Despite being legally abolished by Article 17 of the Indian Constitution and punishable under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, untouchability continues to persist in various overt and subtle forms across India, particularly in rural areas. It reflects deep-seated caste prejudices and social hierarchies.

Different Forms of Untouchability Still Practised:

1. Social Exclusion and Segregation:

   • Residential Segregation: Dalits (formerly known as untouchables) are often forced to live in separate hamlets or segregated parts of villages, away from upper-caste localities. This physical separation reinforces social distance.
     • Illustration: In many villages across states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan, Dalit colonies are distinct and often lack basic amenities compared to upper-caste areas.
   • Exclusion from Public Spaces: Dalits are frequently denied access to common resources and public spaces.
     • Illustration: Denial of entry to temples, community wells, public taps, tea stalls (where they might be served in separate cups or not at all), barbershops, and community halls is still reported in various parts of rural India.
   • Inter-dining Restrictions: Refusal to eat with Dalits or serve them food in common gatherings, weddings, or public functions.
     • Illustration: In some village feasts, Dalits are made to sit separately or served last, or even given food on disposable plates while others use reusable ones.
   • Inter-caste Marriages: Strong opposition, social boycotts, and even 'honor killings' occur when Dalits marry individuals from dominant castes.
     • Illustration: Numerous cases are reported annually where couples face violence or ostracization for inter-caste marriages, especially if the groom is Dalit.

2. Occupational Discrimination:

   • Manual Scavenging: Despite being outlawed, Dalits, particularly women, are still forced into the degrading occupation of manual scavenging – cleaning human excreta from dry latrines and sewers.
     • Illustration: Reports from various states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Uttar Pradesh, confirm the continued existence of manual scavenging, predominantly performed by specific Dalit sub-castes.
   • Caste-based Labour: Dalits are often restricted to specific, menial, and stigmatized occupations like leatherwork, sweeping, or disposing of dead animals, and are paid lower wages for their labor.
     • Illustration: Dalit agricultural laborers often receive lower wages than non-Dalit laborers for the same work, and are often the first to be laid off.

3. Religious Discrimination:

   • Temple Entry Bans: Dalits are still prevented from entering temples or participating in religious rituals and festivals in many places.
     • Illustration: Incidents of Dalits being beaten or fined for attempting to enter temples or touch idols are periodically reported from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Odisha.
   • Exclusion from Priesthood: Dalits are rarely allowed to become priests in Hindu temples, even in those they frequent.

4. Educational Discrimination:

   • Subtle Discrimination in Schools: Dalit children face discrimination from teachers and peers, including separate seating arrangements, being ignored, or subjected to derogatory remarks.
     • Illustration: Reports from government schools in rural areas sometimes highlight instances where Dalit children are made to clean toilets or sit separately during meals.
   • Higher Education: Discrimination can extend to higher education in the form of subtle biases in admissions, scholarships, and faculty appointments.

5. Political Discrimination:

   • Symbolic Untouchability: Even elected Dalit representatives in Panchayats sometimes face disrespect, are not allowed to sit on the same platform as upper-caste members, or are prevented from performing their duties effectively.
     • Illustration: Dalit sarpanches (village heads) have reported being denied access to their own offices or being forced to sit on the floor during meetings.

6. Violence and Atrocities:

   • Dalits face physical assaults, social boycotts, and economic coercion for asserting their rights, defying caste norms, or even for minor perceived transgressions.
     • Illustration: Incidents of Dalits being attacked for riding a horse, sporting a mustache, or using a common road are not uncommon, particularly in northern India.

Conclusion: Despite legal safeguards, untouchability remains a harsh reality for millions of Dalits in India, manifesting in various forms that deny them dignity, equality, and basic human rights. The persistence of these practices underscores the need for continued social reform, rigorous enforcement of laws, and a fundamental change in societal attitudes to eradicate this historical injustice completely.