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Question

Term Dalit is used for the people belonging to

A
high castes
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B
upper castes
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C
untouchables
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D
labourers
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Solution

The correct option is C untouchables
People are engaged in different kinds of work like teaching, carpentry, pottery, weaving, fishing, farming etc.to earn a livelihood. However, certain kinds of work are valued more than others. Activities like cleaning, washing, cutting hair, picking garbage are seen as tasks that are of less value and people who do this work are seen as dirty or impure. This belief is an important aspect of the caste system. In the caste system, communities/groups of people were placed in a sort of ladder where each caste was either above or below the other. Those who placed themselves at the top of this ladder called themselves upper caste and saw themselves as superior. The groups who were placed at the bottom of the ladder were seen as unworthy and called "untouchables". Caste rules were set which did not allow the so-called "untouchables" to take on work, other than what they were meant to do. For example, some groups were forced to pick garbage and remove dead animals from the village. But they were not allowed to enter the homes of the upper castes or take water from the village well, or even enter temples. Their children could not sit next to children of other castes in school. Thus upper castes acted in ways, which did not give the so-called "untouchables" the same rights as they enjoyed.
Dalit is a term that people belonging to so called lower castes use to address themselves. They prefer this word to 'untouchable'. Dalit means those who have been 'broken'. This word according to Dalits shows how social prejudices and discrimination have 'broken' the Dalit people. The government refers to this group of people as Scheduled Castes (SC).

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