In Vibrant Gujarat, Dalits still outcasts

In January 2011, several Dalit families were stopped from entering a temple in Rampar village in Surendranagar district. The next day, local shopkeepers refused to sell anything to them. The families are still facing social boycott from upper caste people.
In mid 2010, when a temple was being inaugurated in Vanthal village in Viramgam, some Dalit people tried to participate in the yagna. But they were beaten up and their entire community was thrown out of the village.

In March 2010, in Bavalchudi village in Banaskantha district, a family from Valmiki community was building a house. However, it irked the upper caste community and as a result, 38 Dalit families are now out of the village.

In 2009, a Dalit advocate wanted to sing in garba during Navratri in Bhadresinh village in Surendranagar district. And when he tried to enter the temple, he was beaten up.

These are some of the instances that tell the sordid tale of Dalits in Gujarat, land of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji used to address these people as Harijans which mean ‘People of God’. After Gandhi’s death, Harijans were won over by new promises and special arrangements in the country’s Constitution and called Dalits.

As the country celebrates Ambedkar Jayanti on Thursday, the birthday of BR Ambedkar who gave the Constitution to India, the status of Dalits in the state becomes a pertinent issue. Ambedkar spent his whole life fighting against social discrimination.  In Gujarat, there are 42 lakh Dalits who account for seven per cent of the state's population. Data provided by Gujarat Sate Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) reveals that during 2009-2010 there were 1,081 cases of atrocities against Dalits registered in the state, and in 2007-08, the number of cases was 1,159.

The GSHRC report states that the practice of discrimination against employees in the government sector is serious. It also says that the government policies are fair but when it comes to practice, the discrimination against SC/ST employees is common.
GSHRC secretary PN Patel told DNA that there have been instances of untouchabilities.

However, he added that it was not rampant. According to NGOs, the biggest malady that 'Vibrant Gujarat' faces is the fact that as many as 15,000 Dalits from 32 villages are still facing the wrath of upper castes. These downtrodden people are being forced to migrate to some other unknown places, they claim.

“The government doesn't understand these figures. We have been saying and even proved with our research last year that there are 98 forms of unsociability that the Dalits in the state face but the government doesn't accept it,” said Manjula Pradeep of Navsarjan, an NGO working for Dalits' rights. She added that the Dalits are not allowed to enter village temples, do washing in ponds, and visit ration shops, etc. “In many villages, the upper caste communities have deprived Dalits of accessing drinking water,'' said Pradeep.  The fourth annual report of the GSHRC clearly states the form of discrimination against weaker sections has now changed from physical discrimination (read untouchability) to economic. The report says the commission has received a large number of petitions about social discrimination from these groups. Social activist Manishi Jani says despite development, conflicts between Dalits and other communities are increasing in Gujarat.  “There is not a single day in the state when a Dalit family does not leave the village due to harassment. With increase in education among the Dalits, awareness about their rights has increased and when they fight for land, disputes arise,” he says.