- It was an agreement between Ambedkar and Gandhi that came on 24th September 1932. It was accepted by Government.
- It provided for the reserved seat for the depressed classes that was increased from 71 to 147 in provincial legislatures and put at 18% of total seats in the Central Legislature.
- Election to the seats shall be by the joint electorate.
- In every province out of the educational grant, an adequate sum shall be earmarked for providing educational facilities to the members of depressed classes.
- Impact: It provided certain political rights for untouchables and pre-empted rights and safeguards for Dalits in the constitution of independent India. However, it failed to achieve true emancipation for them. They were to remain leaderless as the true representatives could not stand against the puppets having support of the caste Hindu organisations.
Impact of Poona Pact
Despite giving certain political rights to depressed classes, could not achieve the desired goal of emancipation of the depressed class. It enabled the same old Hindu social order to continue and gave birth to many problems.
- Turned the issue of depressed classes’ political tools which could be used by the majoritarian caste Hindu organisations.
- Made the depressed classes leaderless as the true representatives of the classes were unable to win against the stooges who were chosen and supported by the caste Hindu organisations.
- This led the depressed classes to submit to the status quo in political, ideological, and cultural fields and not be able to develop independent and genuine leadership to fight the Brahminical order.
- It subordinated the depressed classes into being part of the Hindu social order by denying them a separate and distinct existence.
- Poona Pact put obstructions in the way of an ideal society based on equality, liberty, fraternity & justice.
- By denying recognise the Dalits as a separate and distinct element in the national life, it pre-empted the rights and safeguards for the Dalits in the Constitution of independent India.
