The National President of the Samajwadi Party, Akhilesh Yadav, came up with an acronym ‘PDA’, or Pichhda, Dalit, and Alpsankhyak (Backward Classes, Dalits, and Minorities), as a key part of his political strategy in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. This PDA strategy was a conscious attempt to mobilize marginalized communities in the state, to showcase the sharp divisions along caste lines, far from being merely a catchy electoral slogan.
Recently, Yadav’s PDA became more prominent by calling for more members of these communities, particularly the backward castes, to be included in the police force. He said that, “The PDA members have a better understanding of the issues faced by their community, and employing them in the police force will be a great step ahead.” At a campaign rally, he said, “It’s not just about jobs, but about justice.”
In a state like Uttar Pradesh, where encounters, violence in police custody, and institutionalized discrimination have a long disproportionately history of impacting the very backward communities. Such a statement from Yadav, has struck a chord with many people.
Keeping an Eye on Things from Below
The evils of the Indian caste system have long been reflected in its policing. Dalits, OBCs are more likely to experience police brutality, be detained without cause, or be denied fair legal resources, according to studies conducted by Human Rights Watch and the National Dalit Movement for Justice.
The Indian Law Enforcement reflects the social composition of privilege—upper castes hold positions of authority while lower castes are underemployed or forced into lower ranks with very little power—their underrepresentation in the police force exacerbates the above mentioned biases.
Therefore, Akhilesh’s efforts to increase the number of PDA recruits in the police represent a systemic as well as a symbolic change. It aims to democratize a system that has the ability to influence citizens’ lived realities in addition to upholding law and order.
However, many political analysts comment that rather than being a true reform, such actions have a political motive to capture votes and build vote banks. However, one can agree that such symbolic measures (only if they are) can start meaningful conversations in a country where caste still determines access to dignity.
Discrimination outside the Government Quarters
The private sector is just as guilty of caste-based discrimination as the state, but it has been much more silent about it.
The private sector lacks a legally required framework for inclusivity, which the government sector has in the form of affirmative action policies (reservations). Corporates in India still oppose caste-based quotas in spite of years of discussion and lobbying.
As a result, Dalits and members of backward castes are excluded from opportunities in media outlets, law firms, IT companies, and even startups that say they are “disrupting” established hierarchies. This creates an invisible wall.
According to a 2022 Oxfam India study, SC/ST people occupy less than 5% of leadership positions in the private sector of India. Ironically, social capital which is greatly influenced by caste plays the largest role in hiring, networking, and upward mobility in industries that are based on the concept of “meritocracy.”
Furthermore, caste prejudice can take on more subtly pernicious forms, such as name-based bias on resumes or exclusion from unofficial networking events. People from lower castes frequently “pass” as upper caste in urban offices by concealing their last names or avoiding caste-related conversations entirely.
A More Aware Future
We know that Akhilesh Yadav’s PDA strategy may not provide a quick fix for India’s caste issues, but it unquestionably brings attention to the problem at a time where many powerful people ignore it. His idea towards policing reforms serves as a reminder that rules of the game are changing and it is more important for equal representation in institutions than simply securing seats at the table.
However, the discussion needs to go beyond election-season, ideas of vote banks, and three news articles. Policy innovation, possibly even legal mandates, are necessary for structural changes in order to encourage the private sector to adopt more transparent hiring practices, ensuring caste equity, and raising awareness regarding caste biases.
In the end, caste discrimination is a contemporary–urban issue as much as it is rural. The country needs to move ahead of social classes. Even though it is politically charged, Akhilesh’s PDA framework compels one to reconsider inclusivity, not only in terms of caste math or token jobs, but also in terms of redefining justice and merit in general.
There may be hope for a time when PDA is more than just political rhetoric; it could be a framework for justice if leaders like Akhilesh Yadav can help sustain that dialogue and if the public demands accountability across state and corporate systems.
