Drawing from empirical research, the article highlights the landlessness of the Dalits in eastern Uttar Pradesh vis-à-vis the social construction of poverty and the question of identity based on caste. It analyses the nature and extent of inequality in the ownership of land (both agricultural and homestead) among different social groups and presents a comparative perspective of Dalits at the national, state and local levels. Further, on the basis of block and village level analysis, the article reveals the size of landholding patterns among different caste groups of eastern Uttar Pradesh. The article seeks an answer to the question as to why the Dalits do not have land and for what reasons. It is observed that land for them is not only a source of livelihood but also a question of dignity. The article advocates that minimum size of land will provide them safety, security and dignity.

中文翻译：

---

社会建设的贫困与无地：北方邦东部达利特人的尊严

文章从实证研究出发，从贫困的社会建构和基于种姓的身份问题突出了北方邦东部达利特人的无地生活。它分析了不同社会群体之间土地（农业和宅基地）所有权不平等的性质和程度，并提出了国家、州和地方各级达利特人的比较视角。进一步，在街区和村级分析的基础上，本文揭示了北方邦东部不同种姓群体之间土地占有格局的大小。这篇文章试图回答达利特人为什么没有土地以及出于什么原因的问题。据观察，土地对他们来说不仅是生计来源，也是尊严问题。