caste discrimination in india

One of the essential features of the caste system and its evolution over time is the hierarchical nature of the various castes and sub-castes with the dalits at the bottom of the hierarchy and the Brahmins at the top.
Many castes are traditionally associated with an occupation, such as high-ranking Brahmins; middle-ranking farmer and artisan groups, such as potters, barbers, and carpenters; and very low-ranking "Untouchable" leatherworkers, butchers, launderers, and latrine cleaners. There is some correlation between ritual rank on the caste hierarchy and economic prosperity. Members of higher-ranking castes tend, on the whole, to be more prosperous than members of lower-ranking castes. Many lower-caste people live in conditions of great poverty and social disadvantage.
The caste based discrimination has its obvious impact on the occupational pattern of these castes, most notably the scheduled castes otherwise known as the dalits. This discrimination assumes severe dimensions because of the multi-layered nature of caste system in India. In particular, the choice of employment pattern is affected by the structure of property rights; access to skills or education and falso the social restrictions on labor mobility. It is still difficult for people who belong to Scheduled Castes, who live in the rural areas to have access to employment opportunities other than probably the lowest occupation in social hierarchy and also the least productive.
In addition, people who belong to the Scheduled Castes are also deprived in regard to their access to education or skill. As a result, very few have skills and ability to move to other forms of employment opportunities even if they can overcome the social rigidities. Although the nature and severity of caste-based occupational rigidities is not the same in different areas within the country, the Dalits are still at the bottom of traditional rural society who find employment in the lowest occupations and have little access to education.
It is generally assumed that with urbanization and the entry of market forces these age-old rigidities are being broken down or moderated to a great extent. However, preliminary evidence on this count does not offer any concrete evidence of this. Hence, the dalits are still deprived of fair employment opportunities.