Abstract: “Dalit” is the name which the people to those castes at the very bottom of India’s caste hierarchy have given themselves. Formerly they were known as untouchables, because their presence was considered to be so polluting that contact with them was to be avoided at all costs. The official label for them has been Scheduled Castes, because if their caste is listed on the government schedule, caste members become eligible for a number of affirmative action benefits and protections.