1
Summary
Society Class 04

THE CLASS STARTED WITH A BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THE PREVIOUS TOPICS (04:05 PM)

CONTEMPORARY REALITY WITH RESPECT TO CASTE (04:07 PM)

  • According to André Beteille, "India's destiny is not caste in stone"
  • He mentions that no longer there exists hierarchy due to:
  • Caste-neutral jobs
  • Commensality
  • Secular pattern of living
  • Prospects of upward mobility due to various aspects like Reservation, Land reforms, Mandal Commission, etc.
  • Inter-caste marriages.
  • At max it is still prevelant with respect to the political domain in the form of politicisation of caste or casteization of politics. Many times it is due to the hype associated created by Media.
  • However, According to Gail Omvedt, the above perspective was refuted.
  • According to IHD Survey, Only 5% of marriages are inter-caste. Infact, 95% of surveyed population wanted to marry within sub-caste. (Caste endogamy is still practiced)
  • According to the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, approximately 66,696 manual scavengers (97.25% belongs to the SC Community) (i.e. Still occupational division of labour persists)
  • A  Study conducted by Amit Thorat and Omkar Joshi that around 30% of urban households still practice untouchability.
  • According to Satish Deshpande, 'Covert Untouchability' is practised, like:
  • a) Separate utensils for untouchables
  • b) 'Residential ghettoization' is also practised.
  • c) Refusal to give accommodation on rent to people of a certain caste.
  • According to Action Aid NGO, out of surveyed villages, 25% of them do not allow people from lower caste to work on land as casual labour. In 3/4th of villages; If identities are known, then they are not allowed to sell milk either to cooperatives or customers.
  • With the Emergence of new platforms and technology, instead of ceasing to exist caste identities have 'assumed new forms and associations' like;
  • Political Association: BSP, SP, Maratha Kranti Morch, etc.
    Economic Association:

     DICCI, NSCFDC, etc.

    Social Association:

    a) Marriage: Brahmin Matrimony, Rajput Matrimony

    b) Education: Dalit Sahitya, Vaishya educational society.
  • There have been growing incidents of 'Retribalization' i.e. The process of going back to the tribal way of living and demanding recognition of tribal identity.
  • For Example, Rajbhansi, Matak, Tai-Ahom, etc.
  • Factors behind Retribalization:
  • a) Decline in political influence.
  • b) Displacement from their ancestral land and forced to live a life of social, economic and cultural poverty.
  • c) They lagged behind in garnering opportunities with respect to education and employment, Therefore the demand for tribal status is rooted in aspiration for social recognition, representation and access to benefits and protection.

CONTEMPORARY ISSUES (05:00 PM)

  • A) Reservation:
  • Concept: It is defined as a process or concept where a certain percentage of seats are reserved for socially and educationally backward communities.
  • The rationale behind the reservation was:
  • a) To correct the historical injustice.
  • b) To provide equality of opportunity,
  • c) To give effect to the redistributive agenda of the state.
  • Debate vis-a-vis Reservation:
  • Arguments in Favor of Reservation Arguments Against Reservation
    Meritocracy is meaningless without equality of opportunity.  Merit is compromised
    In a democracy, It is a political necessity to give representation to all sections. Administrative efficiency is negatively impacted. 
    To reduce the gap between have's and have-nots. It further strengthens the stereotype, discrediting success by labelling it as a 'result of reservation'
    To correct stereotypes Inter and intra-caste conflict widens. 
    To strengthen social and cultural capital. Reservation had a 'Domino effect' in terms of demands for it. 
    To ensure diversity.  It has been reduced to the status of 'political tool' in the hands of politicians to serve their vested interests. 
    To reap the benefits of the demographic dividend.  Instead of 'means' it has become an 'ends'. 
    Promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.  'Caste consciousness' has further been strengthened and is manifested in identity politics. 
    To realize the essence of the preamble in letter and spirit. 

    Over a period of time, it has become a 'Tool for reverse discrimination'
     

    It has failed to change the attitude of society towards the marginalized.
     

    It goes against the 'Capability approach'.
     

    It creates the ground for groupism.
  • Way Forward:
  • A new yardstick needs to be developed to determine the backwardness, and dereservation should be based on specific criteria.
  • The apex court in M Nagraj and Jarnail Singh's case stated to include the 'Creamy layer in the SC and STs'.
  • Complete overhauling the education system.
  • Bring 'Public education at par with private education'.
  • 'Correct the stereotypes and prejudices' leading to caste-based discrimination at the school level to reduce dropouts.
  • Periodic evaluation of results of reservation and whether benefits are reaching the intended beneficiary.
  • Promote the culture of self-employment from 'job seeker to job generator'.
  • Making agriculture lucrative for the youth.
  • According to M.S. Swaminathan, " Future belongs to countries with grains and not guns"
  • 'Perception management' is the need of the hour, i.e. Reservation is a 'means' and not an 'end' in itself.

DOMINANT CASTES DEMANDING RESERVATION (06:09 PM)

  • Traditional Reality:
  • Agriculture Community 
  • Emerged as a result of land reforms.
  • Position consolidated due to green revolution.
  • Not all were able to reap the benefits of educational opportunities.
  • Contemporary Reality:
  • Agriculture is in distress.
  • Lack of alternative employment opportunities.
  • Private education is very expensive.
  • Public jobs are shrinking.
  • Obsession with city life and skewed sex ratio.
  • According to the Indian Staffing Federation, 44% of the Central government jobs are now outsourced.
  • Justice Rohini Panel found that 1% of OBC Castes have cornered 50% of reservation benefits and 20% of the castes under OBC did not receive any benefits.

DALIT CAPITALISM (06:29 PM)

  • Concept: When 'Capitalism' is perceived as a solution for the emancipation of Dalits.
  • Chandra Bhan Prasad a social activist coined this term.
  • Dalits: These are defined as a group of people who are subjected to 'social discrimination' including untouchability and are economically marginalized the term was used by Jyotiba Phule but popularised during the 'Dalit Panther movement in 1970'.
  • Dalit Capitalism: Panacea for Dalit problems
  • Arguments in Favor of Dalit Capitalism Arguments Against of Dalit Capitalism
    It will generate opportunities for 'financial empowerment'.  The benefits of dalit capitalism would largely be reaped by those who are better placed hence, It will further 'Class within the caste' element and result in division. 
    It will ensure 'opportunities for upward social mobility' (Access to better education) This concept of Dalit capitalism is not addressing the existing mindset regarding caste rigidity as the mobility is with respect to 'secular hierarchy rather than ritual. 
    It will help in creating an 'Inclusive society' A lack of developed social capital will reduce their access to business networks. 
    Better utilization of 'demographic dividend'.

    It may further the 'politicization of caste' due to increased nexus between politicians and entrepreneurs. 

    It will address caste-based stereotypes. 

    		 It may negatively impact the customer base due to the concept of purity and pollution.
    It may change the perspective with respect to the reservation.  Capitalism as a system inherently promotes inequality hence expecting emancipation is an oversimplified assumption. 
    Community empowerment of dalits as it will challenge the occupational division of labour. 

    Endowments are the necessary conditions for empowerment but entitlement is the sufficient condition.

    For Example, Dalit capitalism will benefit those who are skilled. 
    It may lead to 'Social transformation' On the basis of the intersectionality approach, women among Dalits are most marginalized and Dalit capitalism does not address directly the issue. 
    It will help in the facilitation of economic growth by creating more jobs which in turn may give a sense of belongingness with respect to the nation.  Dalit capitalists may confront challenges such as 'Covert Untouchability'
    It may reduce the incidences of politicization and 'Casteization of politics' Intercaste conflicts may increase because of relative deprivation among the forward caste. 
    Better networking will lead to the strengthening of social capital.  

VIOLENCE AGAINST DALITS (07:01 PM)

  • According to NCRB report, 1.2% increase in voilence against dalits in 2021 as compared to 2020.
  • Despite stringent legal provisions against the dalits, the violenece against the dalits is on rise.
  • The reasons for rise in violenece against the dalits is as follows:
  • a) Due to upward mobility among the Dalits the 'hegemony of the upper caste' is getting threatened which is often manifested in the form of violence, according to C. Jafferlot.
  • b) Due to 'low conviction rate' and 'high pendency rate' create a lack of deterrence.
  • c) It is not the 'severity of the law' but the certainty that the law will act as deterrence.
  •  d) Lack of awareness, accessibility, and affordability with respect to the justice mechanism 
  • e) Apathy among law enforcement agencies regarding the Dalit violence cases.
  • f) 'Fear of retaliation' or dependence on the culprits for economic sustainability leads to a lack of reporting.
  • g) According to Gail Omvedt, Violence against Dalits can be seen as a 'counter-reaction to the process of Sanskritisation'
  • h) Some time the people don't report the cases as it is perceived as a 'retribution of past karma for which there is no respite'.
  • However, the apex court has observed that sometimes the existing laws are misused i.e. instead of being used as a 'shield' it is used as a 'weapon' to settle personal scores. It is referred to as 'New legal terrorism'
  • Misuse does not justify the dilution of laws but it creates grounds for better regulation of laws.

TOPIC FOR THE NEXT CLASS: WOMEN.