Book Description

"This Research has sought to provide an insight into the socio-economic situation of the Dalit of western Odisha specifically focused on the Ganda caste group. The study is aimed to know the present condition and the challenges facing in the attempt to earn their livelihood and the different facets of the social exclusion in the era of globalisation and liberalisation. It bring out the challenges that the Ganda caste people faces with respect to education, work, health, livelihood and locate the situation with Dalit identity within the Indian social caste hierarchy. The Ganda community itself is undergoing changes its social, cultural, and economic system. In the era of privatisation, there are many challenges for the Dalit is generating. In relation to the educational mobility, the Dalit are facing multi-fold problems because of the affordability of education. Sometimes their economic situation which is vicious in nature makes them inaccessible to the resources due to social hierarchy. In other hand, the race for livelihood paralleling to the depletion of livelihood situation in the rural area, the Ganda are facing the massive challenges. The prevailing caste inequality is always stand as a barrier for the Dalit in the way of its development always. Secondly, the Marginalisation by the caste status always keeps a dalit way from various opportunities which sometimes drag towards the 'vicious cycle of poverty'.vii The marginalisation is very much difficult to counter because of its religious affiliation. In other hand, the constitution of India declaring the practice of untouchability is an unconstitutional practice but, simultaneously there is no such rule to practice the caste hierarchy. It is very much prevailing the nurturing the caste based social status in the different matrimonial column in print and internet media. Non-recognition of importance of caste in every aspect of life may be difficult to achieve. The equality clause in the modern Indian Union constitution to protect various groups from the discrimination and repression is a positive steps. At the same time we can be hopeful about the migration from rural areas to urban cosmopolitan cities and college education might help to get rid of some of the social barriers, encouraging the inter-caste, inter-religious, inter- tribal marriages and social intercourse. The optimistic idea about the future of our society as the literacy increases, modern education becomes compulsory, religious and tribal blind beliefs are eroded by modern scientific temperament of life and secular democratic principles. The social struggle of the Dalits are not a struggle to get the social status, but to establish a egalitarian society where each and every individual have enough space to live the fife its fullest. "