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No institution has done more to emancipate the Dalits and destroy casteism than free-market capitalism. Let's cut the rhetoric and talk about facts and numbers.
A thread - https://twitter.com/surajyengde/status/1347840104157634562?s=20
A thread - https://twitter.com/surajyengde/status/1347840104157634562?s=20
Since its economic liberalization reforms in 1991, the poverty rate in India declined by almost 24 percent. But most significantly, for the Dalits – the poverty rate during this period declined even faster, by 31 percent.
https://fee.org/articles/the-worlds-poorest-people-are-getting-richer-faster-than-anyone-else/#:~:text=Stories-,The%20World's%20Poorest%20People%20Are%20Getting%20Richer%20Faster%20than%20Anyone,in%202015%2C%20just%209.6%25.
https://fee.org/articles/the-worlds-poorest-people-are-getting-richer-faster-than-anyone-else/#:~:text=Stories-,The%20World's%20Poorest%20People%20Are%20Getting%20Richer%20Faster%20than%20Anyone,in%202015%2C%20just%209.6%25.
India’s socialist policies required licenses and permits for all economic activity. Upper‐caste networks monopolized these and kept Dalits out. But the 1991 economic reforms dismantled these controls.
Today the DICCI boasts over 3,000 millionaire members. https://www.cato.org/blog/how-capitalism-undermining-indian-caste-system
Today the DICCI boasts over 3,000 millionaire members. https://www.cato.org/blog/how-capitalism-undermining-indian-caste-system
Here's some data from Swaminathan's paper
"The survey found that the proportion
of Dalit households with brick houses rose between 1990 and 2008 from 18.1 percent to 64.4
percent in Bilariaganj, and from 38.4 percent
to 94.6 percent in Khurja"
https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa776_1.pdf
"The survey found that the proportion
of Dalit households with brick houses rose between 1990 and 2008 from 18.1 percent to 64.4
percent in Bilariaganj, and from 38.4 percent
to 94.6 percent in Khurja"
https://www.cato.org/sites/cato.org/files/pubs/pdf/pa776_1.pdf
"TV ownership is another important status
symbol in rural India. This was almost zero
among Dalits in 1990, but by 2008 was up to 22.2
percent in Bilariaganj and 45 percent in Khurja. Mobile phone ownership increased from 0
to 36.3% in Bilariaganj and from 0 to
32.5% in Khurja."
symbol in rural India. This was almost zero
among Dalits in 1990, but by 2008 was up to 22.2
percent in Bilariaganj and 45 percent in Khurja. Mobile phone ownership increased from 0
to 36.3% in Bilariaganj and from 0 to
32.5% in Khurja."
"Leftist critics of liberalization
claim that its benefits have bypassed the poor.
But in this survey of Dalits, 61 percent in the
east and 38 percent in the west said their food
& the clothing situation was “much better”
Only 2 percent said their condition was stagnant or worse"
claim that its benefits have bypassed the poor.
But in this survey of Dalits, 61 percent in the
east and 38 percent in the west said their food
& the clothing situation was “much better”
Only 2 percent said their condition was stagnant or worse"
Not only capitalism has improved the material well being of Dalits, but it has also uplifted the social status of Dalits "The practice of separate
seating at upper-caste weddings is down from
77.3% to 8.9% in eastern UP, and
from 73.1% to 17.9% in western UP"
seating at upper-caste weddings is down from
77.3% to 8.9% in eastern UP, and
from 73.1% to 17.9% in western UP"
"Political parties claim credit for providing
job reservations for Dalits in govt services. Yet the survey shows that the proportion of Dalit families
with a member in govt service has actually fallen from 7.2% to 6.8% in the
east, & risen marginally from 5% to 7.3% in the west "
job reservations for Dalits in govt services. Yet the survey shows that the proportion of Dalit families
with a member in govt service has actually fallen from 7.2% to 6.8% in the
east, & risen marginally from 5% to 7.3% in the west "
“Earlier, we held
a belief that only an individual (Maoist) can
liberate society. Now we see that there is an
economic process, that capitalism is changing caste much faster than any human being.” - Chandra Bhan Prasad, advisor to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
a belief that only an individual (Maoist) can
liberate society. Now we see that there is an
economic process, that capitalism is changing caste much faster than any human being.” - Chandra Bhan Prasad, advisor to the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry
Since liberalization, the proportion of Dalits running their own business is up from 4.2%
to 11% in the east and from 6% to
36.7% in the west. The Dalits benefiting from remittances from migrant relatives has risen from
14% to 50.5% in Bilariaganj, & from
6.1% to 28.6% in Khurja.
to 11% in the east and from 6% to
36.7% in the west. The Dalits benefiting from remittances from migrant relatives has risen from
14% to 50.5% in Bilariaganj, & from
6.1% to 28.6% in Khurja.
On capitalism and inequality.
"A recent analysis of government survey data by economists at the University of British Columbia found that the wage gap between other castes and Dalits has decreased to 21 percent, down from 36 percent in 1983." https://www.cnbc.com/2011/12/22/scaling-caste-walls-with-capitalisms-ladders-in-india.html
"A recent analysis of government survey data by economists at the University of British Columbia found that the wage gap between other castes and Dalits has decreased to 21 percent, down from 36 percent in 1983." https://www.cnbc.com/2011/12/22/scaling-caste-walls-with-capitalisms-ladders-in-india.html
