A critical factor in the disempowerment and
disenfranchisement of the Dalit community is their economic condition of
not owning assets and the status of women is also directly linked to
the land, said Brinda Karat, Politburo member, Communist Party of India
(Marxist).
Delivering the special address at the
‘Dalit Women’s Right to Land’ a state-level conference held here on
Wednesday, she said that there is a shameful spectacle happening in what
is called as the temple of democracy - the Parliament - where one of
the arms of affirmative action of reservation in promotion of jobs is
being stalled through some sort of “match-fixing”, where certain members
raise protests to stall proceedings.
“This means
that the ruling elite and their political representatives want Dalits to
be relegated down the social ladder and remain bonded in social and
economic terms to do menial jobs. We condemn that attitude and demand
that the Bill be passed without any impasse”, said Ms. Karat.
The
veteran Marxist leader opined that there is a big lacuna in the legal
framework where there is no reservation in promotion in government jobs.
It was because of the struggles and demands of Dalits across the nation
that the present government had to bring a constitutional amendment to
ensure promotion among Dalits.
Pro-capitalist and
neo-liberal policies are eliminating even the basic minimum rights
secured by Dalits, there is no reservation in private jobs but
government jobs are being privatized every day and if this continues
jobs for oppressed remain unguaranteed. Private companies need to be
coerced and forced to provide reservation, she added.
Pointing
out that the present caste system not only undermines the idea of
equality but is antithetical to the concept of Indian democracy, she
said that it was not the benevolence of the state but the militant
struggles of Dalits and other likeminded parties that resulted in
abolition of practices of untouchability to a certain extent.
At
a time when livelihood opportunities are dwindling we need to
concentrate on land rights and Dalits, however under the neoliberal
framework, the critical issue of land reforms and land distribution have
been pushed to a corner. Land belonging to Dalits are being confiscated
for Special Economic Zones and other transnational corporations.
Vested
interests do not want the Dalits to own land and other assets as it
would affect their production process where they will not be able to
find labourers at cheap cost.Citing the case of West
Bengal, she said that when land reforms were implemented, 50 per cent
of 13 lakh acres of land were given to Dalit families, out of which 37.5
per cent were given to either Dalit women or as joint ownership of
pattas. Because of the right to land, women in Bengal were able to defy
the patriarchal norms and boundaries and were able to enter public and
political spheres.
Seven-time MLA, A. S. Ponnammal,
was felicitated with an award, she in her speech said that women should
be encouraged to enter politics and shared her political experience and
recollected some memorable moments in her career. A.
Kathir, executive director, Evidence, spoke about the objective of the
conference where he mentioned how the Panchami lands meant for Dalits
were still eluding them for almost a century.
C. Chellappan, former member, National SC/ST Commission and Advocate Ezhil Carolin, Dalit women activist also spoke.
(Courtesy : The Hindu)
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