Shabnam, formerly a teacher, is our Community Correspondent from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Being denied a much-deserved scholarship for completing matriculation with first division just because she came from a Muslim family did not stop Shabnam from pursuing higher education. Now the first graduate in her family, Shabnam believes that she has fulfilled her father’s dreams. Threatened by her progressive educational background,…

Shabnam Begum

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Musahars are one of the most marginalised and oppressed communities found in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Under the social system of India, Musahars are considered one of the lowest and are not allowed to mix with members of other communities.

In a case of caste-based discrimination from the Chanpura village in Uttar Pradesh's Bhadohi district, Musahars were prevented from pumping water from a handpump that lies with other communities of the same village. The Musahars also allege physical violence and harrassment at the hands of members of other communities. The handpump that was used by Musahars has been non-functional for over a month but nothing has been done to repair it and that is the reason they had to go to other communities' water source.

"We are so desperate for water we might start drinking from the drains," said Madhuri Devi, one of the residents of Chanpura village who spoke to our Community Correspondent (CC) Shabnam Begum.

When Shabnam spoke to the sarpanch of the panchayat under which this village comes, he assured of speedy action in getting the handpump repaired. Our CC Shabnam will work with the community to create an impact and get Musahars handpump repaired.