on systemic caste inequities.
- Inappropriate Narratives:
- Hindutva narratives frame marginalised communities’ resistance as a threat to cultural unity.
- Activists are labelled “Hinduphobic”, stifling legitimate demands for justice.
- Example: Protests against Supreme Court orders diluting the Atrocities Act were suppressed using this rhetoric.
- Cultural Restrictions:
- Restrictions on Bahujan cultural expressions, e.g., during the release of the Hindi film Phule, alienate these communities from mainstream discourse.
- Inefficient Implementation of Policies:
- Reservations in education and employment are inconsistently enforced.
- Social elites continue to dominate institutions, limiting opportunities for marginalized groups.
- Lack of Policy Framework & Political Will:
- Absence of robust national policy bridging dominant castes and subaltern groups.
- Political parties avoid national campaigns against caste prejudice for fear of diluting elite privileges.
- Elevation of Dominant Narratives:
- Brahmanical cultural narratives overshadow Dalit and Adivasi struggles.
- Resistance by Dalits is framed as a challenge to tradition rather than a fight for dignity.
- Fragmented Dalit Movements and Waning Civil Society Response:
- Dalit movements are fragmented, marginalised, and have limited capacity to challenge social hierarchies.
- Civil society’s response to caste atrocities has declined.
- Weak Enforcement of Laws:
- Delayed investigations, low conviction rates, and judicial/police bias undermine the Atrocities Act.
- 2023 Study by National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights: Over 60% of cases under the Atrocities Act remain pending.
- NCRB Data 2023:
- 57,789 cases registered against SCs (0.4% increase from 2022).
- 12,960 cases against STs (28.8% increase from 2022).
Movements and Measures That Reshaped Caste Dynamics
- Dalit Panthers (1970s): Asserted political power and social prestige.
- Rise of Dalit Parties: e.g., Bahujan Samaj Party amplified Dalit and OBC voices in governance.
- Upsurge of Dalit Arts and Literature: Claimed space in India’s pluralistic heritage.
- Influential Reformers: Mahatma Phule, B.R. Ambedkar, Periyar, Mahatma Gandhi challenged Brahmanical hierarchy.
- Legal Safeguards: Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and other provisions aim to dismantle caste hierarchies.
Recommended Measures to Address Caste Discrimination
- Strengthen Existing Laws:
- Ensure swift prosecution and sensitisation of law enforcement.
- National Campaign for Equality:
- Political leaders must promote egalitarian values via education, media, and public platforms.
- Foster Dialogue:
- Civil society, cultural organisations, academia, and religious institutions must bridge community divides.
- Rigorous Affirmative Action:
- Ensure transparent implementation of reservations in education, employment, and access to resources.
- Amplify Marginalised Voices:
- Dalit, Adivasi, and Bahujan leadership must be strengthened to provide a new platform for resistance movements.
- Revive Anti-Caste Social Movements:
- Build solidarity among marginalised groups and re-establish social justice as a national priority.
Conclusion:
Caste-based discrimination persists due to entrenched societal attitudes, weak policy implementation, and political inaction. While historical movements, reformers, and legal safeguards have created progress, systemic reforms, strict enforcement, and renewed social mobilisation are essential to uphold the constitutional promise of equality and dignity for all citizens.
Source : The Hindu