Dalits and Tribes are the most disadvantaged groups. They are treated as untouchables and outcaste. Emancipating them from the clutches of traditional bondages is the first step towards empowerment. Simply, they have to be treated as human beings on par with other in the civilized cultured modern society.
Even then Dalits and tribes are subjected to systematic human rights violation on the basis of caste-based discrimination. The discrimination impinges their civil, political, religious, socio-economic and cultural rights and their rights of freedom of choice to develop as individuals. They are discriminated in the schools and colleges. They are discriminated against even in employment. Dalits are denied jobs other than scavenging-manual scavenging of night soil sweeping, tanning and other sanitary works.
Dalits and Tribes of India is a book covering the various areas of their backwardness, economic, social, religious, political and cultural. They are considered as the most marginalized group and are subject to all types of discrimination and atrocities. They are trying to empower and emancipate from their bandage. But, they are still at the lowest ladder of the development. Materials on Dalits and tribes covering all the above aspects are very scarce and hence an attempt is made to publish the papers presented in a three-day UGC Sponsored Seminar Organized by J. Cyril Kanmony. |
