Open Forum
New Delhi, 29 September 2016
Class & Caste Discrimination
Neglect of Dalits Need to be Checked
By Dhurjati Mukherjee
The country is witnessing cries of alleged
indifference to Dalits, tribals and those from the lower castes. Reportedly, nothing
new as the lower classes and castes have always been at the receiving end. Some
political analysts think this is a fall-out of neo liberalism which has
manifested itself in protecting the interests of the rich and middle income
sections. Alongside, the emphasis on the urban sector and stagnation of the
rural area has aggravated the situation over the years.
Obviously, the widening inequality
and discrimination of low castes cannot continue for long. This manifested in
the late 60’s when the Naxalites revolted violently against the social order. Though
the problem is under control except in a few places, the latest Dalit upsurge
poses a big challenge for the Government.
Recently, Prime
Minister Modi while acknowledging that a few incidents had been “very
shameful”, underscored that divisive elements were politicizing issues relating
to Dalits. Stating that discrimination among people was unacceptable Modi urged
the need to “give due respect to our Dalit brothers and sisters”.
Add to this, a Dalit Mahasammelan
organized by Gujarat’s Una Atyachar Ladat
Samity (UDALS) pledged to break free from century old practices of disposing
off animal carcasses and took an oath not to clean underground drains by going down manholes. Highlighting
oppression of Dalits and lower castes the meet decided to stand against this
humiliation, even as it criticized the Prime Minister for neglecting the welfare
of the community.
However, fearing the
backlash a section of the BJP, led by Chairman of All India Confederation of
SC/ST Organizations Udit Raj resolved to hold agitations across the country in
an effort to curb violence and discrimination against Dalits. He hit out at
those who talked about nationalism and protecting Hindu religion in the same
breath while ill-treating lower castes and Dalits.
Pertinently, Dalit
mobilization has gained momentum post Hyderabad
student Rohith Vemula’s suicide which reflected
the structural issues. Certainly, reservations has given birth to Dalit entrepreneurs and a
middle class benefiting from Government jobs. But in spite of this or because
of this, anti-Dalit attitudes, sometimes leading to violent protests are on the
rise.
Notably, according to
National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) cases of anti-Dalit atrocities are notoriously
under-reported, but despite this the number has jumped by 17.1 per cent in 2013
and was 19.4 per cent in 2014. Whereby, the word ‘atrocities’ needs to be
fleshed out, else it will become another bureaucratic, abstract euphemism.
Besides, Article 23
prohibits bonded labour and Article 15(2) stipulates that no citizen should be
subject to restriction with regard to access to shops, public restaurants,
hotels and places of entertainment, use of wells, tanks, bathing ghats, roads
and places of public resort on the grounds of caste.
In 1955, the
Untouchability (Offences) Act reasserted that Dalits should not be prevented
from entering any public place. Again in 1976 the Bonded Labour System
(Abolition) Act was passed. In 1989, why did a new, detailed law have to be
made which listed instances of “offences and atrocities”?
Alas, in spite of
these legal commitments, there has not been much difference to the social
status of Dalits in society even after 69 years of Independence. Think. In many villages the
nature of certain social equations has not changed for centuries. Such villages
continue to remain what. Ambedkar called “sinks of localism, dens of ignorance
and narrow-mindedness”.
Consequently, how else
should one view several incidents wherein Dalits are being exploited, dis-allowed
from being equal members of society and even their families are treated like
pariahs where temple festivities are out of bounds for them.
Undoubtedly, these are not isolated incidents as discrimination
against Dalits is widespread and ingrained in our psyche across India, particularly
in rural areas. In some places it takes the form of violent oppression, in
others it is disguised yet omnipresent.
True, in recent years the State has been responsive to
harassment of Dalits, but recurring acts and persisting practices against the
community makes one wonder whether State response and Constitutionalism alone
are enough to overcome longstanding social injustice and prejudices in India’s
villages.
Importantly, the
overall performance of successive Governments has been poor as little was done
to emphasize on Dalit education and bringing them into the social mainstream. Shockingly,
a mere 5-7 per cent of Dalits have been able to establish themselves, gain
social standing and erase past stigmas. Given, the political establishment is
weighed in favour of upper castes, they did not have the vision and lack initiative
to alleviate Dalit sufferings.
Moreover, a large
numbers of Dalits students in college and universities are first generation
entrants like Rohith Vemula. This is significant given their difficult living
conditions.
Scandalously,
according to a recent survey, 21 per cent Dalit families live in houses with
thatch or bamboo roofs compared with 15 per cent overall, 78 per cent in one or
two rooms compared with 69 per cent overall, 35 per cent have drinking water
source within the house compared with 47 per cent overall, 47 per cent have no
electricity compared with 33 per cent overall and 66 per cent do not have
toilets compared with 53 per cent overall.
Apart from this
backwardness, lack of progressive social consciousness permeating society, Constitutionalism,
State actions and political equations simply do not suffice. It would have
helped if the political actors who accommodated Dalits in their Parties and
governance structures, due to their sheer weight of numbers as a representative
section, also believed in and worked as conduits for social transformation.
In sum, there is an
imperative need to give Dalits leadership roles in Parties so that they could
bring issues before the Governments and aid the process of social and economic
transformation.
Arguably, barring the
Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), leadership of major Parties suffers from a clear
diversity deficit, with Dalits being severely under-represented in leadership
across Parties. True, being made part of the political leadership -- one way of
being among the elite -- will not by itself guarantee eradication of social
prejudice, nevertheless it would be a step in the right direction. .
As Babasaheb Ambedkar observed: “The castes are
anti-national because they bring separation in social life. They are
anti-national also because they generate jealousy and antipathy between caste
and caste. But we must overcome all these difficulties if we wish to become a
nation in reality”. ---- INFA
(Copyright, India News and Feature Alliance)
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