Dalit Women’s Subsistence: Covert and Overt Marginalization in the COVID-19 Pandemic Times of India

Abstract

People in the marginalized category struggle to establish a standard subsistence and maintain a quality of living. The relentless waves of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdowns were met by their vulnerabilities and insecurities. Dalit women from the most underprivileged groups often have less access to essential services such as healthcare and sanitation and are exposed to health hazards and diseases. The marginalization experienced by Dalit women during the pandemic has serious implications for their well-being and livelihoods. However, this is influenced by societal and political pressures from multiple dimensions and Dalit women face this because of their caste. Dalits, who have long suffered from social exclusion due to untouchability practices, suffer from a second form of social isolation and alienation due to COVID-19, making them the victims of double exclusion. Dalit women experienced a loss of means of subsistence and more sexual and physical harassment during the COVID-19 outbreak. In these challenging times, it is critical to observe and examine both the surface-level concerns and profound problems that Dalit women experience. By doing this, we can seek to achieve sustainable solutions that prioritize the well-being of minority communities.