1. Social Inclusion of rural dalit women, a distant dream?
Introduction
India boosts itself to be a growing economy and to be emerging as the leader in the Asian region.
The new government has promised to build a strong nation. Being a citizen of a strong nation
will certainly enrich one’s self-image and enhance his or her confidence level to thrive
relentlessly for prosperity. The question that disturbs socially conscious persons is ‘is the nation
growing with its entire population?’ As the Indian economy grows the trickling benefits reach a
small percentage of moneyed and socially well-positioned people. A large section of the Indian
Population mainly the dalits and the tribals are hardly reaping any benefit arising from new
economic policies.
While rural dalits especially rural dalit women are kept at the receiving end in the ‘growing
economy’, there are widespread discussions taking place on ‘Social Inclusion’ of the excluded.
In this context, the paper analyses the precondition for such possible social inclusion.
The case studies done in the Villupuram District convey that the Economic Well-being of rural
dalit women is the indispensable prerequisite for social inclusion. The paper also analyses using
the available secondary data whether the rural dalit women enjoy economic well-being in the
lopsided economy.
Self-employment, an opportunity for economic well-being
The employment and business opportunities are abound in the Self-Employment Sector. Indian
economy consists of the self-employed who are both wage earners and shareowners. The share
of the proprietorship and partnership forms of organizations in the national income is 35 per cent,
that of corporates around 15 per cent, of government around 25 per cent, and agriculture around
25 per cent. Combine agriculture and the self-employed in the industry and service sectors,
nearly 60 per cent of the national income is generated by the self-employed.
(http://indianeconomy.org/2006/04/21/a-nation-of-self-employed/).
The National Sample Survey (NSS – July 2011 to June 2012) reveals that around 50.42% of
Indian workers are self-employed. In rural areas, the shares of self-employed, regular
wage/salaried employees and causal labor were 37.94 per cent, 6.66 per cent and 24.94 per cent
respectively. The shares of self-employment in rural areas were 28.99 per cent for rural males
and 8.95 per cent for rural females, out of which 75 % of female workers were engaged in
agricultural sector/household enterprises and 17 per cent and 8 per cent were engaged in
secondary and tertiary sectors respectively.

2. In general, only 8.95% of rural women are in self-employment. The percentage of rural dalit
women in self-employment is insignificant and data is not available with NSS or MSME.
Until rural dalit women venture into self-employment, the possibilities of attaining economic
well-being will remain disheartening and they will be compelled to satisfy themselves as causal
laborers and forced to live on meager income. Meanwhile the possibilities of rural dalit women
to be in self-employment are restricted by three major factors i.e. Caste Bias, Lack of Access to
Productive Resources and Gender Bias.
Social inclusion will remain a distant dream, if rural dalit women who comprise 19.17 per cent of
the total women population are kept out of the economic benefits. The case studies are
intentionally done in the Northern Districts of Tamil Nadu, especially Villupuram District.
Reason for Selecting Villupuram District, one of the Northern Districts
The Northern Districts spread over 67720 square kilo miles and 50.76% of the total population of
Tamil Nadu lives in this region. The male population is higher than the female population at least
by 1%. The percentage of dalit population is 19.17%, but it is 22% in the northern districts and it
is 30% in Villupuram district. The general literacy rate is 63.72% in Tamil Nadu. However it is
only 54.3% in this region and the female literacy is 20% lower than the male literacy rate.
81.8% of the dalits are agricultural laborers. The average family income per month was less than
Rs.2000. Almost 80% have no savings, and more than 72% are indebted. ( a study done by
Jesuit Chennai Mission).
The research interest is to identify the critical factors that compel dalits to be causal laborers. The
data confirms that the dalits have little opportunities to be self-employed and it means they
cannot enjoy economic well-being. The economic well-being could foster social inclusion.
Different case studies done in this regard confirm that the economic well-being could easily pave
the way for social integration.
Economic Well- Being and Social Inclusion
There is no single definition of economic well-being. The OCED (2011) explains that the
material well-being determines people’s consumption possibilities and their command over
productive resources.
The New Economic Foundation, 2008 defines economic well-being as ‘…a dynamic state in
which the individuals are able to develop their potential, work productively and creatively, build
strong and positive relationships with others, and contribute to their community. It is enhanced
when an individual is able to fulfill their personal and social goals and achieve a sense of
purpose in society.’
Both the definitions define economic well being as having control over productive resources and
building positive relationship with others. The World Bank defines social inclusion as the

3. process of improving the terms for individuals and groups to take part in society. Social inclusion
aims to empower poor and marginalized people to take advantage of burgeoning global
opportunities. It ensures that people have a voice in decisions which affect their lives and that
they enjoy equal access to markets, services and political, social and physical spaces.
Actively participating in the life of the society means that the dalits take part in the decisions
making processes that affect the development of the society and the opportunities are equally
shared among the various communities.
A study was done in a village, where 73% of the dalits have agricultural productive land and
about 45 of them are in government jobs. All of the dalit families have concrete houses and
neatly laid down streets and premises. Moreover most of the dalit women have formed
themselves into a federation called ‘Vidayal Women Federation’. To our question whether they
invite the caste women for social events, they said ‘yes’. The caste women happily attend their
social events. The reasons stated are: they have lands, they own decent houses, their men are
government employees, children study in English medium schools, women have gold jewels and
so on. However the caste women won’t eat any cooked food in their homes, but have bottled
drinks and fruits.
As the dalits are economically well off, the panchayat president who is a caste hindu ensures the
government schemes and benefits are shared in proportion to dalit population. The dalits also
participate in the village festivals and other community members too participate in dalits temple
festivals.
It proves beyond doubt that economic well-being have the powers to break caste barriers. Thus
social inclusion of rural dalits especially of rural dalit women will remain a distant dream unless
and until dalit women attain economic well-being, which means control over productive
resources, access to markets, services and political, social and physical spaces.
Stumbling blocks for Self-employment
The entrepreneurship is defined in Business Economics as the capacity and willingness to
develop, organize and manage a business venture along with any of its risks in order to make a
profit. The most obvious example of entrepreneurship is the starting of new businesses. In
economics, entrepreneurship combined with land, labor, natural resources and capital can
produce profit. Entrepreneurial spirit is characterized by innovation and risk-taking, and is an
essential part of a nation’s ability to succeed in an ever changing and increasingly competitive
global market.
The opportunity for rural dalit women lies in self-employment. But, the dalit women face
numerous constraints that influence them to remain as causal laborers. The case studies have
indentified three major constraints i.e caste bias, lack of access to productive resources namely to
land and Gender Bias.

4. 1. The Caste Bias
Mrs. Muniamma, a dalit woman lives with her adult daughter on the banks of the Thenpannai
river. She lost her husband 10 years ago. Left to survive on her own, she started a small idly
shop in the veranda of her house. She sells idly at the rate of two rupees and dosa at the rate of
three rupees. To attract customers she has to provide sambar and three types of Chutneys. She
has regular dalit customers. Till date she does not remember providing service to any non-dalit.
She said that the reasons for not having non-dalit customers are non-dalits consider eating in a
dalit outlet a taboo and beyond their dignity. Moreover the business is operated inside the
house; a non-dalit dare not enter into a dalit house.
Five hundred yards away from her house, a non-dalit woman sells the same idly for four rupees.
She runs her business on a pushcart. To my question, why can’t she try out something like this
for increased income? Her earnest reply was that people who know her caste identity will not
buy idly from her as they are considered as unclean.
She could have easily doubled her income by having her business some yards away, but her
caste identity prohibits such initiatives.
Those rural dalit women who venture into small enterprises with a capital of Rs.5, 000 to 50,000
are compelled to operate their business within their residential area. The restricted operational
area limits many a dalit women to venture into similar types of businesses and the potential for
any scale up. Even if a rural dalit woman wishes to have her business in bustling residential areas
or towns, no caste hindu prefers to let business space on rent or lease for her.
The case studies done by the Arocot Lutheran Church- School Project, a church based
development organization that works for the empowerment of dalit women and children in the
north arcot districts of Tamil Nadu reveal that opportunities are limited for rural dalit women in
service sector, but a small number of rural dalit women have succeeded in business that deal with
industry finished products such as garments, gift articles and so on.
Thus, the caste factor determines the area of operation and the nature of business. The area of
operation is principal for any business to thrive. Not having an appropriate place to operate is
the first blow for dalit women and may comfortably put an end to any possible business initiative
dalit women may attempt.
2. Access to Productive Resources
The definitions of entrepreneurship categorically state that the entrepreneurs are innovative and
readily take risks. The problem that the dalit women face is not having access to start-up capital

5. for any business venture. The reason for low percentage of dalit women in self-employment is
not associated with their risk taking behavior or innovative nature. The dalit women by nature
take high risks. Poverty and aspirations to come up in life compel them to be innovative to earn
money. But, they have no way to start.
45% of units registered with MSME are rural. The Backward class share in ownership of
enterprises equivalent to their population, but the dalits and tribals are underrepresented. The
underrepresentation is mirrored in the over representation of the caste people. Over the two
censues, we find an increase in caste disparity in ownership of manufacturing enterprises. The
top five activities which collectively account for roughly 62% of all registered manufacturing
MSMEs, are food products and beverages, apparel, fabricated metal products, furniture and
textiles. (The Wallstreet Journal published on Sept 23, 2013).
Though activities dealing with leather were associated with the dalits traditionally, the proportion
of SC owned enterprises engaged in leather have shown a decline. Gender disparities in
ownership are also sharper. Though there is an increase in female owned and managed
enterprises, the difference is not significant.
The reasons for low percentage of dalits registered with MSME are obvious i.e. caste bias that
keeps them totally out of food products and lack of access to productive resources. The
percentage of dalit women in the manufacturing sector is negligible. The dalit women are
considered as credit unworthy and un-bankable. The banks easily turn down the requests of dalit
women for start-up capital for lack of collateral. The slogan is ‘no collateral, no credit and no
business opportunity’. The SHGs came as a way out. But, the loans from the banks are mostly
spent on consumptions and for social events. The SHGs lack capacity to develop the
entrepreneurial skills of dalit women, enable them to have access to credit, support to engage in
businesses of their choice, and provide procurement and marketing support.
The logic is simple, unless and until dalit women have lands (81.8% dalits are landless), and
lands registered in their names they won’t be able to access any start-up capital. Is there any
alternative collateral that the dalits women can think of? The study shall be concluded with a
possible alternative.
3. Gender Bias
The society awaits for any opportunity to discourage women who are successful in owning and
managing any business. The weapon that the society uses is ‘character assassination’ and
‘negligence of reproductive roles’. Any woman who neglects her reproductive roles such as child
caring and caring of her husband is considered not as a family woman. Numerous case studies
reveal that women quickly give up business initiatives for unbearable character assassination,
and for sexual abuses at workplace and while accessing markets. The case study below indicates
Mrs. Vjialaxhmi withstood the character assassination by her own husband and relatives but it is
not the case with hundreds of dalit women.

6. Mrs.Vijalaxhmi, a mother of two young children says, ‘I have the confidence to provide quality
education for my siblings and profusely thank ALC-School Project for training me in tailoring.
She was married at the age of 16 and her husband fell sick after 4 years of marriage. As the
economic and social responsibilities fell on her shoulder she took up a job in a biscuit company
for 100 rupees a day. Since it was not a secure job, she decided to learn a trade skill.. She learnt
the art of tailoring and exhibited greater tailoring skills.
The ALC-SP absorbed her and entrusted her with the responsibility of managing a tailoring unit
at Mekkalur, Thiruvannamalai. She now draws a salary of Rs.3000. She says ‘though the salary
is not huge, I have the satisfaction of training economically downtrodden women. Teaching a
trade skill has given me status and recognition in the society’. However being jealous of her new
found recognition and status her husband started ill-treating her with verbal abuses and even
asked her to give up the job. Her morality was questioned. It was a struggle of its own kind to
convince her husband who was almost bedridden and his relatives that she was unblemished.
She breathes heavily and says ‘my kids will now have a secure life thanks to the Timothy Center
for Women and Children Empowerment.
Vijalaxhmi is an exception. Many a women find it painful to tolerate male domination,
compulsions of the patriarchal society, character assassination, and sex torture. Thus many
women decide to take the easiest route of succumbing to the wishes of patriarchy.
Markets operate at times that are inconvenient to women. The inconvenience arises from market
timings, access to markets, male dominated markets, poor facilities in markets and so on.
A dalit woman has to arise above triple biases such as caste, class and gender. We are pitting
dalit women. But, our studies prove that the dalit women can rise above and prove their worth in
businesses if properly guided. The alternative that the studies suggest is ‘dalit women
entrepreneurs federations’.
Rural Dalit Women Institutions, alternative for Sef-employment Promotion
Dalit women have no collateral as they lack productive resources. But by nature they are
hardworking, innovative and risk taking. This means that they have the characteristics of being a
business woman. As employment opportunities are abound in self-employment sector, it is
important the dalit women consider business initiatives to enjoy economic well –being and social
inclusion subsequently.
They ought to come out of the three major hurdles mentioned in the paper i.e. caste bias, access
to productive resources and gender bias. Our experience shows that a dalit women organization
that comprises of dalit women entrepreneurs with the prime objective of promoting
entrepreneurship can easily overcome the three hurdles.

7. The business idea is that the production is decentralized and mainly takes place at individual
level. The organization ensures quality production by enhancing their production skills. The
organization takes the sole responsibility for procurement of finished products, value addition,
storage and collective marketing. When an organization engages in a business the caste label is
diminished. We are not hiding the caste identity, but giving time to the society to rise above caste
considerations. As an organization the dalit women can have easy access to gender sensitive
technologies, and they too can develop their own appropriate technologies.
An organization in business can employ gender sensitive persons to act behalf of the dalit
women entrepreneurs. By which, they can have easy access to markets and minimize sexual
disturbances. And also the organization will stand for the protection and promotion of the rights
of the dalit women.
The dalit women entrepreneurs organization becomes the collateral for the banks. As the
organized body of individuals the dalit women can easily access government schemes and
programs.
In this regard, Non-governmental organizations such as Arcot Lutheran Church School Project
can play a major role in mobilizing, orienting and organizing the dalit women.
Social Inclusion, a distant reality
Social integration is possible when rural dalits especially rural dalit women come on par with the
caste people. The economic well-being has the potential to break the societal barriers and
provide impetus for dalit women to actively participate in the society. It is a slow progress, but
possible. The dalit women should organize themselves into entrepreneur organizations and work
hard to enhance their entrepreneurial skills, access government programs and schemes, and
develop dalit women as entrepreneurs. The fact remains that employment opportunities are
abound in the self-employment sector. The dalit women by nature are risk taking and innovative,
thus becoming self-employed and to employ others is easier for them. Let the society be an
integrated society and which lives above caste consideration.
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