CSR and Inclusivity: A Case for Dalit Upliftment through CSR

This paper investigates the invisibility of Dalits in corporate India, arguing that their exclusion from diversity policies, underrepresentation in corporate hierarchies, and systemic discrimination are deliberate outcomes of caste-blind practices within the corporate sector. It contends that this caste-blindness is extended to existing CSR policies, which often generalize poverty alleviation efforts, and so fail to account for the unique socio-economic challenges faced by Dalits. This paper centres on addressing Dalit invisibility, purporting that it is essential for companies to create CSR initiatives that drive genuine and sustainable change for the community, thereby aligning corporate actions with the true spirit of social responsibility.