what are some of the initiatives taken by the Indian government to promote economic empowerment of Dalits?

 The Indian government has taken several initiatives to promote the economic empowerment of Dalits. Some of these initiatives are:

1. Affirmative action policies: The Indian government has implemented affirmative action policies, such as reservations in education and government jobs, to provide opportunities for Dalits to improve their economic status
   1
   .
2. Education: The Indian government has made efforts to increase access to education for Dalits, which is crucial for their economic empowerment. The government has implemented various programs to improve the quality of education and increase enrollment rates among Dalit children
   2
   .
3. Entrepreneurship: The Indian government has launched several programs to promote entrepreneurship among Dalits. These programs provide financial assistance, training, and other support to Dalit entrepreneurs to help them start and grow their businesses
   3
   .
4. Corporate social responsibility: The Indian government has made it mandatory for companies to spend a portion of their profits on corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities. Many companies have used their CSR funds to support initiatives that promote the economic empowerment of Dalits
   4
   .

These initiatives have helped to improve the economic status of some Dalits, but there is still a long way to go to achieve full economic empowerment for all Dalits in India.

1

upenn

2

e-ir

3

bard

4

cafonline

Are Dalits in India prosperous?

 Dalits in India are not generally prosperous. They face extreme levels of social discrimination, which directly impacts their ability to become economically empowered

1

. According to a report, less than a third of Dalits are literate, and well over 40% survive on less than $2 a day

2

. Infant mortality rates are dramatically higher among Dalits than among higher castes, and they are far more likely to be underweight and far less likely to get postnatal care

2

. However, there is a tiny but growing group of wealthy Dalit business people, and Dalits have experienced gains as the country’s economy has expanded

3

. 

The new market economy has replaced social markers with material markers, and Dalits can buy rank in the market economy

3

. According to Chandra Bhan Prasad, a Dalit activist and researcher who has championed capitalism among the untouchables, India is moving from a caste-based to a class-based society, where if you have all the goodies in life and your bank account is booming, you are acceptable

3

.

1

bard

2

nbcnews

3

nytimes