What is a caste system and caste-based discrimination?
• Involve the division of people into social groups (castes) where assignments of rights are determined by birth, descent and work are fixed and hereditary. • The assignment of basic rights among various castes is unequal and hierarchical, with those at the top enjoying most rights and privileges coupled with least duties, and those at the bottom are forced to perform most duties considered impure coupled with no rights. • The system is maintained through the rigid enforcement of social ostracism (a system of social and economic penalties) in case of any deviations.The doctrine of inequality is at the core of the caste system. Those who fall outside the caste system are considered “lesser human beings”, “impure” and thus “polluting” to other caste groups. They are known to be “untouchable” and subjected to so-called “untouchability practices” in both public and private spheres. “Untouchables” are often forcibly assigned the most dirty, menial, filthy and hazardous jobs, such as cleanin
