Marginalized Groups in India

Marginalization means treating some groups or categories of people as insignificant or peripheral. India being a diverse country with people of different social and cultural groups living together, it is quite obvious that there must be a lot of marginalized groups in India. 

Marginalization is not unidimensional; there are different groups which face marginalization and become part of marginalized groups in India due to different factors like economic status, caste, class, religion, gender and even age. Common examples of marginalized groups in India include people from rural areas, women, Dalits, scheduled tribes, children and elderly.

Marginality is an experience which affects many people throughout the country. People who are part of one or more of these marginalized groups in India have relatively lesser control over their lives and life chances, as well as the resources and opportunities available to them. This makes them weak and dependent, and handicapped in leading a good-quality life, leave alone delving contributions to the society. Due to this, a vicious circle is formed, whereby their reduced control and life chances, combined with a clear lack of supportive relationships with others means that they are also barricaded from participating in the social and community life. This leads to further isolation, which is a common issue among the marginalized groups in India. Such a trap of never-ending vicious cycle leads to increasing marginalization and social disparities between different groups.

This tremendously impacts the development of the human beings and communities, as well as of the society at large. The objective of growth and development, is to create and maintain an enabling environment for the different groups of people to enjoy a healthy, and happy life. Development is almost always measured and factored in terms of inclusiveness and mass participation, along with peace and harmony within and between different groups. Marginalization and discrimination hamper the development activity, as they deprive a lot of people from all across the globe from participating in the process of growth and development. Hence, it becomes even more important to address and solve the issue of marginalization.

Marginalization is pervasive throughout the world, in many countries, but in India this problem is more pertinent and clearly visible. In India, there is a historical connotation to marginalization. For centuries, marginalized groups in India have suffered across generations. With independence in 1947 and the drafting of The Indian Constitution that succeeded it, various terms like equality, freedom and justice came into use in The Constitution and in other places like in independence and republic movements. The aim was to stop discrimination and marginalization and promote social and economic equality to the maximum possible extent. Major developments have occurred around these, however, marginalization still exists and the plight of the marginalized groups in India is disheartening. The situation calls for much work to be done in this direction.