1. Vulnerable Sections

The term vulnerability is defined as “proneness to harm or damage originating from external forces”. According to a widely quoted description, vulnerable groups are: “Groups that experience a higher risk of poverty and social exclusion than the general population. Ethnic minorities, migrants, disabled people, the homeless, those struggling with substance abuse, isolated elderly people and children all often face difficulties that can lead to further social exclusion, such as low levels of education and unemployment or underemployment".

In common understanding, vulnerable sections are those sections of population who are at higher risk of suffering due to imperfect or unjust system - social, political, cultural, economic, physical, family structure, environmental or any other factor that has a bearing on these groups.

Some common characteristics of vulnerability faced by these vulnerable sections are as follows:

♤ They, as a group, are vulnerable

♤ This vulnerability is due to many factors - socio-cultural, economic

♤ This vulnerability is systematic and structured

Various groups in India can be included under vulnerable sections viz.- children, women, scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, other backward classes, minorities, senior citizens, disabled persons, LGBT communities, poor persons etc.