Shifting Livelihoods: Occupational Changes and Socio-Economic Impact on Dalit Communities in Dhaka

Abstract

This study investigates the changing occupations of the Dalit community and the socio-economic impacts of this shifting in their lives with the help of Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of capital, Erving Goffman’s stigma theory, and Louis Dumont’s purity and impurity theory. Dalit is a term used to refer to any member of a wide range of social groups that were historically marginalized. The Dalit community in Bangladesh is living in poverty, faces a lack of education, healthcare, safe housing, and employment opportunities. They are exposed to unsafe environments, insecurity, and violence, which severely hinder their socio-economic progress. Their marginalization extends to cultural practices and social interactions, leading to further isolation. Key statistics reveal the dire conditions of Dalits in Bangladesh. Only about 10% of Dalit children enroll in school, and of these, 95% drop out, leaving just 5% literate. The shift in occupational patterns among Dalit communities, particularly in urban areas like Dhaka, is driven by a complex interplay of social, economic, and structural factors. Reasons like inadequate housing and infrastructure, settlements being frequently overcrowded and lack essential services such as clean water, electricity, and sanitation, as well as constant threats of eviction make their living conditions are unstable and insecure, healthcare inequality like lacking access to affordable and adequate medical care, pushing many to seek alternative livelihoods that may offer slightly better financial or social security all contribute to the economic problems they face. Additionally, structural poverty and generational social exclusion continue to affect Dalit communities, influencing their occupational decisions and shifting livelihoods. The persistence of caste-based labour stigmatization, especially in jobs like sanitation work, has led many younger Dalits to reject these roles in pursuit of dignified and socially respected alternatives. Despite their essential contributions to urban maintenance and public health, Dalits remain economically marginalized and politically underrepresented. In response to these challenges, many are seeking new employment opportunities in the informal sector, skilled labour, or small businesses, often facilitated by NGO initiatives, community mobilization, and increasing awareness of rights and entitlements.  These occupational changes reflect not only a rejection of caste-based roles but also a strategic adaptation to urban socio-economic pressures, signaling a shift in identity, aspirations, and survival strategies. Their traditional jobs like pork farming, sweeping, Bede, cleaning sewerage are no longer the only jobs they are doing, due to reasons like stigmatization of their identity, social and cultural exclusion.