Model Answer

Climate change exacerbates existing social inequalities, particularly for caste-based marginalized groups in India, such as Dalits and Adivasis. The following points highlight how these communities are disproportionately affected:

1. Impact on Agricultural Dependence

• Landless Dalit Farmers: A significant number of Dalits depend on agriculture, but due to their lack of land ownership, they are highly vulnerable during natural disasters. As per the 2011 Census, about 71% of Dalits work as farm laborers, while only 9% of cultivable land is owned by them, leaving them without insurance or resources to recover from climate-induced agricultural disruptions.
  • Fact: The IPCC AR6 report highlighted that vulnerable communities in India, including Dalits, suffer disproportionately from climate change impacts like floods and droughts.

2. Discrimination During Rescue and Relief

• Exclusion from Aid: Dalits often face discrimination during disaster relief operations, leading to insufficient support. For instance, after the Krishna floods of 2009, studies showed that Dalits were marginalized during rescue and relief activities.
  • Fact: Discrimination during relief efforts exacerbates their vulnerability to climate-induced disasters, further entrenching socio-economic disparities.

3. Limited Access to Public Resources

• Water Shortage and Caste-Based Exclusion: Caste-based discrimination results in marginalized groups, especially Dalit women, being denied access to vital resources like water. 48% of villages report Dalit women being denied access to water sources during climate crises.
  • Fact: According to the Asia-Pacific Forum for Sustainable Development, caste-based exclusion persists in times of scarcity, worsening the impact of climate change on these communities.

4. Caste-Based Sanitation Work

• Increased Demand for Sanitation Work: Caste-based divisions often force marginalized communities into sanitation work, particularly the Safai Karamcharis, many of whom are Dalits. With rising floods and blocked drains due to climate change, demand for this work increases, further perpetuating their socio-economic marginalization.
  • Fact: 95-98% of Safai Karamcharis are Dalits, predominantly women, according to the Safai Karamchari Andolan.

5. Vulnerability to Violence

• Increased Risk for Dalit Women: As climate change exacerbates water scarcity and droughts, Dalit women and girls often travel longer distances to collect water and fodder, exposing them to sexual and physical violence.
  • Fact: National Crime Records Bureau data reveals that ten Dalit women and girls are raped every day in India, further highlighting their vulnerability.

6. Living in Vulnerable Areas

• Exclusion from Mainstream Infrastructure: Dalits typically reside in areas on the periphery of villages, lacking access to essential infrastructure like drainage systems, drinking water, and flood barriers. This makes them more exposed to climate risks like floods and droughts.
  • Fact: Their social exclusion results in worse outcomes during climate-induced disasters.

Conclusion

Climate change compounds the challenges faced by caste-based marginalized groups in India, exposing them to heightened vulnerabilities in terms of access to resources, health, safety, and economic opportunities. Addressing these challenges requires specific policies that integrate the socio-economic realities of these communities into climate adaptation strategies.