ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the findings from an empirical qualitative case study to examine the impact of affirmative educational policies on Musahar children in Bihar. The Musahars are the most deprived, underprivileged, marginalised, and discriminated against among all castes and sub-castes. They are mostly landless and earn their living by working as labourers in the field or as ragpickers in cities and towns. The Bihar government has given them a special status known as Mahadalit. Several initiatives have been taken by the government for their upliftment, such as engaging ‘Tola Sevaks’, ‘Vikas Mitras’, and constructing dedicated residential schools for their children. The findings of this study indicate the positive impact the government’s affirmative actions have created, as reflected by providing motivation among the Musahar children to become educated and build a better future.
