Mainstreaming the marginalised: Indian initiatives

Abstract

The Indian Constitution adopted in 1950 enshrines equality and social justice as the fundamental principles of the Indian democratic system. The aim of the Constitution is to empower the society and ensure the dignity of the individual and equality of status among all the citizens of India. These ideas are reflected in different Articles of the Constitution. The paper discusses Constitutional provisions for empowering marginalised sections of the society. The Constitution recognises the schedule castes; schedule tribes, other backward classes, minorities, persons with disability and women as marginalised sections of people. Besides, the paper discusses national policies, commissions and committee reports and areas of intervention by the government for the upliftment of these sections of people and also the paper examines the educational scenario in the country after independence. Finally, the areas of intervention and challenges ahead are discussed.