Why Have The Dalits Take On A Bharat Band

Protestors have stopped trains in Bihar at Forbesganj. They have also blocked roads in Sonapur. Police has also been posted on roads in Punjab against the protestors. Dalits have stopped trains in Sambalpur in Odisha.

But why are the Dalits all over the country protesting? What has riled up the minority sections?

It is an announcement by the Union Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad that a review petition by the Government will be filed in the Supreme Court against the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Protection Act.

Since the beginning of Indian history, the Dalits have been marginalised from the society. Initially they were forced out of villages by being called as untouchables. They were forced to do menial tasks, and deprived of any life chances. During the freedom struggle, Gandhi tried to integrate them into mainstream society by calling them Harijans or ‘children of God’. Even Ambedkar tried to alleviate their position by renouncing Hinduism and adapting Buddhism. But this categorical change did little to improve their social position.

Image Credit: thewire

It was with this pathos that the national leaders provided various safeguards for the Dalits and Tribals while framing the Constitution for independent India. They have since been called as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

One important law that protects them from atrocities is the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes Protection Act. It is also known as the Atrocities Act. The law punishes crimes against people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes, it gives special protections and rights to victims and it sets up courts for fast completion of cases.

But the initial plan was to provide these safeguards for the first few years, and then integrate the SC and ST into mainstream. Due to the realities of vote bank politics, this never happened as no government wanted a political suicide by alienating the Dalits.

Last month, the Supreme Court suggested that the anti-atrocities law has become an instrument to “blackmail” innocent citizens and public servants. Issuing a slew of guidelines to protect public servants and private employees from arbitrary arrests under the Atrocities Act.

Now the Law Minister has asked the Supreme Court to expedite the proceedings to review the law. But Dalit organisations, including the Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, and some political parties fear the dilution of the provisions might lead to increase in violence against Dalits.

After holding agitations over the last few days, several Dalit outfits have called for a Bharat Bandh today.

The law was framed many years ago. It may need some revisions to remains relevant. And instead of playing the victim card, the Dalits could see this as an opportunity to join the process and better the law as per the modern requirements.

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