A study has revealed that segregation of Dalits and Muslims is increasing across Indian cities stating that Muslims are facing the brunt in terms of access to basic facilities like education, health services, piped water and sewage etc.
According to a study, ‘Residential segregation and public services in urban India’, prejudice and limited economic mobility plague both communities. The report further states that communal riots across India have driven the ghettoization of Muslims in cities irrespective of their social, educational background.
The study has been published by academics— Deepak Malghan, Sumit Mishra, Andaleeb Rahman and Naveen Bharathi.
“The emancipatory promise of urbanisation has failed to fructify for millions of Dalits and Muslims who are relegated to the spaces with poor public services.” Even if you are elite or super-rich, you will be relegated to a few neighbourhoods, says the study.
Speaking to Article 14, one of the four co-authors of the paper, Naveen Bharathi said, “Urban riots and because of the current situation, it can be unsafe to be in a diverse neighbourhood. You can be easily targeted. You won’t get housing easily if you are Muslim.”
Earlier, dietary habits of Muslims were said to be one the leading causes of their segregation in urban areas, but of late animosity against the community has unexpectedly increased to its peak where the mere name and nomenclature are sufficient grounds for their segregation. (With inputs from Muslim Mirror)