Recently, Supreme Court asked government to decide whether or not to include Dalit Christians and Muslims under the Scheduled Caste for availing benefits of reservation. Discuss the reasons and challenges thereof.

Dalit Christians and Muslims have historically being denied reservation in schedule caste category. However, the deprivation within the community has attracted attention lately.

Reasons for denial of reservation:-

The untouchables in Hindu fold were perceived to be converted in Christianity and Islam for shedding of their untouchable identity.

Thus the conversion has provided them with the mobility to adopt themselves into the egalitarian religions is what was argued.

However the process of conversion has failed them to get the desired social mobility.

Researches point out that, they remain untouchables despite adopting to egalitarian religions. Moreover, they are victims of intersectionality of being a minority as well as an untouchable. They are the most vunerable amoung the Muslim and Christian community respectively.

Challenges