Question

What does it mean to be socially marginalised?

Answer 1

Hint: When a particular person or a sect of people are made to feel less important and this is done by those who are in power. Due to this that particular person or set of people are robbed of facilities and opportunities.

Complete answer:
People who are treated as less important or insignificant and are considered as people of lower status, are the people who are called marginalised. Some sections of the Indian society refers to them as untouchables. There are various reasons why marginalised people are treated the way they are treated. One of the reasons why they are treated this way is because their inputs to the society are treated as insignificant by the people in power.
Caste is the basis on which the Indian constitution recognises socially marginalised communities. In India we can also see marginalisation happening on the basis of sex, disability and caste.
The constitution of India has many provisions which deals with making sure that marginalisation does not happen in the society. One of the provisions is Article 46 in which the economic and educational interests of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other weaker sections are promoted.
In the Fundamental Rights too we can find that the Indian constitution provides marginalised sections with protection and safeguard against discrimination. Untouchability has been abolished and this has been clearly stated in Article 17 of the Indian constitution. No citizen of India will be discriminated against on the basis of race, religion, caste, sex and place of birth, this has been given inthe Article 15 of the Indian constitution.

Note: Dalits, adivasis and other marginalised sections of the Indian society have been facing discrimination for a long time. In response to their demand the Government came out with an act to protect them and it was The Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act of 1989.