1. The Indian Experiment to Eradicate Poverty “Everything that is rewarded grows.” India had been strafed and divided with the caste system since centuries. The society is divided into 4 sections. The Indian Experiment to Eradicate Poverty “Everything that is rewarded grows.” India had been strafed and divided with the caste system since centuries. The society is divided into 4 sections. * Brahmins are the teachers and the priests. * Kshatriyas are the warriors. * Vaishyas are the merchants. * And Shudras are the agriculturists and service providers. The caste system is hereditary. So who you are depends on who your father is. If you are born in a Shudra family, you couldn’t join the army. Dalits are a sub-part of Shudras. They are the folks who do all the unwanted jobs like cleaning the streets. They are the people who become the “untouchables.” If someone touches a Dalit, he is expected to go and have a bath immediately. (This may have started out as a means to prevent diseases from spreading and becoming epidemic as Dalits had the worst jobs. But the act of not touching sank its roots deeper until the Indian society broke down.) Soon, Dalits are banned from being educated or entering places of worship! Thousands of Dalits suffer from centuries of poor treatment. This mistreatment persists even after the caste system is abolished in India. Indian Constitution Seeks to Change Things And so, when India gains its independence in 1947, the leaders decide to make things right. The folks who frame the Indian constitution believe that Dalits are historically oppressed and denied respect and equal opportunity in the society. The quickest way to help them achieve equal status in the society is by educating them. But many of these Dalits can’t even afford education. So the Indian Government decides to create a schedule caste and schedule tribe quota. 22.5% of all the seats in Government schools and colleges should be reserved for these Dalits. They are to be educated for free! Situation After 61 Years After 61 years of independence and quota education system, you would think that there wouldn’t be any person claiming himself to be a Dalit left in India today – right? But things haven’t worked out that way. Instead of their numbers going down, their numbers have actually steadily increased every year since independence and gone way up! In 1991, there are 150 million Indians who claim themselves to be of the schedule caste quota. In 2001, the number rises up to 230 million Indians!
Posted on: Thu, 25 Jul 2013 12:26:50 +0000
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