By Muhammad Wasama Khalid, AOP LIPR
In India, atrocities and a crime against Scheduled Castes increased by 1.2% in 2021 (50900 cases) over 2020 (50,291 cases), including 2585 incidences of rape against Dalit women.
Dalits, also known as Scheduled Castes in India, are a group of people who have traditionally been deemed “untouchables.” They are the lowest caste in India’s caste system and have faced social, economic, and political oppression for millennia.
Social and economic inclusion is critical for Dalits in India because it can help them overcome historical prejudice and participate in the country’s growth.
Social inclusion is the complete participation of individuals and groups in a society’s social, economic, and political life. Economic inclusion is defined as having access to chances to engage in economic activity and reap the advantages of growth.
Despite the various affirmative action policies and efforts to promote inclusion, Dalits continue to face social and economic exclusion and this exclusion has led to a rise in crimes against Dalits. Dalits have faced discrimination and exclusion for centuries in India.
They continue to face poverty, unemployment, and a lack of education. According to the National Sample Survey Office, the poverty rate among Dalits is higher than the national average, and they have limited access to education and job opportunities.
The contributing factors to rising crimes:
While affirmative action programs have been introduced in India to encourage social and economic inclusion for Dalits, they have proved ineffective. The policies have not been adequately enforced, and Dalits continue to endure different types of discrimination and marginalization.
Caste prejudice is still a major concern in India. Dalits continue to experience prejudice in society and the workplace, limiting their access to opportunities and privileges. Dalits continue to confront barriers to education and work, contributing to their poverty and unemployment.
The lack of education and job opportunities has also perpetuated the cycle of discrimination and exclusion faced by Dalits.
India has experienced an upsurge in right-wing Hindutva nationalism, which has had a severe influence on the rights of Dalits and other oppressed tribes, with Atrocities and Crime against Scheduled Tribes increasing by 6.4% in 2021 (8,802 instances) over 2020. (8,272 cases).
Dalits, who make up over 16% of the population, have long been subject to poverty and unemployment, often due to historical and systemic discrimination. The lack of access to job opportunities and the inability to earn a living can lead to feelings of desperation and hopelessness, which can contribute to an increase in crimes among Dalits.
Dalits face challenges in accessing legal protection and seeking justice for crimes committed against them. Rape against Schedule caste women (including children) accounts for 7.64% (3893 instances), with 2585 incidences of rape against Dalit women and 1285 cases of juvenile rape.
The legal system often fails to adequately address the needs of Dalits and provide them with the protection and justice they deserve. This can lead to a lack of faith in the legal system and contribute to rising crimes among Dalits.
Consequences:
Despite efforts to promote social and economic inclusion for Dalits, tensions and conflicts between Dalits and higher castes persist in India. These conflicts can lead to an increase in crimes, particularly as Dalits may feel they have no other means to protect themselves and assert their rights.
The failure of social and economic inclusion for Dalits has serious implications for society as a whole. It undermines the values of equality and justice and can lead to increased systemic poverty and unemployment, a lack of legal protection and justice, and increased tension and conflict between Dalits and higher castes.
Civil society, the media, and other stakeholders must all play a role in encouraging Dalit social and economic inclusion. Increased efforts are needed to raise awareness about the problems that Dalits confront and to push for the implementation of appropriate policies and programs to solve these difficulties.
Leaders and citizens must work together to combat the systematic prejudice that contributes to Dalit poverty and unemployment, as well as to promote inclusive ideals and practices in all aspects of society.
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