Untouchability alive and kicking in villages
The Times of India dated 27th July, 2009, page 1 flashes news on “Untouchability alive and kicking in villages” . The study was commissioned by the social ministry. The Scientific and comprehensive survey was carried by the National Law school, Bangalore to study the Impact of Protection of Civil Rights Act on Untouchability in 6 states and 24 villages. The Most Common Practices still followed are
1. Dalits are not allowed inside temples
2. SC’s expected to let others finish eating before feeding self
3. Expected to wash their own plates
4. Not allowed on main roads in villages
5. Expected to talk with folded hands
6. Not allowed to wear sandals and walk in front of upper caste folk.
Dalit children are still growing with the stigma of being from inferior class. While seating arrangements are common in schools, SC kids in many cases are asked to take the back benches. Also, many are served midday meals separately from other children.
For all the empowerment, Dalits in the countryside are still forced into services seen as “menial” – 154 of 553 Dalits performed drumbeating, 42 grave digging while 97 were into making chappals. As many as 78 said they were asked to carry out animal sacrifice and 57 said they were sweepers.
Not surprisingly, the biggest improvement in Dalit rights is in politics – SCs are active in politics, are invited to functions and get elected too. The negative is that their elections are limited to seats reserved for them. “It shows that political empowerment of Dalits through affirmative action is confined to the reserved seats,” says the report.
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