INDIA: Terrorising Dalits who are asking for equal rights to access to water and public places

INDIA: Caste-based discrimination; denial of basic rights of a citizen

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About 3,000 Dalit (low-caste Untouchables) women and men, along with Dalit and other human rights organisations, organised a two-day padayatra (a peaceful march) on Sept. 20 and 21, 2002, to protest against the social and economic boycott of the Bairwas (a Dalit community) since December 2001 in the Indian village of Chakwara in the town of Phagi Tehsil in Jaipur District by the upper caste Jat, Gujjar and Brahmin communities. The Dalits are demanding the right to access the ghats (a platform with steps) meant for bathing in the public pond in the village.

The Chakwara issue came to light in December 2001 when newspapers reported the social and economic boycott placed on the Bairwa community by the upper-caste communities in the village. The Bairwa community is barred from bathing in the public pond and entering the temple, and bridegrooms are not allowed to ride a horse, which is a local custom and privilege available to all.

In this drought-prone area of the state, Babulal and his brother from the Bairwa community ventured to take a bath in the public pond used by the privileged Jat and Brahmin communities on Dec. 14, 2001. The village panchayat (village council) imposed a fine on the entire Bairwa community, however, branding the act a revolt. A mob surrounded Babulal’s house and threatened a bloodbath. The family informed the police, who did not arrive until the next day. The upper castes then held a meeting and imposed a fine of 50,000 rupees (US$1,034) on Babulal Bairwa for breaking tradition and compromising the dignity of the village by involving the administration. Unable to bear the continued threats of the upper castes, the Bairwas filed a first information report (FIR) at the police station on Jan. 17, 2002, naming 17 people as the accused in the FIR.

A sadbhavana (harmony) rally was subsequently organised by various social movement groups and the Centre for Dalit Human Rights (CDHR). The rally in Chakwara though was attacked by a mob of about 10,000 upper-caste people armed with lathis (batons) and swords who also pelted the rally with stones in the presence of the police. The police had to open fire to disperse the crowd.

There was no further action, however, from the district administration and police, and the Bairwas thus approached the State Human Rights Commission. The local police subsequently went to Chakwara and announced that the Dalits could bathe in the public pond. When the Dalits went to bathe though on Jan. 24, 2002, they were chased away with lathis and sharp weapons.

Meanwhile, the district administration and the state authorities have closed the case as they consider the issue resolved even though Dalits continue to be prevented from using the public pond. Moreover, Dalits in Chakwara have also been barred from using the village ration shop, teashop and other small shops. Therefore, CDHR, other human rights activists and social movement groups planned a two-day padayatra in September 2002 to bring the issue to the notice of the authorities. The march began on Sept. 20, 2002, in Chaksu with the protestors spending the night in the village of Madhavrajpura. The office of a local organisation, Cecoedecon, based there was ransacked and its furniture destroyed because of their participation in the rally.

On Sept. 21, 2002, when the demonstrators were about 15 kilometres from Chakwara, the police stopped them as a huge mob with lathis and weapons were marching toward them. The people thus waited an hour under the hot sun. When they moved forward, the upper-caste mob pelted them with stones and violently attacked them and the police.

There is tension prevailing in the village and the nearby Tehsils of Malpura, Dudu and Sangamar. Although the police have been deployed, people fear that there will be further attacks.

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has drawn attention to various cases of caste discriminations in South Asia to urge the international human rights community to take action to end these tragic practices. However, more than 250 million people, of whom the vast majority (about 190 million) are in India, are still victimised and denied access to equal human rights by these inhuman practices. Meanwhile, the Indian government has opposed attempts to address this discrimination, for we still see that practices of untouchability, such as prohibitions against entering temples, bans on using public ponds and drinking water facilities, social and economic boycotts, parades of naked Dalit and tribal women, the rape of Dalit and tribal women, land alienation, etc., are all too common.
 

SUGGESTED ACTION

Please send your appeal to the prime minister and president of India, the chief minister of Rajasthan, the chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission and the chairperson of National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to act immediately to restore law and order and to ensure that the Dalits enjoy their right to justice.
 

 

 

 

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