Wednesday, March 23, 2011

[ZESTCaste] ‘Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy'

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032060180900.htm

Other States - West Bengal

'Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy'

Special Correspondent

Activists call for sensitising the administration, better implementation of laws

'Demand for justice':A speaker narrating a case of atrocity against
Dalits during a public hearing in Jaipur.

JAIPUR: Nearly two dozen cases of atrocities, untouchability, violence
and discrimination against Dalits were presented at a public hearing
on Dalit rights here earlier this week with a call for sensitising the
administration, implementing the laws and breaking the nexus between
criminals and a section of public servants.

The day-long hearing was organised by Jaipur-based Centre for Dalit
Rights (CDR) at Samagra Seva Sangh grounds here to raise the demand
for justice in the crimes against Dalits in Rajasthan during the past
few months and ensure accountability of police and administration for
executing the laws for protection of Scheduled Castes.

Dalit activists and victims presenting the instances of atrocities
pointed out that the rampant anti-Dalit mind-set of so-called higher
castes "reflected in the administrative machinery" often leads to
denial of justice, as the cases are routinely weakened, local mafia is
protected, victims are threatened and the criminals get political
protection.

The jury at the public hearing comprised former Rajasthan High Court
Judge I. S. Israni, Supreme Court lawyer M. P. Raju, former State
Women's Commission chairperson Pawan Surana, Rajiv Gupta of Rajasthan
University, Sunny Sebastian of The Hindu, R. K. Ankodia of CDR and
Nisha Siddhu of the National Federation of Indian Women.

CDR patron P. L. Mimroth said the trial in the Dalits' cases was
obstructed at every stage, with the victims not getting notices on
time for hearing in courts in 58 per cent of the cases. "The FIR is
always registered with great reluctance, but the police are prompt in
[filing] final reports in the courts for closure of Dalit atrocity
cases."

Dalit activist Gopal Ram Verma said the police and administrative
officers seemed interested in somehow getting a compromise reached
between the victims and perpetrators of violence rather than taking
action against the latter: "In this scenario, the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, remains only on
paper."

Several cases

The cases presented before the jury included the recent attacks on
Dalit localities at Husaipur village in Alwar district and Chandupura
in Bharatpur, killing of a Dalit boy allegedly to please Lord Balaji
at Mehandipur, three Dalit children expelled from a school in Alwar on
their caste identity being revealed and thrashing of a Dalit man on
touching the utensils of a Brahmin shopkeeper in Gadhkheda village.

Except for the Husaipur incident, where the State Government released
financial assistance to Dalits and arrested the offenders, all other
cases were either not registered or closed with a compromise forced on
the victims. Dalit activists pointed out that action was taken in
Husaipur because of "political sensitivity" of the matter involving
Meo Muslims.

Thandi Ram of Mudiakheda village in Dausa district alleged that his
nephew Rajendra was taken to Lord Balaji's temple in Mehandipur on the
pretext of work at the inauguration of a guest-house on the premises.
He alleged that the boy was sacrificed in the temple and his mother
was later given some money to sign the papers for a compromise.

Mukesh Kumar Valmiki said he had got his three children admitted to
Balika City Public Shiksha Samiti School in Alwar through the normal
process. When the school management came to know of the children's
caste after a week, the Principal flatly told him to take them to some
other school. Despite his complaint, the district administration did
not take any action.

The jury, taken aback by the stories of blatant discrimination
narrated at the hearing, observed that atrocities against Dalits was a
"poor reflection" on democracy even after six decades of Independence.
"Needless to say, the strongest action should be taken against the
public servants for dereliction of duty," said the jury in one of its
recommendations.

Emphasising the significance of execution of laws for Dalits'
protection, the jury recommended steps to break the nexus between
criminals, police and politicians and provide protection to Dalit
victims and witnesses to take all cases registered under the SC/ST
(PoA) Act and other statutes to their logical end to ensure conviction
of offenders.


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