http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=246162
Jun 20, 2011
Rajasthan's Dalit women celebrate 'liberty' at temple
Varanasi, June 20 (IANS) In a revolution of sorts, some 200 Dalit
women from Rajasthan Monday achieved what they thought would remain a
mirage -- performing rituals with upper caste Hindus at the Vishwanath
temple.
Amidst ecstatic shouts of 'Har Har Gange', the women, who once worked
as manual scavengers, also took a dip in the holy Ganga and chanted
hymns along the Dashashwamedh Ghat, deemed to be the most pious bank.
"We never thoughtt we would get an opportunity to celebrate our
liberty like this... For decades, we have faced hatred and
discrimination. As we mingled with the upper caste, we get the feel of
being liberated," Shanti Chaumaria, a manual scavenger of over two
decades, told IANS.
While the Vishwanath temple does not bar Dalits from offering prayers,
the women considered performing rituals with Brahmins an act of
empowerment.
"It's an out of the world experience for us. We want to stay here as
long as we can. This day will remain memorable for us. We now feel we
have really joined the mainstream. Sharing a platform with the
upper-caste is really a privilege," said Guddi, who was a manual
scavenger for 10 years.
After performing rituals at the Dashashwamedh Ghat for nearly two
hours, the women proceeded to the Vishwanath temple, carrying earthen
pots filled with Ganga water, even as the locals watched them
curiously.
"When people from upper castes assisted us in carrying out the
rituals, for a while it all appeared like a dream. Though we have
visited several prominent temples across the country, it was for the
first time most of us got the opportunity of taking a dip in the
Ganga," said Shakuntala Chaumar, who was earlier involved in manual
scavenging in Rajsthan's Tonk district.
Brahmanand Chaturvedi, one of the priests who guided the women in
their rituals, said: "For the almighty, everyone is same and equal.
Why should there be any discrimination? These women are also a part of
our society. We must make efforts for empowering them."
Sulabh International, the social service organisation which organised
the programme, flew in the women from Rajasthan.
The NGO rehabilitated these manual scavengers by providing them with
various vocational jobs like stitching, embroidery and pickle-making.
The women now earn a monthly stipend of Rs.2,000.
According to Sulabh International's founder Bindeshwar Pathak, an
estimated one lakh people are still involved in manual scavenging in
the country.
"Manual scavenging still prevails in several states, including Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra," Pathak told IANS.
"We are trying our best so that we can weed out the disgraceful
practice in a year or so. It would require support from all sections
of the society," he added.
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