Ansari 1

Md Daniyal Ansari
Prof. Saroj Mahananda
Writing from Margins
MA ENGLISH SEM III

Conceptualization of margin with reference to the Indian situation

The term marginalization describes overt behavior and tendencies of a human society,
where people who are perceived to be undesirable or do not provide any functional gain are
excluded from being a part of that society. These marginalized people form a group of their own
in order to protect and integrate themselves. These groups are known as marginalized groups. This
limits their chances of equal opportunity in life because they are not part of the mainstream
production chains and/or reproductive activity. To be marginalized is to be shifted away from the
center, a center that has the most privilege and power. Latin observes that “‘Marginality’ is so
thoroughly demeaning, for economic well-being, for human dignity, as well as for physical security.
Marginal groups can always be identified by members of dominant society, and will face
irrevocable discrimination.”
Because these definitions are different in different contexts and situations, marginalization
as a concept becomes complex and multilayered with a significant amount of grey areas. It may
have aspects in debates of social, economic and political discussions. It may get manifested as
varying forms of discrimination and spreads across all spectrums of life. These forms might be
linked to the cultural or more importantly, economic characteristics. It has been found that third
world countries have more marginalized groups than first world countries. The deliberate
marginalization of people is known as “Social Darwinism” which brings the idea of survival of
the fittest to humanity itself, manifesting in various heinous ways. Marginalized groups have
various common characteristics all across the world. It suffers from discrimination and
subordination and have physical and cultural trains that set them apart, usually things that are
frowned upon by the dominant group. They have a common burden and form a collective identity
over time. They too, like the dominant group, have rules about who belongs and who does not.
They usually marry in their own community and there is a shifting phenomenon linked to their
social status.
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Under different economic situations and under the influence of specific religious, historical,
legal and cultural factors, marginalization is one of the manifestations of inequality of gender.
Women a lot of times, are excluded from certain occupations and forced into other occupations
and responsibilities and their consent seem to matter less. They have always been relatively
marginalized to men, in every country and culture, though this difference may very because of
several factors.
People will all sorts of disabilities have had to fight against biased assumptions, stereotypes
and irrational behavior for centuries now. The tendency of attaching stigma to a disability has
created social and economic marginalization for generations. The percentage of the disabled
population to the total population is about 2.13 percent. There are interregional differences within
the disabled population. The disabled face various sorts of hurdles while seeking access to health
and health services. Among those who are disabled women, children and age are more vulnerable
and need more attention.
The caste system is a heinous hierarchical social system based on irrational notions of
purity and pollution. Brahmins are considered to be on the highest end of the hierarchy and Shudras
or Dalits constitute to be their lower counterpart. The marginalization of Dalits influences every
aspect of their lives, denying them even basic human rights like civil, political, social, economic
and cultural rights.
A major proportion of the lower castes and Dalits are still dependent on others for their
livelihood. Dalits do not refer to caste but suggest a group who are in a state of oppression, social
disability and who are helpless and poor. Literacy rates among Dalits are very low. They have
meager purchasing power and have poor housing conditions also as have low access to resources
and entitlements.
Structural discrimination against these groups takes place within the sort of physical,
psychological, emotional and cultural abuse which receives legitimacy from the social
organization and therefore the social organization. Physical segregation of their settlements is
common in the villages forcing them to live in the most unhygienic and inhabitable conditions. All
these factors come together and affect their status of health, access to proper healthcare and quality
of life. There are high rates of malnutrition reported among the marginalized groups leading to
mortality, morbidity, and anemia. Access to healthcare even among the marginalized groups are
influenced by their social and economic status within society.
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Caste-based marginalization is one among the foremost serious human rights issues within
the world today, adversely affecting quite 260 million people mostly reside in India. Caste-based
discrimination entails social and economic exclusion, segregation in housing, denial, and
restrictions of access to public and personal services and employment, and enforcement of certain
sorts of jobs on Dalits, which results in a condition of modern day slavery or bonded labor.
However, in recent years thanks to social action and legal protection, the intensity of caste-based
marginalization is reducing.
The Scheduled Tribes, just like the Scheduled Castes go through structural discrimination
within various walks of the Indian society. Unlike the Scheduled Castes, the formation of
Scheduled Tribes is a product of marginalization that is based on ethnicity. In India, the Scheduled
Tribes population is around 84.3 million and is taken into account to be socially and economically
disadvantaged. Their percentages within the population and numbers, however, vary from State to
State. They are mainly landless with little control over resources like land, forest, and water.
They constitute a large proportion of agricultural laborers, casual laborers, plantation
laborers, industrial laborers etc. This has resulted in extreme poverty among them for generations,
low levels of education, poor health and reduced access to healthcare service. They are one of the
poorest of the society.
Another group that faces relentless discrimination are sexual minorities. Those identified
as transgender, gay, lesbian, bisexual, kothi and hijra; experience various heinous forms of
discrimination within the society and the health system, even on a personal level. Due to the
dominance of heteronomous sexual relations as the only form of acceptable relationhips within the
society, individuals who are identified as having same-sex sexual preferences are mocked and
ostracized by even their own family and are left with very limited support structures and networks
of community that provide the conditions of care and support. They are excluded from various
health policies and programs and basic facilities.
Nonetheless, the Indian Constitution has made definite and significant provisions for the
welfare and uplift of the tribal people of the nation. And the greatest challenge that the govt of
India has been facing since Independence, till today is that the proper provision of social justice to
the scheduled tribe population, besides its rigorous effort s in implementing the new policy of
tribal development and integration was initiated throughout the country. The reason behind the
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high instances of various types of poverty and deprivation among the marginalized social groups
are to be found in their continuing lack of access to income-earning capital assets and other factors.
Therefore, there's a requirement to specialize in policies to enhance the ownership of
income-earning capital assets (agriculture land, and non-land assets), employment, human
resource & health situation, and prevention of discrimination to make sure fair participation of the
marginalized community within the private and therefore the public sectors.
It is necessary to acknowledge that for the overwhelming majority of the discriminated
groups, State intervention is crucial and necessary. Similarly, the utilization of economic and social
planning as an instrument of planned development is equally necessary. Thus, planned State
intervention to make sure fair access and participation in social and economic development within
the country is important.
The line of poverty among the Schedules castes and Scheduled tribes cultivators is 30%
and 40% respectively, which is far higher compared with non-scheduled cultivators (18%).
Similarly, the poverty incidences of these in business are very high 33% for SC and 41% for ST
compared with only 21% among non-scheduled businesses. The viability and productivity of self-
employed households got to be improved by providing adequate capital, information, technology,
and access to markets. it's a pity that though the STs do own some land, they lack the relevant
technological inputs to enhance the productivity of their agriculture.
The practice of untouchability and an outsized number of atrocities inflicted on Dalits
continue even today mainly due to hidden prejudices and neglect on the part of officials liable for
the implementation of Special Legislations; i.e. the Protection of Civil Rights Act (PCRA) and
therefore the Prevention of Atrocities Act (POA). the govt should make a meaningful intervention
during this regard so on mitigate the sufferings of Dalits thanks to the practice of untouchability
and atrocities inflicted upon them and will also treat this matter on a priority basis to make sure
that the officials and therefore the civil society at large are sensitized on this issue.