Author: Kajal Iyer
Publication: IBNLive.com
Date: October 4, 2011
URL: http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-becomes-entrepreneur-without-use-of-quotas/189929-3.html
Taking inspiration from the Black Capitalism
movement in the US in the 70s, India's Dalit community is now focusing on
a parallel Dalit capitalism movement. The movement started by a handful of
Dalit entrepreneurs, is slowly becoming the new war cry for progress in the
community.
Dalit entrepreneur Milind Kamble said, "If
you are a true follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar, you can't be a job seeker,
you have to be a job giver."
Had he listened to his father, who was a teacher,
Milind Kamble would have fulfilled the Dalit dream of a 'safe' government
job. He, however, chose to use his engineering education to build a Rs 70
crore construction company in Pune with no help from 'quotas'.
"Till when the Dalit youth keep fighting
capitalists? We need to stand up and become capitalist ourselves. Being followers
of babasaheb, we will not indulge in exploitation but we can still earn lots
of money." said Kamble.
Despite initial financial hiccups, Kamble
is now fairly successful in an industry where Dalits are mostly labourers.
With sheer determination he has now joined the ranks of India's first generation
Dalit entrepreneurs.
According to the 61st round of the national
sample survey in 2004-05, 29 per cent of urban Dalits were self employed,
whereas, in rural areas, 7 per cent Dalits were entrepreneurs. The 2006-07
census of MSMEs (Micro, Small and Medium enterprises) said that Dalits account
for 7.7 per cent of the 1.55 million MSMEs in India.
To represent these entrepreneurs, Kamble created
the Dalit Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) in 2005. The forum has
around 1000 members across the country and caters to training and funding
needs of Dalit businessmen.
Today the construction business is seeing
the rise of many Dalit entrepreneurs, businessmen like Kamble who no longer
rely on caste quotas for jobs but have made their way up in the private sector
through open competition.
This December DICCI plans a three day conclave
in Mumbai which business leaders like Ratan Tata and Adi Godrej are expected
to attend. While the new entrepreneurs admit quotas help, they say its time
now for Dalits to blaze their own trail.
