CASTE DISCRIMINATION

“At Uttarakhand School, Students Refuse to Eat Mid-Day Meals Cooked

by Dalit Woman”
The above statement was a headline in a news website on 22nd December,2021. This
headline made me wonder how come kids of today’s generation are believing in caste
and refuse to have a food cooked by the so called lower caste women. This news headline
made me to think as a country what have we done to remove caste discrimination after 75
years of Independence.

Our politicians have made caste a political tool kit and are using it to the fullest to exploit
people and get to the power. When I researched more on caste, it was a good system for
the primitive times, that time I feel people had come to an agreement to split the works,
one would rule and protect the kingdom, the other would do spiritual activities and more
work on innovative side, the other would do agriculture to ensure the whole kingdom is
fed and the other would clean and maintain the kingdom. This looks so good to hear
right? But world is not as ideal as we wish. The problem began when the people from one
profession looked down upon the other profession and today we are not living in the
primitive age.

One of the most insidious aspects of caste discrimination is the practice of untouchability,
which is the social exclusion of Dalits from certain social spaces and activities. This
includes exclusion from temples, restaurants, and other public places. Dalits are also often
denied entry into homes of people from higher castes, and are expected to perform
menial and often degrading tasks such as manual scavenging, which involves cleaning
human waste. Although education is a key factor to remove this perspective, still we have
not succeeded in changing the perspective of the people.

Despite legal protections and efforts to address caste discrimination, it remains a

significant problem in India. Dalits are often treated as second-class citizens and face
discrimination in many aspects of their lives, including education, employment, and
housing. The discrimination can be both systemic and individual, with many instances of
physical and verbal abuse against Dalits.

Dialogue and engagement are essential for addressing caste discrimination. This includes
engaging with Dalit communities to understand their needs and concerns, as well as
promoting dialogue and engagement between different caste groups to build bridges
and promote understanding. Since inter-caste marriages in India are on a rise, this could
help to break the barrier, so that people could engage with each other.

Media and cultural change can also play a key role in addressing caste discrimination. This
includes promoting positive representations of Dalits in the media and entertainment
industry, as well as challenging harmful stereotypes and prejudices through popular
culture and art. Now there are a lot of movies getting released depicting the issue of caste
discrimination and the need for social justice.

One of the most important ways to address caste discrimination is through education and
awareness-raising campaigns. This can include educating people about the history and
impact of caste discrimination, as well as promoting values of equality, dignity, and
respect for all individuals. These campaigns should be targeted at both rural and urban
CASTE DISCRIMINATION
areas, and should engage people of all ages. One example for this is the state of Tamil
Nadu. In Tamil Nadu most of the people have their surname which would be their parent’s
name and not their caste name. This was achieved through extensive campaign against
caste discrimination which almost ensured no one discriminates one just by his/her name.

Affirmative action programs, such as quotas and reservations for Dalits in education and
employment, can help to increase representation and provide opportunities for social and
economic mobility. However, these programs should be designed in a way that promotes
merit-based selection and does not compromise the quality of education or employment.
But this has lead to a compromise in the merit and also a lot of people are exploiting it.
For example: A Dalit person would have got into a government job using the quota and
would have been rich and well settled, but still his kids who were grown up in a very good
situation would use the reservation quota, which is a pure exploitation.

Addressing caste discrimination will require a multifaceted approach. This includes legal
and policy changes to protect the rights of Dalits, as well as education and awareness-
raising campaigns to challenge harmful stereotypes and prejudices. It also requires efforts
to promote diversity and representation in all areas of society, including in education,
employment, and government. Breaking the cycle of caste discrimination requires the
collective effort of all members of society. It requires a commitment to equality and social
justice, as well as a willingness to challenge long-held beliefs and attitudes. By working
together to address caste discrimination, India can move towards a more equitable and
just society for all.