Caste-based discrimination is a deeply entrenched social hierarchy that significantly impacts Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD). This form of discrimination, rooted in rigid social stratification, perpetuates inequality and exclusion across various aspects of life. Caste-based discrimination is a deeply entrenched social hierarchy that severely impacts Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent (CDWD), perpetuating inequality and exclusion across various aspects of life. Socially, CDWD individuals are often dehumanized and stigmatized as “untouchable” or “impure,” leading to segregation in living spaces and exclusion from community resources and cultural activities. Economically, they are confined to menial, low-paying jobs, trapping them in a cycle of poverty, while being denied access to land and other essential resources. Educationally, CDWD children face discrimination in schools, resulting in high dropout rates and limited access to higher education, which further entrenches poverty and exclusion.
Politically, CDWD communities are underrepresented in decision-making processes and are subjected to discriminatory policies that hinder their access to justice and state resources. In the judicial system, they face bias, delayed legal proceedings, and lack of enforcement of protective laws, making legal recourse difficult. They are also vulnerable to violence, including lynching, sexual assault, and bonded labor, with little accountability for perpetrators. The psychological impact of continuous discrimination leads to internalized oppression and severe mental health issues, which often go unaddressed due to limited access to mental health services.
Moreover, intersectionality with other forms of discrimination, such as gender and disability, exacerbates the exclusion and vulnerability of CDWD individuals, particularly women and those with disabilities. Caste-based discrimination, therefore, entrenches socio-economic and political inequalities, denying CDWD communities their basic human rights and reinforcing a cycle of poverty and marginalisation that requires systemic change to break.
