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India's Dalit communities
Dalits (‘the oppressed’) come from the communities which, under the Indian caste system, used to be known as 'untouchables'. They are also known as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST). Traditionally they were considered so inherently inferior that the merest contact with them would pollute those of higher caste. Forced to live apart from other communities, Dalits were allowed to do only the filthiest and most menial jobs and for thousands of years were denied access to culture and education.
Although ‘untouchability’ was declared illegal in 1950 it continues to haunt millions of men, women and children who are trapped in a cycle of poverty and social stigmatisation. The vast majority of India’s 150 million Dalits still lack proper housing, medical care, education and employment prospects.
“Dalits have faced a unique discrimination in our society that is fundamentally different from the problems of minority groups in general. The only parallel to the practice of ‘untouchability’ was Apartheid. Untouchability is not just social discrimination. It is a blot on humanity.”
India’s Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, December 27, 2006
Key Dalit Facts
- As many as 36 per cent of Dalits in rural areas and 38 per cent in urban areas are below the poverty line. (Times of India, 8 Dec, 2006)
- 48% of villages deny Dalits access to water (Hindustan Times, August 15, 2006)
- 73% of villages don’t permit Dalits to enter non-Dalit homes (IBID)
- 33% public health workers refuse to visit Dalit homes (IBID)
- 28% police stations ban entry to Dalits (IBID)
- “…the overwhelming majority of bonded labor victims in agriculture, brick making, mining and other sectors are from the Scheduled Castes…” (UN International Labour Office, Report of the Director-General, 2005, p. 31)
- Over 45% of Dalits are landless agricultural workers (Times of India, 8 Dec, 2006)
- 38% of government schools make Dalit children sit separately while eating (“Hidden Apartheid”,Human Rights Watch report, February 2007)