The term ‘Dalit’ was historically used to refer to caste-based discrimination and untouchability. It reflected deep social stigma despite such practices being illegal and inhumane. Today, the term is increasingly used in a rights-based way to claim dignity, equality, justice and human rights. Caste-based hierarchies created long ago labelled certain groups as untouchable, resulting in systemic exclusion, barriers to basic services, social discrimination, caste-based violence, economic marginalisation and intergenerational poverty.…