Discuss the major initiatives taken by the Government of India for the removal of caste injustice and inequality after 1947.

After independence, the Government of India adopted constitutional, legal, political and welfare measures to remove caste injustice and inequality. The aim was to replace the old caste-based disabilities with equality, dignity and social justice.

Constitutional and Legal Measures

Equality and abolition of untouchability:

• The Constitution guaranteed equality before law under Article 14.
• Article 15 prohibited discrimination on grounds of caste, religion, race, sex or place of birth.
• Article 17 abolished untouchability and made its practice punishable.
• Article 46 directed the state to promote the educational and economic interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Protective legislation:

• The Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 punished the practice of untouchability.
• The SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 provided stronger protection against caste violence and humiliation.
• These laws aimed to secure dignity and physical security for oppressed communities.

Affirmative Action and Welfare

Reservation policy:

• Reservations were provided for SCs and STs in legislatures, government jobs and educational institutions.
• Later, reservations for OBCs were implemented following the Mandal Commission recommendations.
• This aimed to improve representation and correct historical exclusion.

Educational and economic schemes:

• Scholarships, hostels, special component plans and financial assistance were introduced for disadvantaged groups.
• Land reform efforts and poverty alleviation programmes also sought to weaken caste-based economic inequality.

However, caste injustice has not disappeared. Discrimination, violence, manual scavenging, social exclusion and unequal access to resources continue in many areas. Therefore, post-1947 India made major constitutional and legal advances, but the struggle against caste inequality remains an ongoing democratic task.