Dalit (16.6%), Tribal (8.6%), Muslim (14.2%), Nomadic and De-Notified Tribal community (approx 10%), face social exclusion in India on the basis of their social and religious identities constitute around 49.4 % (490 million +) population of India and around 60% are below 25 years of age. All these communities, also known as socially excluded communities, are living in abject poverty across India. Women and girls, additionally, face gender-based restrictions and exclusion among them. Children, adolescents and young people from the communities who have new aspirations can contribute positively to change the narratives of exclusion and discrimination while also influencing the community on the development path.

These communities are among the poorest in both rural and urban areas, continue to face discrimination in every-day life, transition into higher education, lack access to economic and other opportunities for development, and are denied personal growth with dignity as equal citizens of this country. Over 70% of boys and girls who enrol in grade 1 drop out by grade 10 without completing their school education. There are various reports of their neglect and discrimination in accessing constitutional rights mandated under Indian Constitution and is corroborated by experiential anecdotes on ground. They have little skills, limited access to higher education or employment opportunities. The majority fall back into daily wage, casual and migrant labour. Some also get into bonded (slavery like) labour. The families and communities do not have adequate social or economic capital to guide them and the public education or engagement with other civil society organizations are hardly able to provide them space and opportunities due to their unique contexts and development path.

Strong patriarchal norms and community practices keep women further marginalized on multiple counts. Young girls face several issues related to sexual and reproductive health rights. Early marriages are widely prevalent in the communities. Women face gender and identity-based violation of their rights from dominant sections too. In all development indicators, girls and women in the community fall behind men in their community and also behind women in other communities.

Our engagement in the field provides evidence that children, adolescents and youth have little recognition, limited opportunities and find it difficult to explore their constitutional rights, aspirations, human personality and talents. Being an invisible category, living in extreme poverty and insecurity, they are unable to influence their communities also. Except for a few young people, the large majority continue to fall back into traditional employment such as manual labour, scavenging and family occupations within the “forced” social and economic framework. It is important to build additional equity measures and support to facilitate them escape the vicious cycle.

The primary cause of the problems is based on the social structure and its narratives. Caste system, ethnic and religious identities exclude these communities and keep them outside the mainstream. The social bias and prejudices have infiltrated into administrative and governance systems too. The lack of public education for social inclusion through citizenship education, poor implementation of affirmative action and inability to access constitutional rights continue to keep these communities at the bottom of society. Being first generation learners, young people and adolescents are often unaware of the world that exists outside their habitations. They find it challenging to interact and relate as equals with larger systems and young people of other communities.