Untouchability in Indian Society
Untouchability was originally a class system in which people belonging to low caste were categorized as “untouchable.” These people would work in fields such as farming, mining, and quarrying and they also carry out menial tasks, like skinning dead animals, cleaning latrines, and unclogging sewers. It is against human dignity.
Some examples of untouchability are:
- Preventing any person from entering into the temple.
- Justifying untouchability on traditional, religious, philosophical, or other grounds.
- Denying access to any shop, hotel, club, places, or resources of public entertainment, etc.
- Insulting a person belonging to a scheduled caste(SC, ST, OBC) on the ground of untouchability.
Article 17 of Constitution is very Important. Why?
Article 17 is intended in the Indian constitution to end untouchability against lower castes. Article 17 in the Indian constitution was made effective from 1st June 1955. It deals with establishing social justice towards the lower caste in Indian Society. Article 17 ensures that any practice of social justice should be avoided.
Why Article 17 important?