Subalternity, Development Initiatives and Empowerment of Dalit Women in Bihar

Women from Dalit community face multiple subalternity—that is, they are subaltern with various levels of subalternity (as Dalits, as poor and as women). Dalit women face systematic oppression, social exclusion, direct and structural violence within their own community as well as from ‘upper’ castes. Women from Dalit community in Bihar suffer the same trauma. However, Bihar government has taken many steps to empower Dalit women in the state. Several schemes have been floated which are primarily centred on monetary benefits to this section of population. More interestingly, reservation of Dalits in panchayat three-tier systems in the state has made a significant dent in the power relations in which one finds convenient route to empower Dalit women. This background article tries to delve into how far marginalized women of Bihar have been able to gain empowerment as a result of the various development initiatives taken by the Bihar government