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They have nowhere to go
Chitra V. Ramani
Dalit colonies in Dodda Bidarakallu ward lack toilets
Women have to walk at least a km in the dark looking for open places
to relieve themselves
Though included in the BBMP, those living in the Dalit colonies have
not received any benefits
— Photos: Chitra V. Ramani
Dark side of the city:The only water tank in this Dalit colony at
Dodda Bidarakallu is next to an open drain; (right) Priya (7) lost a
finger after falling into a drain.
Bangalore: Geetha Krishnamurthy, Narasamma and Manjula fall ill
frequently. However, it is the prospect of stomach infection they
particularly dread, as this condition would force them to relieve
themselves in full public view as their homes do not have toilets.
Normally, women here wait until dark before they can answer nature's
call.
This is the fate of all women in the Dalit colonies in G. Hosahalli,
Aralimara Circle and Topanammana temple area at Andralli and
Thigalarapalya, as all these colonies lack toilets. The colonies come
under Dodda Bidarakallu ward of the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike
(BBMP).
Resigned to the fact
Women here are resigned to the fact that they have to walk at least a
km in the dark looking for open places to relieve themselves. After
all, this has been their lot for the past 20 years. "Several
politicians come here to ask for votes. They assure us of constructing
toilets and solving the other civic issues. That is the last we see or
hear of them," said a disgruntled Bhagyamma Sidramaiah of G. Hosahalli
Colony.
She said that college and school-going girls who live here are ashamed
to tell their friends where they are from. Anitha L., a final-year
B.A. student at Government First Grade College in Vijayanagar, said
that she wakes up at 5 a.m. and goes with other women from the colony
to the fields/open spaces. "I ensure that I use the toilet in my
college before returning home," she said.
Peeping Toms are yet another source of anguish. Krishnaveni, a first
PU student at Vani Vilas College and resident of Aralimara Circle
colony, said the women always go in groups. "I ensure that I am
accompanied by either my mother or other women from the colony, as one
of us has to keep watch," she said.
Walking in the dark
And as this is a developing area, many open spaces are being converted
to residential layouts. The women also complain of the absence of
streetlights. "We walk looking for open spaces in pitch darkness. We
have been bitten by insects, while some have even been bitten by
snakes. One young girl fell into an open drain and lost a finger,"
complained Ramakka.
M. Venkatesh from the Dalit Bahujan Movement said that the women and
elderly in these colonies were the worst affected. "The area is hardly
20 km from the city centre and people in these colonies seem to be
living in a medieval period. Though included in the BBMP, those living
in the Dalit colonies have not received any benefits. This is the case
in most of the newly added areas," he added.
Unaware of problems
When contacted, Dodda Bidarakallu councillor Gayathri Jayaraye Gowda
claimed that she did not know of the problems that the women in these
colonies faced. "I agree that the ward is 'backward'. Most of these
areas were earlier villages. I will look into the problems." P.
Sukumar, chairperson of the Standing Committee for Social Justice,
claimed that the committee could construct toilets under 22.75 per
cent scheme (in which all schemes must allocate 22.75 per cent of its
budget to Dalit welfare). "However, the councillors must come with
requests. We will concentrate on providing basic facilities in the
newly added areas," he said.
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