Cong, BJP out to woo Dalits fighting discrimination

Shimla: At a time when social discrimination, especially in the rural areas of the state, has forced Dalits to launch agitations to demand social equality, both the opposition BJP and the ruling Congress have been holding ‘Dalit Pride’ conferences to woo the community ahead of the assembly election.
Dalits comprise 25.02% of total population and 17 out of 68 constituencies are reserved for scheduled caste (SC) candidates.
Assembly constituencies reserved for SC candidates are Churah, Indora, Jaisinghpur, Baijnath, Anni, Karsog, Nachan, Balh, Rampur, Bhoranj, Chintpurni, Jhandutta, Solan, Kasauli, Pachhad, Sri Renukaji and Rohru. In 2012 assembly election, the Congress had won 10 seats, the BJP 6 seats, while one seat was won by the independent candidate.
In Himachal Pradesh, social persecution of Dalits has kept the administration and judiciary on its toes as instances of discrimination are frequently reported from different parts of the state. Taking note of the entry ban of Dalits in a temple in Bilaspur district, the Himachal Pradesh high court had intervened a couple of years back to end the discrimination in the temples.
Renowned writer S R Harnot, who had brought to the fore the discrimination at the temple in Bilaspur said the caste system has deep roots in the state and discrimination is more in the village temples and social functions like marriages. He said political reservation and vote bank politics are also reasons for the discrimination.
“It is only during elections that political parties suddenly remember about the pride of Dalits while the truth is that inter-caste marriages are still a taboo in the society and Dalits are not allowed to enter the 90% village temples of state,” he added.

Sukhdev Vishwapremi, national convener of Palampur-based People’s Campaign for Socio-Economic Equality, said pride of Dalits in Himachal Pradesh could be restored only by giving them social equality.
He said there are instances where children of Dalits were subjected to discrimination in the schools during midday meal, while in some parts of state Dalits are not allowed to share from the source meant for upper castes.
“In some places even Dalits are not allowed to perform last rites at the cremation ground meant for the upper castes,” he alleged.
He said their organization will demand from the two parties help to facilitate the process to have discrimination free educational institutions and panchayats. He said to discuss the issue they are holding a conclave in Shimla on October 16.

Source: Times of India