The Ambedkar touch in rethinking social justice policies

• The current social landscape paints a familiar picture: elites reign supreme, wielding power as national leaders, business tycoons, and cultural icons. Their hegemony remains largely unchallenged, while marginalized groups struggle for a mere tokenistic presence in the halls of power and privilege. Despite proclamations of social justice from various regimes, meaningful participation for the most disadvantaged remains elusive.
• B.R. Ambedkar's spirit stands as a powerful rebuke to this status quo. He would condemn the current neo-liberal economic order for its callous disregard for Dalits and Adivasis, demanding a market more accountable to the most vulnerable. He'd urge the state to address the shortcomings and loopholes in existing social justice policies, ensuring their relevance in the contemporary context.
• Ambedkar's significance lies in his ability to diagnose the deep-seated illnesses of our social and economic systems. He proposes ethical correctives, aiming to render institutions more democratic, representative, and responsive to the aspirations of marginalized communities. While his approach, unlike the Marxist model, doesn't seek radical transformation, it injects institutions with a moral compass, holding them accountable to the diverse needs of their constituents.
• However, the neo-liberal market thrives in the absence of such ethical considerations. It gleefully celebrates the concentrated power of corporations and select business elites, driving capitalist development for the privileged few. This market's blatant disregard for social responsibility, particularly towards the hopes and demands of Dalits and Adivasis, has rendered it exploitative and dangerously close to a crony capitalist model. This market cries out for reform.

2. Dalits and Adivasis Representation in Inclusive Economy

• A 2019 report by the Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) estimated that Dalit entrepreneurs contribute around 2% to India's GDP, with over 20 million Dalit-owned businesses employing over 60 million people. However, this figure is likely an undercount, especially considering the informal sector. 
• Data on Adivasi entrepreneurship is even scarcer. A 2017 study by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj (NIRDPR) found that only 2.4% of Adivasi households were engaged in self-employment ventures, highlighting the need for greater support and encouragement.
• An ASSOCHAM report in 2018 suggested that tribal entrepreneurs contribute around 8% to India's GDP through micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs).
• Dalits hold few leadership positions in major corporations. A 2018 study by the Centre for Dalit Rights found that only 1.5% of CEOs in India's top 500 companies were Dalits. The situation for Adivasis is likely even worse.
• While Dalit representation in Parliament has Lok Sabha (Lower House): 17.5% and in Rajya Sabha (Upper House): 16.3%  hold a disproportionately low number of key positions. Adivasi representation is even lower.

4. Envisioning a New Order for Social Inclusion

• The time is ripe to envision a new economic order where the most marginalized groups are not merely passive recipients of exploitation, but active and integral participants. We must expand social justice policies beyond the state, injecting them into the very fabric of the private sector. This dual approach democratizes the working class, reduces poverty, and importantly, integrates Dalits and Adivasis as influential stakeholders in the capitalist landscape.
• Adivasi's concerns about their land, ecological balance, and cultural identity must be addressed head-on, even as we acknowledge the inevitability of the market economy. This development phase, fueled by technological leaps and market expansion, must also empower Dalits and Adivasis as shapers of the neoliberal narrative. New reparation policies and reformative measures must combat historical injustices and discrimination, paving the way for equitable participation in all facets of economic life.
• The new social justice framework must nurture the emergence of a powerful Dalit and Adivasi leadership class – entrepreneurs, business tycoons, and economic influencers. This will shift the policy focus away from viewing these groups as mere beneficiaries of state handouts. We must move beyond the conventional lens that sees them solely as the poor and migrant working class, dependent on the whims of corporate social responsibility.
• Instead, let us recognize Dalits and Adivasis as vital cogs in the wheels of urbanization, industrial production, and technological innovation. Affirmative action needs a boost, not just in terms of numbers, but also in scope. We must democratize the exclusive club of big businesses, ensuring that Dalit and Adivasi voices resonate as industrialists, market leaders, and global influencers.
• This reimagined order demands active engagement with the private sector. Corporations must be held accountable for upholding social justice principles, not just through quotas, but through genuine partnerships with marginalized communities. This includes investing in Dalit and Adivasi-owned businesses, fostering inclusive supply chains, and creating safe and fair work environments.
• Technology, too, must be harnessed for good. Digital literacy programs and targeted investments in tech startups owned by Dalits and Adivasis can bridge the digital divide and empower them to become active players in the knowledge economy.
• This is not merely about token representation; it's about dismantling the structures of exclusion brick by brick. It's about creating a level playing field where Dalits and Adivasis no longer navigate the labyrinth of marginalization but confidently stride alongside the elites, shaping the future of our economy. It's about ensuring that the fruits of progress are not hoarded by the few, but shared by all, building a society where every individual, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to thrive and contribute.

5. Conclusion

Ambedkar envisioned the modern state as the primary driving force for the liberation of Dalits and Adivasis. However, in the era of neoliberalism, the state has assumed a passive role, aligning itself with big business interests and neglecting its social responsibilities and welfare ethos. The renewed focus on social justice needs to target leaders within the market economy, encouraging them to embrace welfare measures for the most marginalized social groups and integrating them into the fabric of economic development. Ambedkar's perspective on social justice can guide us in redefining capitalism as a pluralistic and cooperative economic model that ensures the substantive participation of Dalits and Adivasis in the market economy, along with the associated structures of power and privileges.