http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-11-01/news/30345963_1_dalit-population-valmiki-samaj-etawah
How dalits have actually fared in Uttar Pradesh
Ashish Tripathi, TNN Nov 1, 2011, 05.58am IST
A giant statue in a Lucknow square made 12-year-old Rashi curious.
Whose statue is this, she asked her father. Although a BSP worker,
Jhanki Ram couldn't go beyond the name, Jyotiba Phule. But not wanting
to show his ignorance, he added, "He was a Mahatma who did a lot for
the dalit community".
Both had come from Etawah to take part in Kanshiram Parinirvan
functions this month. For them, the tour of dalit memorials raised by
Mayawati was empowering. "It shows that we also have a history," said
Ram, especially impressed by the massive memorial of dalit icon
Bhimrao Ambedkar.
The memorials, built at a cost of more than Rs 3,000 crore, are
described as places of dalit pilgrimage by the BSP, UP chief minister
Mayawati's party. Dalit aspirations and assertions have increased
manifold during her regime. They now have a 'history' to be proud of
and icons to follow. It's reflected not only in the statues of
Ambedkar installed in almost all villages with a dalit population but
also in the increase in dalit outfits such as Valmiki Samaj, Pasi
Mahasangh and Charmkar Parishad.
Vital parameters, too, have changed for the better in UP. The recent
Human Development Index report reveals that its Net State Domestic
Product (NSDP) grew by 76% in the last five years, almost at par with
Gujarat. The planning ministry revealed that UP was among five states
which had higher growth rates than their 11th Plan (2007-12 ) targets.
Its GDP grew to 7.28% as against a target of 6.10%. It was also
awarded "best performing state in agriculture" by the UPA this year.
But all this wasn't achieved in a jiffy. Political observer Sudhir
Panwar said the condition of dalits started changing only from the
'50s with land reforms, followed by loan waivers for schedule castes
by Indira Gandhi in the '70s, abolishing of bonded labour and
development of urban centres. This opened new avenues for landless
dalits who were dependent primarily on farm labour. Reservation in
government jobs added a much-needed impetus to dalit empowerment.
Mayawati, in a way, has taken forward this movement. In the last five
years, she has pumped over Rs one lakh crore into various schemes,
particularly for dalits and the marginalized. These include
development of Ambedkar villages, giving more than two lakh free
houses for the urban poor, Rs 400 monthly pension for those deprived
of the benefits of BPL, and scholarships and free bicycles for girls
in class XI and XII.
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