Issues & Challenges of

Marginalized Groups
Meaning of Marginalization
• Marginalization refers to ‘individual or group who lives at the
margin of society’
• The term marginalization comes from the word ‘margin’ meaning at
the outskirts or periphery’
• It is a process whereby someone is pushed to the edge of a group and
accorded less importance
• It is a social process of becoming or being made marginal especially
as a group within the larger society
• In Sociology, ‘marginalization is a social process of becoming or
being relegated to the fringe of society’
Definition of Marginalization
• Marginalization is defined ‘as a complex process of relegating
specific groups of people to the lower or outer edge of society’
What is a Marginalized Group?
• Marginalized group is a smaller group without a larger society that has
not joined the main stream party due to a difference of opinion
• It is a minority group pushed by a dominant group of people to the
outer bounder of society
• These groups are excluded from decision making process and their
needs for development are not taken into account
Importance of the Study of
Marginalization
• To know the problems and disabilities of marginalized groups
• To create awareness among high caste people about the problem of the
marginalized group
• To develop mutual tolerance to eliminate anti- national forces
• To plan for the upliftment of the marginalized groups
• To make people know, feel and act as one people
• To create a sense of belonginess, feeling of togetherness and of unity
• To bridge the gap between majority and marginalized group
• To instil secularism and democratic values in the mind of the people
Characteristics of Marginalized
Group
• It suffers from discrimination and subordination
• They share a sense of collective identity and common burden
• They have shared social rules about who belongs and who does not
• They have a tendency to marry within the group
Role of Ideology on
Marginalization
• The word ‘ideology’ was coined by Antoine Destutt De Tracy in
1769
• The words ‘idea’ and ‘logy’ means ‘one aspect of science of ideas’
• Ideology is a set of opinions or beliefs of a group or of an individual
• It refers to a set of political belief or a set of ideas that characterize a
particular culture- Capitalism. Marxism, Socialism and so on
• It is a body of doctrine, myth, belief that guides an individual, social
movement, class and so on
Contd…
• Easton defines ideology as ‘articulated sets of ideas, ideals and
purposes which help members of the system to interpret the past,
explain the present and offer a vision for the future’- Neutral sense
• Marx defines ideology as a ‘false consciousness’ of a ruling class in a
society who falsely presents their ideas as if they were universal truth-
Pejorative sense
• Role of ideology on marginalization is to consider values that
contribute to marginalization and that which can counter
marginalization– SCs & STs
• Dalit Revolution- shift from marginalization to inclusion
Scheduled Caste
• Scheduled Caste is an official designation given to various groups of
historically disadvantaged people in India
• The British described them as ‘depressed classes’
• Dr. Ambedkar referred them as economically, socially and religiously
exploited group of lower castes suffering from untouchability
• They comprise about 16.6% of India’s population as per 2011 census
Definition of Scheduled Caste
 D. N. Majumdar defines Scheduled Caste as ‘the untouchable caste
who suffers from various social and political disabilities many of
which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced by higher
castes’

 G. S. Ghurye defines Scheduled Caste as ‘those groups which are

named in the scheduled caste order in force from time to time’
Features of Scheduled Caste
• Economically- poor
• Socially- lower caste
• Religiously- untouchables
• SCs suffer from various disabilities
• Different names in different places
• Harijans
• Majorly live in rural areas
Problems of the Scheduled Castes
• Social Disabilities
a. Lowest Social Status
b. Civic Disabilities
c. Denial of Education

• Religious Disabilities
• Economic Disabilities
a. No Right of Property Ownership
b. Selection of Occupations Limited
c. Landless Labourers
Contd…
• Political Disabilities
• Cultural Disabilities
Scheduled Tribe
• Scheduled tribe refers to specific indigeneous people whose status is
acknowledged to some formal degree by national legislation
• Primitive trait, geographic isolation, distinct culture, shy of contact,
economically backward are the essential characteristics of the STs
• They are commonly referred to as ‘adivasis’
• They comprise of 8.6% of India’s population- 2011 census
• STs inhabit in two distinct geographical areas- Central India &
North- East India
Definition of Scheduled Tribe
 Dr. D. N. Majumdar: A Scheduled Tribe refers to ‘ a collection of
families or groups of families, bearing a common name, members
which occupy the same territory, speak the same language and observe
certain taboos regarding marriage, profession or occupation and have
developed a system of reciprocity and mutuality of obligations’.

 Gillin and Gillin: ‘A tribe is a group of local communities which lives

in a common area, speaks a common dialect and follows a common
culture’.
Features of Tribe
• Common Territory
• Collection of Families or Groups of Families
• Rule of Exogamy
• Common Language
• Simplicity and Self- sufficiency
• Common Religion
• Common Culture
Problems of Scheduled Tribe
• The problem of geographic separation
• Cultural problems
• Social problems
• Economic Problems
a. Exploitation
b. Unprofitable Agriculture
c. Problems of land ownership
d. Unemployment and Underemployment
e. Non- availability of banking facilities
Contd…
• Educational Problems
a. Illiteracy
b. The problem of language
c. Curriculum of education
Jyoti Rao Phule
Born- Jyotirao Govind Rao Phule was
born on 11th April 1827

Birth Place- He was born in Satara,

Maharashtra

Parents- He was the son of Govind

Rao & Chimana Phule
Contd…
Education- Had to drop out after
completing primary education
Later attended local Scottish Mission
High School
Marriage- He was married to Savtribai
Phule at the age of 12

Death- He died on 28th November,1890

Role of Phule- Empowerment of
Women
a. As a Social Reformer
b. As an Educational Reformer
Contd…
a. As a Social Reformer
i. Strike against barbers shaving widow’s heads
ii. Stopping widow pregnant women from committing suicide
iii. Adoption of a child
iv. Infanticide Prohibition House- Balahatya Prathibandhaka Griha
Contd…
b. As an Educational Reformer
i. Opening of first school for girls- 1848
ii. Adult school- 1848
iii. Opening of three girls school- 1851
iv. Well- being of young widows
v. Opening an orphan home
vi. Victoria Balashrama-1877
vii. Breaking up of traditional taboos
Role of Phule- Upliftment of Dalits
1. First school for untouchable children- 1852
2. Satya Shodak Samaj -1873
3. Educating lower castes female children
4. Demanding command representation
5. Campaign for Social Equality & Abolition of Caste
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar
Born- 14th April,1891

Birth Place- Mhow (Madhya

Pradesh)

Parents- Ramji Sathpal &

Bheema Bai
Contd…
Education- Schooling- Elphinstone High School,
Bombay
College- Elphinstone College, Bombay University-
BA (Economics & Political Science)

Conversion- Converted to Buddhism on 14th October,

1936

Death- Passed away in the year 1956

Contribution of B. R. Ambedkar
a. Social Reformer
b. Empowerment of the Dalits
c. Political Reformer
Contd…
a. As a Social Reformer
 Chowdar Tank Water Agitation
 Temple Entry Agitation
 Burning of Manu Dharma Shastra
 Five principles for the progress of Dalits;
i. Self- improvement
ii. Self- progress
iii. Self- dependence
iv. Self- respect
v. Self- confidence
Contd…
 Three principles of Dalit Movement;
i. Educate
ii. Agitate
iii. Organize
Contd…
b. Empowerment of the Dalits
 All India Depressed Classes Conference
 Argument for Separate Electorate
 Poona Pact- 1932
Contd…
c. Political Reformer
 First person who did political revolution
 Framed the Indian Constitution
 Emphasized on women’s right to property
 First law minister in Government of India
M. K. Gandhi
Born- Was born on 2nd October, 1869
Birth Place- Porbandar, Gujarat
Parents- He was the son of Karamchand Uttamchand Gandhi and
Putalibai
Education- Completed his schooling from ‘ Alfred High School,
Rajkot
Completed his college education from ‘ Samaldas College,
Bhavnagar
Studied law from Inner Temple, London
Contribution of Gandhi-
Upliftment of Dalits
• Protest against segregation of untouchables
• Campaign against untouchability
• Removal of untouchability by Congress candidate
• Personal involvement in the welfare of Dalits- Harijans
Narayana Guru
Narayana Guru
Born- 28th August, 1854
Birth Place- Trivandrum, Kerala
Parents- He was born to Madan Asan & Kuttiyamma
Education- He was taught by a Nair teacher from a nearby village.
He also learnt Sanskrit and Yoga
Death- 20th September, 1928- Varkala, Travancore, Kerala
Role of Narayana Guru-
Upliftment of Untouchables
A. Social Reformer
B. Religious Reformer
Contd…
 Social Reformer
a. Opposition to practice of untouchability
b. Sri Narayana Guru Dharma Paripalana Yogam
 starting educational institution
 simplifying rituals
 building temples
Contd…
 Religious Reformer
a. Consecration of Hindu Temples
b. Consecration of 60 temples
c. Consecration of 3 new temples
 consecration of higher gods in place of lower ones
 building inexpensive temple
 consecration of an oil lamp instead of idols
d. Establishment of 3 types of temples;
 temple with pooja
 temple with idols but without poojas
 temple without idols
Periyar
Periyar
 Birth- 17th September, 1879
Birth Place- Erode town- Coimbatore
Parents- He was born to Venkatappa Naidu & Chinna Thayammal
Education- attended school for 5 years and then joined his father’s
business at the age of 12
Marriage- Married at the age of 19 to Nagammai. Maniamma was
the 2nd wife
Death- 24th December,1973, Vellore, Tamil Nadu
Contribution of Periyar
1. Principle of Rationalism
 burning of Hindu religious scriptures
 champion of Human Rights
 concept of ‘No God’
 all religions are creations of men
 the myth of soul
Contd…
2. Principles of Self Respect
 Anti- Brahminism
 Anti- Hindi agitation
 Anti- Sanskrit agitation
 Self- respect Marriage

3. Eradication of caste
Protective Discrimination
• Protective discrimination emphasizes on providing the necessary
facilities to the deprived section and to bring them to the mainstream
society
• It is the policy of granting special privileges to the downtrodden and
the underprivileged sections of society, most commonly women
• It means policy measures that are deliberately designed to discriminate
among the citizens on the basis of certain specified criteria so as to
protect the interests of the worst- off among them
• Protective discrimination is also known as ‘positive discrimination’
or ‘reverse discrimination’
Positive Discrimination
It is the policy of favouring members of a disadvantaged group who
suffer from discrimination within a culture
 It is also known as ‘ Affirmative Action’
The term ‘affirmative action’ was first used in the United States
The affirmative action in the US tends to focus on issues such as
education, employment, specifically granting special consideration to
racial minorities, native Americans and women which have been
historically considered to be excluded groups in America
Reverse Discrimination
 It is the discrimination against members of a dominant or majority
group in favour of members of a minority or historically
disadvantaged group in terms of race, gender, ethnicity etc.,
It is used to describe actions or efforts that have been made to reverse
the negative effects of discrimination against a particular group
Arguments favouring
Protective Discrimination
1. To redress social imbalance
2. To open doors for assimilation
3. To ensure social justice
4. Equality of opportunity
5. Trigger of inspiration
Arguments against Protective
Discrimination
1. Partial and biased practice
2. Neglecting merits
3. Penalising the present generation
4. Failure to reach the needy
5. Elimination
Chhatrapati
Shahu
Maharaj
Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj
a. Born- 26th June,1874
b. Birth Place- Kolhapur, Maharashtra
c. Parents- He was the son of Appa Saheb Ghatge and Radhabai
d. Education- Graduated from Rajkumar’s College, Rajkot
e. Death- 6th May, 1922
Contribution of Shahu
Maharaj
A. Policy of Reservation for Backward Class in Recruitment
First revolutionary idea of ‘reservation’

B. Abolition of Untouchability
Non Brahmins Movement
Starting of Education Society
Anti- Untouchability Movement- 1919
Order of 15th January, 1919
Financial help to start journal
Nalwadi Krishna
Rajendra Wodeyar
Nalwadi Krishna Rajendra
Wodeyar
a. Birth- 4th June,1884
b. Birth Place- Royal Palace, Mysuru
c. Parents- He was the eldest son of Maharaja Wodeyar-X and
Maharani Vani Vilas Sannidhana
d. Education- Lokaranjan Palace- early education & training under the
guidance of P. Raghavendra Rao
Mayo College, Ajmer- horse riding, Indian- western classical music
Early Administrative training- Sir Stuart Fraser
e. Death- 3rd August, 1940, Bangalore Palace
Contribution of Nalwadi
Krishna Rajendra Wodeyar
1. Appointment of Backward Class Committee
2. Millers Commission- 1917
Constitutional Provisions- SCs/
STs
A. The Preamble of the Constitution
B. Fundamental Rights
Article 15- prohibits discrimination on the grounds of religion, caste,
sex, race, birth place and so on
Article 15 (4)- Nothing in this article or in clause ( 2 ) of Article 29
shall prevent the State from making any special provision for the
advancement of any socially and educationally backward classes of
citizens or for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes
Contd…
Article 15 (5)- The state shall make special provisions for backward classes
or SCs or STs for admission in private educational institutions, aided or
unaided – 93rd Amendment, 2005
Article 16 (4)- The state shall reserve vacancies in public service for any
backward classes of the state that are not adequately represented in public
services
Article 16 (4- A)- The state shall implement reservation in the matters of
promotion for SCs and STs
Article 16 (4-B)- The state shall consider unfilled vacancies reserved for
backward classes as a separate class of vacancies with the ceiling limit of
50% of reservation
Contd…
Article 17- Abolition of untouchability
Article 19 (5)- Allows the state not to impose restriction or freedom
of movement or of residence in the interest of the general public or the
protection of interests of any STs
Article 40- provides reservation in 1/3 seating village panchayats for
SCs and STs
Article 46- enjoins the state to promote with core the educational and
economic interests of the weaker sections
Contd… (Other Related Articles)
Article 164- there shall be a minister in charge of tribal welfare in the
states of Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand who may in
addition be in charge of the welfare of SCs , STs
Article 275- Allows special grants in aids to states for tribal welfare
Article 330- Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the House of the
People
Article 332- Reservation of seats for SCs and STs in the State
Legislative Assemblies
Article 335- Claims of SCs and STs to services and posts in educational
institutions
Contd…
Article 338- National Commission for SCs
Article 338A- National Commission for STs
Article 339- Control of the Union over the administration of
Scheduled areas and the welfare of Scheduled Tribes
Article 340- Appointment of a commission to investigate the
conditions of socially and economically backward classes and table
the report in the parliament