India’s ‘untouchable’ women face discrimination even in schemes meant to help them
Context
Despite outlawing caste-based discrimination in 1950, Dalits still get discriminated against when applying for programs established to help them.
Challenges faced by Dalit Women
Failure of policies: Dalit women continue to suffer from a high degree of poverty, gender discrimination, caste discrimination, and socioeconomic deprivation.
Violence: Girls face violence at a younger age and at a higher rate than women of other castes.
Caste System
Exploitation by dominant castes
Cases are withdrawn and lack of justice
Workplace violence
Rigid Occupational Hierarchy
Caste is essentially the stratification of people into a rigid occupational hierarchy.
The origins of India’s caste system go back thousands of years.
It is deeply entwined with Hinduism.
Problem with microloans
A microloan from a government bank:
It was pioneered by economist Muhammad Yunus and the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh in the 1970s.
In India, it is backed by the Reserve Bank of India.
It is offered to people who lack the collateral that institutional lenders usually require.
Role of RBI in Microloans:
Unsung Dalit women heroes
Sabari from the Ramayana: example of acceptance, selflessness, and unconditional love
Sant Nirmala and Soyarabai: From Mahar caste, questioning Hindu orthodoxy.
Naegeli: Fought against the cruel “breast tax” system.
Kuyili: She commanded the army of Velu Nachiyar.
Queen of Sivaganga in Tamil Nadu: Dalit woman who fought against the British around 1780.
Jhalkaribai: Most trusted companion and advisor of Rani Laxmibai of Jhansi.
Uda Devil: formed a battalion consisting of Dalit women under the leadership of Begum Hazrat Mahal.
Savitribai Phule: A pioneer in education for Dalits
Moovalur Ramamirtham Ammaiyar fought against the exploitative Devadasi system.
Dakshayani Velayudhan: first and only Dalit woman to be elected to the constituent assembly in 1946.
Regulating the sector
Guarantor of microloans given by banks
Provision for Dalit women: The Reserve Bank of India underwrites incentives including interest rates about half that offered to other women.
Poor Implementation: 66 per cent of rejected applications were from Dalit women.
Discrimination at the branch level.
The problem faced while issuing Caste certificates
To qualify for a program to assist Dalits, they had to prove they were Dalits by supplying a government-issued caste certificate.
But this certificate then became the means for them to be identified as Dalits and discriminated against.
Initiatives Taken to Promote Transformation
Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY)
Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood (SANKALP) Scheme