Dalits Overview

They are untouchables. They are Dalit. They belong to the lower class of society. Treading their shadow is a sin. Stepping on the their trodden track is a sin. It is quite unthinkable to drink water in the same glass they use let alone taking food in the same table. It is a sin to knowingly use  the water of the same well. The Dalits are encompassed by a high wall of restrictions. They are strictly forbidden to visit temples or read holy texts and scriptures.

About 5.5 million people have been estimated to belong to Dalit communities out of 160 million people in Bangladesh. There are 94 categories of Dalit communities. Among them the major communities are Bashfore, Hela, Lalbegi, Domar (people who do autopsy), Raut,Hari, Maghaia, Balmeki, Telegu, Kanpuri, Hrishi, Robidas, Jele  (fishermen), Sannashi, Bhogobene, Behara, Dai, Dhopa (laundrymen), Hazam (people who do circumcision of children), Nikari (peole who sell fish and chop them), Shikari (hunters), Paroi, Bazadar (drummist), Manta, Mohota, Rajbanshi, Roshua,  Sahaji, Patni (boatment), Kaiputra, Pundru Xatrio, Shobdokar, Teli (people in oil trade) etc.

Division of caste and apartheid problem exists not only in Bangladesh but also in many countries in Asia and Africa. The problem of caste division has been continuing for ages and it has its root deeply ingrained in religious caste system mainly because of lower types of vocation and labour. Now this community is termed as Dalit or Harijon. The term ‘Dalit’ means those who are neglected or those who are subject to oppression. So, they have always been neglected, oppressed and isolated through generations. The word ‘Dalit’ connotes a big community which comprises local and regional different people from different religions like Hindus, Muslims, Buddhist and Christians. The term unanimously refers to those untouchable, neglected, isolated and hated groups of people, no matter whether you call them by Dalit or Harijon.  It means that disparity is quite crudely predominant in the case of these people. To be precise they have not been given the status of human beings in the society. That is why the social reformers exerted their efforts from time to time to reinstall their places in the society.  Mohatma Gandhi explained that Harijzan means sons of Hari or Iswara. Baba Ambedkar called it Dalit. All these have been done to uphold their status. Some sarcastic criticism is also available in this respect as some consider these explanations as political means of fulfilling self interest of the politicians.

The Dalit community of Bangladesh is subject to political, economic, cultural and social disparities. They are deprived of many facilities of the state. This division among them emanates from religion and vocation. Dalit community has always been excluded from every development plan in the post independent era of Bangladesh. So many causes like state and social disparity and deprivation, untouchability, hatred, social isolation, lack of dignity in the society, diversifying profession, landlessness, evacuation from their settlement etc. contribute to the marginalisation of this community. We can have a glimpse of the prime causes below:

Untouchability and lack of dignity

The real poverty of the Harijon community lies more in their humanitarian background like social indignities and untouchability rather than in financial crisis. For them there is no entry to hotels and restaurants or saloons; even if they are allowed to, they have fixed utensils for them to take food and tea. Sometimes they even have to carry their own utensils for taking food. They are not given permission to sit among respectable or common other people in the society. They have no access to the temples. In different social programs there is a different arrangement for the Dalit community. They can’t rent houses. They are compelled to live in an isolated place in a society. This attitude applies to every Dalit community whether they live in the town or village. The places in which this community lives are usually called Muchipara, Sweeper Colony, Hrishi Para, Rabi Das Para, Methor Patti, Kolu Para, Buno Para etc. Actually this history is a creation of the mainstream people of the society. It finds an echo in the speech of Harijon Babulal , “ We clean toilets.We sweep garbage. That is why the so-called educated society look upon us with hatred as members of low class and they consider us untouchable. But what would have happened if we had not swept and cleaned these dirty things?” But our constitution leaves no scope for inequality and disparity for any citizen of the country.

Access to Education

The Dalit community is regularly exposed to various kinds of disparity and discrimination in respect of education. Even though many Dalit children go to schools, they finally drop out as they fail to cope up with adverse and hostile environment in schools. Other students do not want to sit beside them. Even teachers show signs of negligence and hatred. Often they become victims to slangs and indecent use of language from their peers. Dalit children are sometimes made to clean the toilets and they are forced to sit at back benches. These abuses leave scars in their psyche and they feel rather discouraged to go to schools. Moreover, as many members ( from 7 to 8) live in a cramped room, the Dalit children often do not get learning-friendly environment at home to continue their education. For ages this community had been segregated from education. So they fail to cope up with the competitive mainstream education of the country. On the other hand, school authorities do not include the potential children of Dalit community in their census for school going children in a locality. A study shows that 32.4% Dalit children have taken primary education but only 10.8% could successfully complete primary level, 7.8% junior level, 2.9% SSC and 0.76% HSC level. The Honourable Prime Minister has sent directives to concerned authorities to facilitate admission quota for Dalit children to ensure their rights for education. But the directives have yet not been implemented.

Housing and Land

Most of the people in Dalit community are landless. Though people of some Dalit communities have their own places to live, the Harijon people have no house or land of their own. Most of them live in city or Municipality colonies. For ages a 96 square feet house has been accommodating people of three generations like grandparents, parents, children and grand children. This situation stands as a cruel barrier to mutual emotion and feelings between husband and wife. Other members have to wear an air of ignorance and pretension. What could be more humiliating than this? Any negligence and mistake on their part is met with threats from the authorities of municipality to oust them from the house. Sometimes many of their houses are locked to bar their entry. This is a sheer violation of human rights. Lack of proper sanitation and pure drinking water have exposed this community to regular health threats as many people live in a dingy and congested place. Even health workers shy away from visiting these places. Thus lack of knowledge in reproductive health results in high growth rate and also causes health threats to Dalit women.

Wages and job-displacement

Many factors are causing the Dalit community to lose their jobs. These people are also subject to discrimination in the issue of wages. Traditionally the Harijons have been working as cleaners in different public and private sectors including city corporation and municipality. But their wages are very meagre. It ranges from 800 to 1200 per month and 300 to 1000 in some municipalities. They usually work in master roll as their jobs are never made permanent or confirmed. If some apply with address to Dalit colony, they are not usually called for viva. Dalit candidates who apply for other posts according to their educational qualification are usually encouraged to apply for the posts of sweepers and cleaners. Again the Harijons are suffering job-displacement as more and more poeple from the mainstream society are snatching away their professions as cleaners and sweepers. Moreover the mainstream people take their jobs as cleaners but get it done with low wages by the Harijons. The Dalits do not get opportunity to enter alternative professions because of social untouchability and hatred. As a result the rate of unemployment is gradually rising leading to unsocial activities.

 Justice and Participation

 The Dalits are deprived of the rights to justice and security. The girls of this community especially those who are students are victims to different kinds of sexual harassment. Even those who become victims of rape cannot get proper justice. Dalit women who go outside for work suffer from insecurity. They have no participation in local judicial body. They have to call other leaders (Matbor) to settle their personal problems. They have no representation in the committees of schools, colleges and other village based development organizations. Their participation in political parties is almost zero.

Violence to Dalit Women

Dalit women are subject to different oppressions. Dalit women are a minority within minority and marginalised among the marginalised. Dalit women undergo three types of oppressions. Firstly because they are women, secondly they are Dalit and finally they are Dalit women. Even though Dalit women are victims of rape, murder, sexual harassment, they cannot get proper justice. Domestic violence is an everyday affair for Dalit women. Dalit (Harijon) men come home drunk and torture their wives. Dalit women are deprived of their wages. Participation of Dalit women in the traditional arbitration and salish is almost unthinkable. The discrimination extends itself to every layer including girls education. As they grow older, they are not allowed to go to schools. They are also victims of early marriage. Dalit women are deprived of government facilities such as widow and old age benefit, maternity grant etc.

Lack of Government Services

 The Dalit communities are deprived of almost all state facilities and services. They are hardly seen in government, non-government offices including Union councils. They are being regularly deprived of the facilities and services like VGD, VGF, old age, disability and widow benefit, maternity grant, Kabita, Kabikha etc. But these services of the government strictly define in its policies to prioritize the inclusion of the backward sections of the society and there are also directives from the Ministry to ensure these facilities to the marginal people. Not very far, even after the independence the Harijons were entitled to rationing system in which they could get rice, wheat, flour, sugar, pulse etc. at a cheap rate and some other necessary goods like soap, dresses were given free of cost from the municipality or city corporation. But now they don’t get these facilities anymore.

Lack of Information

 Lack of information remains to be one of the major problems of the Dalit community. Dalit communities still don’t exactly know what facilities, in particular, are available from the government, where one can get these facilities or services, which steps can be taken to get the services. Those who win the elections by the votes of these communities deny them the facilities they promised. Moreover, the government, political parties and the law makers do not have correct information about the real condition of the Dalits. Information, technology and knowledge about health, education, agriculture and natural disaster do not reach them.

Political Marginalization

Politically, the Dalit communities are marginalised. Political parties do not have Dalit people as members. They are used as vote banks of the political parties. If they participate in election, people raise objections and try to form public opinion against them saying ‘muchi Thekao’(stop the cobblers). Again many Dalits cannot vote for their chosen candidate. Pressure from outside influences their choices. In many cases the Dalits remain stranded in their colonies in the time of election as they are usually barred from casting their votes and become subject to tortures and oppression by defeated candidates. Their presence is almost at zero level in the parliamentary or local government system.

Constitutional pledges of Bangladesh

The supreme law of Bangladesh is its constitution. According to our observation 10 clauses of the constitution are being violated in the case of the Dalit communities. People are the source of all power or people are the owners of the state. But recognized as the part of the owners of the state, the dalit communities are being subject to discrimination and hatred in many ways. These people are still continuing their struggle and movement for establishing their rights and dignity even after 42 years of independence. The constitution promises to ensure basic human rights, freedom and respect to the dignity and value of people. There is provision in the constitution for arranging basic rights like food, cloth, housing and medical facility. There is also provision for the arrangement of free and compulsory education and equity for all citizens. But these promises seem to be limited to books. The constitution also pledges to dissolve disparity among citizens and the state will take effective steps for equal distribution of wealth. Though the constitution says that all citizens are equal in the eye of law, the Dalit communities are deprived of all the services and facilities from the state. It also says that no citizen will be subject to discrimination based on religion, colour, caste, creed, gender and place of birth. No citizen will also be barred from entering any amusement park or admission in an educational institution. The constitution also pledges special provision for women, children and any backward section of the society. But nobody seems to care these things. No one seems to be paying heed to these laws. The old adage ‘in theory only, not in practice’ seems to apply in this case. The constitution reserves their rights but the question still puzzles us, “How far could we implement the clauses of the constitution.

On 10^th December, 1942 UN General Council declared the charter for universal human rights. In Para 1 of the Declaration Charter there is reference to equity in human dignity and rights. Para 2 refers to the issue of discrimination. Para 3 to 27 talk about rights.

Vision 2021

The present government has declared Vision 2021. The Vision has set the goals to fulfill basic rights, alleviate poverty, develop food and nutrition and provide health care, education and housing. It promises to increase GDP to 8% by 2013, 10% by 2017 till 2021 with a view to ensuring basic elements like food, cloth, shelter, education and Medicare as per 15 para of the constitution. It has set a goal to gradually reduce poverty rate from 45% to 15% by 2021. Social Safety Net will be created for ultra poor people till poverty is eliminated. It also pledges to meet nutritional demand for 85% people with minimum 2122 Kilo food daily for poor people by 2021. The promises also involve eradication of contagious diseases, primary health care for all, hygienic sanitation system for all by 2013, raising average life span to 70, reducing maternity mortality rate to 1.5 from 3.8, child mortality rate to 15% from 54%, raising the use of birth control system from 55% to 80% , 100% enrolment at primary level by 2011, total  eradication of illiteracy by 2017, upgrading standard of education,  raising a generation based on the knowledge of science and technology, ensuring higher salary for teachers, housing for all by 2011 etc. It also aims at establishing ‘Growth Centre’ at every union and upazilla for village areas and housing facilities in the town areas.

In regards to education, the government has taken epoch making steps to achieve MDGs. This goal includes stipend project, second primary education development project, project for reaching out of school children, basic educational project for working children in the town areas, post-literacy continuous education project-1(second phase) and 2 for developing human resources. But no effort seems to be working to ensure the inclusion of the Harijons under this project.

Sixth Five Year Plan has been finalized in 2012. This document sets 7 priority sectors or goals to achieve. The goals include generating income, reducing poverty, promoting human resources (education, health and nutrition); ensuring safe water and sanitation, fuel and its infra-structure, gender equity and women empowerment, ecological balance, information and communication technology. This declaration sets to achieve its goals by 2015.

Participation, inclusion and equal rights of all people have to be ensured to build a Digital Bangladesh and implement Vision 2021 and Sixth Five Year Plan. And herein the question rises, “Are the Dalit communities getting equal participation, inclusion and equal rights in every sphere of the state?” In practice the dalit communities or the Harijons are still living in the marginal level compared to the mainstream development. How can Vision 2021 expect its golden days to dawn if this vast population is kept outside the track of achieving goals? How can we dream of a Digital Bangladesh without taking this backward community in our stride of development?

Movement and Struggle: Some Achievements

For several years some Dalit organizations have been continuing their lobby-advocacy programmes demanding anti-discrimination laws, education, health, housing, job, government service in order to establish their rights and dignity. Some NGOs including FAIR are also working at local and national levels for strengthening the movements of Harijon/Dalit communities. Some Dalit pro-active organisations including MJF have played key roles in this regard.

The present government has allocated grant in national budget for the development of Dalit, Harijon, Bede (gypsies) and Hijra (transgender). Social Welfare Department of GoV is implementing the projects but these communities claim that their participation should be ensured in the planning and implementation process of these projects.

So, some political organizations including the present government Awami League promised in their election manifesto to take special steps for the backward/small group of people/Dalit community. The government has already taken some initiatives. Some initiatives have been mentioned below.

• Bangladesh Harijon Okkya Parishad attended a meeting with Honourable Minster of Finance, Mr. Abul Mal Abdul Muhit at his office on August 01, 2010. They put forward some of their demands. Later he issued DO letters to different Ministries to prioritize the Harijon and Dalit community in jobs.
• On 3^rd May, 2011 Bangladesh Harijon Okkya Parishad attended a meeting with Dr. Oli Ahmed, Bir Bikrom, MP, chairman of the parliamentary standing committee of Planning Ministry at his office in the Parliament to discuss their demands. Honourable Chairman put forward the demands of the Harijon in 34^th meeting of the parliamentary standing committee of the Planning Ministry on 31.05.2011. Later he sent the plausible demands as recommendations to the ministry.
• For the first time in 2011-12 Fiscal Year National Budget, BDT 100 million was allocated for the development of Housing for the Harijons and the Dalits.
• On 29 May, 2012 the Hounourable Prime Minister approved two demands of the Harijons and sent directives to concerned Ministries for taking necessary steps.
• On 27 June, 2012, a Gazzette notification has been issued to ensure inclusion of the Harijons in the Wealth Distribution by VGF Project under Relief and Rehabilitation Directorate Safetynet Project.
• Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh has allocated BDT 189.6 million  for the Harijons and the Dalits in 2012-13 Fiscal Year National Budget.
• A gazzette notification by Ministry of Public Administration has been also issued with directives to all Ministries and its concerned departments to ensure 80% quota for the Harijons in the posts of Cleaners/Sweepers on 10 October, 2012 with reference no. 05.00.0000.170.22.034.12-396.

In Conclusion

Our society takes important service from a section of people but unfortunately it does not recognise them in its structure- this sort of contradictory attitude prevails in the society. This neglected, hated and isolated section of the society is still riddled with hunger, poverty, frustration, deprivation and hatred even in this civilized and science oriented society because of this immoral, abominable and disastrous social infra-structure. This sense of untouchability has its root in religion and politics.  It has narrowed the area of human living. It has violated human dignity. This has also created social hatred against men. Historically the Dalits and the Harijons had their profession defined and specific even though they were segregated from the society. Maybe, some professions of the Dalits have died out in course of time such as (carrying palanquin). Even if they exist, these professions are no more certain. But social untouchablity about them has remained ever strong because of segregation and seclusion.

Overcoming socio-economic backwardness and tackling social hatred are not something that can change overnight because it has been continuing for ages.

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Prepared by:

Dewan Akhtaruzzaman

Director

Friends Association for Integrated Revolution (FAIR)

Thanapara, Kushtia-7000

E-mail: fair_bd@yahoo.com, info@fair-bd.org