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Persistent Inequalities in Health-Contextualising the Neglect of Ambedkar’s Contribution

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Mapping Identity-Induced Marginalisation in India

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Abstract

Any discussion on the social identity-based exclusion remains incomplete without a reference to the efforts of Dr. BR Ambedkar. While his role in upliftment of the underprivileged communities is well publicized, much needs to be written on his contribution to the cause of health. This concern, however, was evident in 1927 when as Chairman of Satyagraha Committee of the Dalit Movement, he addressed Dalits, mostly Mahars, in Chavdar Tank in Mahad Taluka of Maharashtra. This satyagraha was held three years prior to Gandhi’s Dandi march. While salt was at the centre of Gandhi’s campaign, drinking water was at the core of Ambedkar’s crusade. He led the Dalits to drink water from Chavadar tank in Mahad and asserted their right to take water from public water sources. This was initiated as a quest for the right to equality to get drinking water from the tank which was denied to Dalits. It echoed the beginning of his concern for health of the people nearly two decades before the constitution of Joseph Bhore Committee on Health Survey and Development in 1945–46. The present paper endeavours to highlight his concerns and efforts towards health of the people.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Matthew Martin, Max Lawson, Nabil Abdo, David Waddock, Jo Walker (2020) Fighting inequality in the time of COVID-19: The Commitment to Reducing Inequality Index 2020: Policy Paper. 8 October2020. https://www.oxfam.org/en/research/fighting-inequality-time-covid-19-commitment-reducing-inequality-index-2020.

  2. 2.

    Source http://healthopine.com/indian-healthcare-budget-allocation-for-the-year-2012-2013/.

  3. 3.

    (https://www.mohfw.gov.in/newshighlights/national-health-accounts-estimates-india-2014-15).

  4. 4.

    (http://164.100.47.190/loksabhaquestions/annex/9/AU2201.pdf).

  5. 5.

    Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme. https://www.esic.nic.inab-pm-jay.

  6. 6.

    Recommendations made in Justice AS Qureshi Committee Report and representation to the Ministry of Urban Development. Revisited. Social Jurist, A Lawyers Group versus Government Of NCT Of Delhi And Ors. on 22 March, 2007.Equivalent citations: 140 (2007) DLT 698. Bench: S Kumar, H Malhotra JUDGMENT Swatanter Kumar, J.

  7. 7.

    https://www.dw.com/en/india-covid-unaffordable-health-care/a-58162810; https://www.downtoearth.org.in/coverage/delhi-hospitals-freed-of-poor-44376; https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-private-hospitals-to-provide-free-treatment-to-poor-patients-1880210.

  8. 8.

    Prajanma Das reported for Edex Live on 17 May, 2021 that casteist remarks were made by the Dean of Social Sciences and Political Science, Banaras Hindu University, Dr. Koushal Kumar Mishra on Facebook on May 13, 2021 stating that Indian doctors are incompetent because ‘most of them do not become doctors for their merit but because of reservations’. Quoting WHO that 60% of Indian doctors are incompetent, he posed a question satirically…’ now who will tell them that here (in India) one does not become a doctor based on merit but on ‘Bhim Baba's Constitution?’; Edex Live. Published: 17th May 2021. https://www.edexlive.com/news/2021/may/17/bhu-distances-itself-from-casteist-prof-who-commented-on-the-competence-of-doctors-20763.html.

  9. 9.

    Ministry of Labour and Employment. Do No M-21015/1/2012-RW dated 12 July 2013. MoL&E, Government of India.

  10. 10.

    https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/Dr-B.R.-Ambedkar-voted-as-%E2%80%98Greatest-Indian%E2%80%99/article20485049.ece

  11. 11.

    https://sdgs.un.org/goals; https://www.in.undp.org/content/india/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html.

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  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Sanghmitra S. Acharya

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  1. School of Life Sciences (superannuated), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, India

    Raosaheb K Kale

  2. Centre of Social Medicine and Community Health, School of Social Sciences and Humanities, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, Delhi, India

    Sanghmitra S Acharya

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Acharya, S.S. (2022). Persistent Inequalities in Health-Contextualising the Neglect of Ambedkar’s Contribution. In: Kale, R.K., Acharya, S.S. (eds) Mapping Identity-Induced Marginalisation in India . Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-19-3128-4_20

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