NEWS BY THOSE WHO LIVE IT
Discrimination stands alive in crematoriums
The crematories for Dalits in Delwara district of Rajasthan are in very bad shape. There is no place for the relatives to sit and no arrangement for drinking water. There is no shed to burn the body. During monsoons, the relatives use rubber tyres to burn the deceased. For the...
Children boycott food from Dalit mid-day cooks
The state had passed the rule that only Dalits would be appointed as mid-day meal cooks. This caused an uproar among ‘upper caste’ communities everywhere and their children began to boycott the food. The state responded by softening the rule, replacing the words ‘compulsory appointment’ with ‘preference will be given’...
Untouchability as practised in Churches
Christian Dalits are not allowed to sing in churches. They are even buried in separate graves are not allowed to move out of their caste even if they convert. This is a clear sign of caste based discrimination as is practised in many parts of India. This so-called “tradition” exists...
Manual Scavengers forced to work without Safety Gear
Dalits are made to clean the Uyyakondan canal without any safety gears in the city of Trichy in Tamil Nadu. They are forced to clean plastic, acid waste, dead bodies, and human excreta from water, with their bare hands. Even after passing of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction...
No social life for a low caste Harijan
A low caste Harijan belonging to the cobbler caste is being looked down upon as low and undignified by the rest of the residents in the village. No invitations for social events like birthdays, weddings or funerals are extended to him. The barber refuses to cut his hair or give...
Burial ground of Dalits snatched by upper caste
Untouchability stands alive in the burial grounds of this village. The crematorium of the Dalits(lower caste) was illegally occupied by the higher caste because of which now the dalits don’t have a place to bury their deceased. Lack of burial ground has forced the villagers to bury one boy in...