Yes. We have to accept and admit that provisions were given in the constitution to the Dalits in a variety of areas called reservations or affirmative actions. Policies were also given in the political sphere, where reserved constituencies were kept for the Dalits, and a certain amount of reserved constituencies of Dalits are brought into Parliament.
It is also true that increasingly there is an emerging strong voice among the Dalits about their political and their social rights within the nation, but compare it to the size of the problem when the government classifies the scheduled caste and the scheduled tribes as 250 million people. Compared to this, sir, as a bloc, was the 5% Brahmin upper caste in the nation, who systematically have ruled every political sphere and party in India for 60 years. No Dalit party or group has had anywhere near even a 10% political influence in the country for 60 years.
When you look at the caste breakdown and what is playing out in Indian politics, the sad thing is that 60 years on, after independence, when 25% population is outcast and discriminated against, the political processes should long have led them to have a huge say in governance, a huge say in the vehicles of government, etc. They are still fighting. The Dalits in India, including the politicians, are still fighting for a seat in the Supreme Court among the justices. They are still fighting.
That is the anomaly and the paradox of India. At one level this is going on, and there is the positive side, but on the other side is a social system that is not allowing this to become what it should be. If the system is abolished, there is a level, equal playing field.