Affirmative Action and Its Limits: Reassessing Dalit Rights in Contemporary India
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Abstract
Affirmative action in India, particularly through reservation policies, has played a pivotal role in addressing historical injustices and systemic exclusion faced by Dalits. While constitutional safeguards and state-led initiatives have expanded access to education, employment, and political representation, contemporary debates reveal both progress and persisting inequities. On one hand, reservations have facilitated the emergence of a Dalit middle class and contributed to dismantling some social barriers; on the other, significant sections of Dalit communities remain marginalized due to entrenched caste hierarchies, socio-economic disparities, and uneven policy implementation. The discourse on the limits of affirmative action highlights challenges such as inadequate quality of education, restricted upward mobility, and exclusion within Dalit sub-groups. Moreover, the neoliberal turn in India’s economy has reshaped opportunities, raising questions about the adequacy of caste-based reservations in addressing multidimensional forms of disadvantage. Reassessing Dalit rights in this context requires a broader framework that integrates social justice, economic equity, and dignity to ensure transformative inclusion beyond policy quotas.
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