C. Dalit Movement

After Independence, the Dalit Movement sought social justice and dignity and they attempted to build electoral majorities on a certain type of caste mobilization.

The Term "Dalit" encompasses the communities known as ex-untouchables and tribals who are officially termed as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes respectively.

Ghanshyam Shah classified Dalit Movement into:

1. Reformative

2. Alternative Movement

Reformative: it tries to reform the caste system to solve the problem of untouchability.

Alternative: it attempts to create an alternative socio-cultural structure by conversion to some other religion or by acquiring education, economic status and political power.

In almost all Dalit movements, the issue of reservations has been an overriding phenomenon and is seen as the most decisive tool of progress.

The Bhopal Declaration (2002) adopted unanimously a new 21 point Action Agenda for Dalits for the 21st century.

Some of the important points:

1. Recognize SC & ST women as distinct category of women.

2. Make the reservation quota applicable in all public & private educational institutions from primary to technological, professional levels.

3. Implement effectively in letter and spirit the SC & ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989.

4. Implement the policy of reservation to SC & STs at all levels of Judiciary and the Defence forces.

The 1980s saw the rise of political organisation of the Dalits. In 1978, the Backward and Minority Classes Employees Federation BAMCEF was formed. It took a strong position in favour of political power to the bahujan – the SC, ST and OBC, minorities. The prominent face of this movement and it's subsequent outfit Shoshit Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, was by Kanshi Ram.