ABSTRACT
The Dalit movement with its overemphasis on social reforms unconsciously developed an aversion towards the economic aspects. Bhopal Declaration created a new mirage of Dalit capitalism and reservations in private sector for the Dalits to run after. When the government adopted neoliberal reforms in the mid-1980s and began reversing the constitutional ethos of welfare state, the Dalits remained completely oblivious of them and rather created space for opportunist elements among them to canvass for these reforms. Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) became a powerful metaphor and an identitarian tool for the Dalit middle classes. With larger numbers of people scaling up the middle class, naturally the incidence of entrepreneurship among Dalits also is expected to grow. Much of the credit for the wider interest in Dalit issues in academia and human rights circle abroad has to go to the diasporic efforts. The NGOs have been in the forefront in highlighting the Dalit oppression in World Social Forums.
