The caste system divides people into groups; at the bottom are the Dalit Historically, they have been denied education, consigned to menial tasks such as scavenging, and deprived of self-determination The Indian constitution safeguards what it calls "scheduled castes" through affirmative action policies. In theory, all citizens are equal, but in practice violence is on the rise. Ambedkar combined fearless and trenchant criticism of religion with a deep sympathy and understanding of it. When he diagnosed Hinduism as a religion of inequality because it sanctified caste or when he converted to Buddhism with his followers, Ambedkar was saying that religion can be and must be criticized.