Discuss social exclusion with its characteristics.
Its a situation in which individuals may become cut-off from full involvement in the wider society. It is not accidental but systematic and an outcome of social hierarchy in India. A man is either denied of essential goods and services like education, health, transporation, insurance, social security, banking etc. by society or owing to continuous he himself tries to live aloof from these humiliations, facilities that other section of society are availing in abundance.
The factors bringing in social exclusion are-the varna alias caste systems, economic status, occupation, race etc. Social exclusion is voluntary viz. the person excluded does not wish living aloof from society and the good and services. Instead, it is imposed by the society concerned. It is said that the excluded group itself does not want to participate in the society, but it is absolutely false as we see, dalits also want to visit temples, do worship and share in cultural activities, drink water from the public well or reservoir but prolonged humiliation has made them reluctant even if, law stands for their support and nobody in the society can resist them however, it is true that whenever any adversity befalls in so-called upper-class settlements, instead of extending and help, they always try to escape as if nothing has happened. It is apathy that develops left the fort of unity and integration.
No doubt, untouchability has been abolished and there are stringent laws drafted for protection of people excluded from the mainstream but compliance with them is made only under fear of punishment. It's not an acceptance of laws of the land with free consent. This is the reason, social exclusion is still practises in several states of the country. We would like to reproduce have an averment of Narayanamma, from Anantpur municipality in Andhra Pradesh as under :
'It is though we do not have a name I think so when they call me 'Ai municipality come, clean this'. often they cover their noses when we walk past, as though we smell. We have to wait until someone turns on a municipal tap, or works a hand-pump when we fill water, so that these are not polluted by our touch (source-mander 2001 P. 38-39).
