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Definition: According to Marc Glanter <\/strong>untouchability can be defined as practice that include all instances in which one person treated another as ritually unclean and as a source of pollution .<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Survey-Reveals-Dalits-and-Adivasis-Struggle-to-Pierce-through-Crass-Atrocities-Even-Today-150x147.png\")
<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n<\/span>The Current State of Untouchability<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\nAccording to data from the India Human Development Survey<\/strong> conducted by the National Council of Applied Economic Research<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n- \n
\n- \u00a0 Approximately 27% of Indian households still practice untouchability<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Notably<\/strong>, Brahmins, who hold the highest position in the caste hierarchy, nearly\u00a0\u00a0 52% of them continue to practice untouchability<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Inter-caste marriages among the population are only 5.34%<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- 15% of Scheduled Caste and 22% of Scheduled Tribe respondents admitting to this practice.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- The prevalence of untouchability is most pronounced in Madhya Pradesh, with 53% still practicing it<\/strong>, followed by Himachal Pradesh at 50%, Chhattisgarh at 48%, Rajasthan and Bihar at 47%, Uttar Pradesh at 43%, and Uttarakhand at 40%<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- The survey also reveals that around 33-35% of Hindus engage in untouchability, affecting over 160 million individuals<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Reasons of persistence of untouchability <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe perpetuation of untouchability can be attributed to deeply ingrained societal attitudes and a lack of effective enforcement of the legal ban on this practice. Some key reasons for its persistence are as follows<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- Religious Beliefs and Practices<\/strong>: Many religious beliefs and practices<\/strong> in India have been manipulated<\/strong> to justify caste discrimination and untouchability.<\/span>\n
\n- For instance, some view lower castes as “polluted” and avoid contact with them to maintain their own purity.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Economic Dependence<\/strong>: Lower castes often find themselves economically reliant on upper castes,<\/strong> making it challenging for them to assert their rights and challenge discrimination. This is particularly evident in lower-paying jobs held by Dalits on land owned by upper castes.<\/strong><\/span>\n
\n- Satish Deshpande argued that caste is not only a social cultural construct but also an economic and political one<\/strong>, with caste based inequalities and discrimination shaping the distribution of resources and opportunities. <\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Limited Access to Public Spaces:<\/strong> Lower castes face restricted access to essential public services such as schools and hospitals<\/strong>, further isolating them from mainstream society.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Violence and Intimidation<\/strong>: The persistent fear of violence and intimidation from upper castes makes it difficult for Dalits to demand their rights and oppose discrimination<\/strong>.<\/span>\n
\n- For instance, Dalits may face violence for entering temples or refusing certain jobs.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n
- Lack of Legal Recourse:<\/strong> Lower castes have limited access to legal avenues to fight against discrimination due to a lack of awareness about their rights, inadequate legal representation, and corruption<\/strong> within the justice system.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Social Norms and Attitudes:<\/strong> Prejudice and discrimination against lower castes are often passed down through generations and reinforced by cultural practices<\/strong>, such as restrictions on sharing food and water and specific ceremonial duties for Dalits in some regions<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Lack of Political Will:<\/strong> Despite a constitutional ban on untouchability, enforcement of the law is often weak due to a lack of political will to address the issue.<\/strong> Some politicians may cater to upper caste voters for electoral support.<\/span><\/li>\n
- According to Gail Omvedt state\u00a0 has not done enough to address the problem of untouchability and has been often complicit in oppression of Dalits<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- Police and Administrative Corruption<\/strong>: Discrimination faced by marginalized communities is exacerbated by police and administrative corruption.<\/strong><\/span><\/li>\n
- Lack of Representation<\/strong>: Lower castes are under-represented in various fields, including politics and media<\/strong>, which hinder their ability to advocate for their rights and challenge discrimination.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Untouchability\"](\"https:\/\/triumphias.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/EaxLQ1uXkAA1EOO-150x150.jpg\") <\/span><\/p>\nProblems and Challenges Arising from the Persistence of Untouchability<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\nThe persistence of untouchability leads to several problems and challenges, including:<\/span><\/p>\n\n- \n
\n- Economic Stratification:<\/strong> The discrimination faced by lower castes results in economic disparities and limits their access to economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Social Exclusion<\/strong>: Untouchability perpetuates the social exclusion of lower castes, denying them the right to participate fully in various aspects of life, such as education and economic opportunities.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Educational Disparities<\/strong>: Lower castes face limited access to quality education, hindering their ability to acquire the skills and knowledge needed for success.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Healthcare Disparities<\/strong>: Discrimination in healthcare leads to poor health outcomes for lower castes, as they may be denied access to facilities or treated with less care.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Under-representation<\/strong>: The lack of representation of lower castes exacerbates their societal marginalization and diminishes the attention given to their issues.<\/span><\/li>\n
- Workplace Discrimination<\/strong>: Untouchability results in workplace discrimination, which in turn leads to limited opportunities, low self-esteem, and adverse psychological impacts on affected individuals<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
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\n- Amit Thorat highlighted that such discrimination leads to feelings of low self -esteem , depression , and a sense of hopelessness<\/strong>.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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\n- Gender Discrimination<\/strong>: Lower caste women face double discrimination,<\/strong> both based on their caste and gender, further marginalizing them in society.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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