Entrepreneurial qualities and skills are essential for industrial development as well as eradication of poverty by means of self employment and employment to others (Lokhande, M.A. 2006). Downtrodden entrepreneurship is a recent phenomenon which has identified as a significant tool of empowering socially, economically discouraged and depressed class. Rich have benefitted more than the lower castes and acquired prominence in several quarters (Varshney, 2007). For centuries backward classes were deliberately kept away from education, knowledge and culture on religion grounds (Wankade, 1999). Downtrodden in India have been the victims of the neglect and exploitation for thousands of years which have made them the poorest, oppressed and deprived. Though the downtrodden are capable of generating both jobs and income and this attempts to reduce socio economic divide but the neglect shown by the society is a history and very unfortunate. Downtrodden are marginalised section of the society having historically been poor, deprived of basic human rights and treated as social inferiors in India (Radhakrishna Gowda, et al.)
Dalits and downtrodden have run and managed number of traditional and cottage industries such as handicrafts, pottery, leather work, tanks and bridges construction for centuries. The skilled are automatically transferred from one to another generation. Now downtrodden are aspiring to the higher level of entrepreneurship. Despite a lapse of considerable time the downtrodden in our country are pulled down by upper castes where still traditionality is strictly observed and the life is continued to be worst and are unable to join the mainstream. Constitution guarantees equality of one and all but skill the life of untouched, depressed and socially ignored is unfortunately worst. The life of SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities in both the districts under study has not been improvised and only a marginal creamy layer of these communities might have been benefitted.
Covid-19 has damaged the hopes of downtrodden entrepreneurs. 9 out of 10 of Indias 63.3 millions MSMEs have restarted operations after lockdown necessitated by Covid-19 but only 1 in 4 is producing at least 50% of capacity, largely on account of poor demand, logistical issues and their own financial problems (Saubhandra Chatterji, 2020). MSMEs take at least 7-8 months to recover from the impact of Covid-19 pandemic and the recovery rate of an enterprise will depend on factors like rates of digitalisation and the sector in which it is operating (Arjun Singh, 2020).
Keeping in mind the issues like discrimination, discouragement devoid of opportunities and historical pull down by the appear castes an attempt is made to study the impact of Covid-19 on downtrodden entrepreneurs and other challenged faced by them.
Key words: Covid-19, Downtrodden, Discrimination, Development, Prosperity, Poverty, Equality.
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