Mhaisal untouchables

A large section of the Indian society, condemned as untouchables is still deprived of human dignity. Despite dedi cated work of several social reformers over the years, social inequality arising out of the caste system continues to be one of the most formidable obstacles in the country's march towards progress and development. Therefore Madhukar Deval's success in making the untoucha bles of Mhaisal economically self-reliant and, to some extent, integrating them soci ally with the caste Hindus of the village deserves serious attention by students and workers in the fields of sociology, economics, and politics. This book attempts to give an objective account of his herculean efforts and to 'analyse and assess his achievements and failures.
Vasant Deshpande is Professor of Deve lopment Studies at the Centre for Deve lopment Studies and Activities, Pune. Specialised in problems of rural develop ment, he has also initiated and participa ted in programmes for social and econo mic development of the rural society. He is the President of Gramayan, an organisa tion which runs a development project in the Pune district. Towards Social Inte gration Problems of Adjustment of Scheduled Caste Elite and Employmen Guarantee Scheme: Impact on Poverty and Bondage among Tribals are two of his recently published books.