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Title: CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LOWERCASTE STUDENTS IN INDIA
Authors: Vaishnavi Raj Laxmi Singh
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Vaishnavi Raj Laxmi Singh La Martiniere Girls College
MLA 8 Singh, Vaishnavi Raj Laxmi. "CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LOWERCASTE STUDENTS IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, vol. 7, no. 8, Aug. 2022, pp. 2478-2493, doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2022.v07i08.010. Accessed Aug. 2022. APA 6 Singh, V. (2022, August). CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LOWERCASTE STUDENTS IN INDIA. Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research, 7(8), 2478-2493. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2022.v07i08.010 Chicago Singh, Vaishnavi Raj Laxmi. "CASTE DISCRIMINATION AND ITS EFFECT ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF LOWERCASTE STUDENTS IN INDIA." Int. j. of Social Science and Economic Research 7, no. 8 (August 2022), 2478-2493. Accessed August, 2022. https://doi.org/10.46609/IJSSER.2022.v07i08.010.
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ABSTRACT: Caste-based discrimination and exclusion have always been highly prevalent in India due to the caste system, and the Indian higher educational institutions are no exception to this phenomenon. Through this study, we aim to identify how caste-based discrimination leads to the deteriorating mental health of lower caste students at various Indian institutions of higher education and suggest policies and reforms the government can undertake to safeguard lower caste students against caste-based discrimination better. This paper highlights the discriminatory acts practiced by upper caste students and the faculty against lower caste students in various forms like segregation, verbal abuse, belittling and humiliation. Using a thematic analysis method of close reading of papers, articles, interviews and surveys available online on the experiences of lower caste students at various universities, themes of isolation, humiliation, discrimination and deteriorating mental health emerged. Our findings confirmed the discrimination faced by lower caste students at various universities which almost always results in deteriorating mental health as the lower caste students develop self-devaluating tendencies, depression, lose self-esteem and confidence, socially withdraw and isolate themselves and in extreme cases, chose to end their life. Further, this paper suggests that various policies and reforms making mental health consultations more accessible for lower caste students should be implemented and students should be encouraged to seek help with regard to their mental well-being as the concept of therapy and mental health is still considered a taboo in India.

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