MYSORE: Little has changed for the Dalits of Saligrama village of K.R. Nagar taluk in Mysore district who have been ostracised by ‘caste' Hindus since September 26 following a silly altercation.
The Dalits in the village are having a tough time finding work. They are disappointed with the Government, which, they say, has not attempted to ensure social justice for them. The district administration has not distributed the compensation of Rs. 30 lakh released by the Government, they add.
Taking objection to what they consider the apathy of the administration, the district unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to hold a protest rally on Republic Day. Speaking to The Hindu, district BSP president Shivamahadeva regretted that the administration, which had promised to protect the rights of Dalits after the media highlighted the issue, had failed to keep its word.
According to Srinivas of the village, Dalits have been dismissed from their jobs by ‘caste' Hindus after the announcement of the social boycott. People who were earning Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 in the village were forced to trek 10 km to earn Rs. 50, he says, adding that people travelled to nearby Haradanahalli, Karpoorahalli or even Kodagu district for work.
“Except for providing work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the district administration has not done anything so far,” he claims. Although on the surface it appeared that the social boycott had been withdrawn, Dalits were not getting jobs. “We are living under fear,” he says.
Fact-finding team
Of a population of about 10,000, 2,000 people living at Saligrama are Dalits. The social boycott stemmed from an incident where cattle belonging to ‘caste' Hindus grazed on land belonged to a Dalit. When the Dalit registered a complaint with the police, he was reportedly assaulted and a social boycott was called.
A fact finding team of the Communist Part of India (Marxist) led by State Secretariat member Maruthi Manpade found that Dalits were being denied work in farms, while many had lost their jobs. A.H. Vishwanath, Mysore MP, had also appealed to Minister in charge of the district S.A. Ramdas to help the people. “But nothing has changed,” bemoans Krishnamurthy, Dalit leader of Saligrama.
Challenge
The Dalits have taken the social boycott as a challenge, Mr. Srinivas says. “Reposing our faith in the law of the land, we have decided to fight against social boycott. We want the Government to support us under the rights enshrined in the Constitution.”
Source
The Dalits in the village are having a tough time finding work. They are disappointed with the Government, which, they say, has not attempted to ensure social justice for them. The district administration has not distributed the compensation of Rs. 30 lakh released by the Government, they add.
Taking objection to what they consider the apathy of the administration, the district unit of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has decided to hold a protest rally on Republic Day. Speaking to The Hindu, district BSP president Shivamahadeva regretted that the administration, which had promised to protect the rights of Dalits after the media highlighted the issue, had failed to keep its word.
According to Srinivas of the village, Dalits have been dismissed from their jobs by ‘caste' Hindus after the announcement of the social boycott. People who were earning Rs. 150 to Rs. 200 in the village were forced to trek 10 km to earn Rs. 50, he says, adding that people travelled to nearby Haradanahalli, Karpoorahalli or even Kodagu district for work.
“Except for providing work under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the district administration has not done anything so far,” he claims. Although on the surface it appeared that the social boycott had been withdrawn, Dalits were not getting jobs. “We are living under fear,” he says.
Fact-finding team
Of a population of about 10,000, 2,000 people living at Saligrama are Dalits. The social boycott stemmed from an incident where cattle belonging to ‘caste' Hindus grazed on land belonged to a Dalit. When the Dalit registered a complaint with the police, he was reportedly assaulted and a social boycott was called.
A fact finding team of the Communist Part of India (Marxist) led by State Secretariat member Maruthi Manpade found that Dalits were being denied work in farms, while many had lost their jobs. A.H. Vishwanath, Mysore MP, had also appealed to Minister in charge of the district S.A. Ramdas to help the people. “But nothing has changed,” bemoans Krishnamurthy, Dalit leader of Saligrama.
Challenge
The Dalits have taken the social boycott as a challenge, Mr. Srinivas says. “Reposing our faith in the law of the land, we have decided to fight against social boycott. We want the Government to support us under the rights enshrined in the Constitution.”
Source
No comments:
Post a Comment