Exclusion-driven segregation and dalits: Evidence from selected colonies in Kerala

Abstract

Dalit-centred social exclusion largely stems from structures of spatial segregation which is rooted in the Indian caste system. The caste system placed Dalits at the lowest and weakest social stratum; their segregated housing-spaces further marginalised them. The history of Dalits ghetto in Kerala can be traced back to 1936 when the T ravancore Government opened a colony for the lower castes at Kottayam. The Government might have had a view of providing cultivable land to Dalits in an isolated locality will provide them with economic freedom and as a result, there will be less violation of caste rules. Over the years, the provided colonies began to be conceived as merely a housing scheme. In particular, it appeared when the Land Reforms Act (1963) is re-amended in 1969. Also, the provided land under the schemes was just 4 or 5 cents. That was meagre and unsuitable for the families to live. Moreover, the land size reduced further because of the intergenerational subdivision and fragmentation of holdings. A study conducted by KILA (2013) found that there are 26,198 Dalit colonies and about 60% of lower castes in Kerala are living. The colonies in the State are so remote either in hilly areas, marshy lands or away from public gaze as it leads to excluding Dalits from the broader social and economic system. The study attempted to explore the position of Dalits in the exclusion-driven segregation by comparing the Dalits who are living in a colony with the non-Dalits living at the outside colony. While doing so, the study found that the surveyed colonies are away from mainstream society. Also, most of them are living without land but with abject poverty when compared to non-colony dwellers. Furthermore, the study emphasised with the evidence that the exclusion of Dalits in the past is continuing with the contemporary differences in their living conditions in colonies.