PROBLEMS AND DIABILITIES OF UNTOUCHABLE CASTES
Majority of the castes that come under the category of “Scheduled castes” are regarded as “untouchables”. These untouchable castes have been suffering from various disabilities throughout the history. After independence, the practice of untouchability was declared unconstitutional, but the fact is that it still exists. The suffering of the untouchables has not come to an end. This problem cannot be solved an act of legislation.
According to Dr. Majumdar, “the untouchable castes are those who suffer from various social and political disabilities, many of which are traditionally prescribed and socially enforced by the higher castes. Thus, if he whole bases of untouchability are not destroyed, a simple provision for its legal status will bear scanty fruits.”
The “untouchable” caste have been suffering from various social, religious, legal, political educational, economic and other disabilities. For centuries, they were denied political representation, legal rights, civic facilities, educational privileges and economic opportunities. During the British rule also, no proper attention was paid to uplift the untouchables to relive them from their bondages. Even today they are not completely free from the problem which made them to suffer for centuries. These problems can be grouped into three main categories. (i) social problems (ii) economic problems and (iii) political problems.
1. Social Problems and Disabilities
The untouchable castes have suffered for centuries from a number of social problems and disabilities among which the following may be noted.
(i) Lowest Status in the Social Hierarchy
In the caste hierarchy the untouchable castes are ascribed the lowest status. They are considered to be “unholy”, “inferior” and ‘low’ and are looked down upon by the other castes. They have been suffering from the stigma of ‘untouchability’. Their very touch is considered to be polluting by the higher caste people. Hence, they have been subject to exploitation and humiliation. They have been treated as the servants of the other caste people. The untouchable castes have always served the other castes, but the attitude of other castes is of total indifference and contempt. They were kept at a distance from other caste people. In some instances, even the exact distance which an upper caste man was expected to keep between himself and the “untouchables” was specified. During the early times, they were branded as “Panchamas, Antyajas, Svapachas. Atishudras, Chandalas, Avarnas” etc. and were given the bottom most place in society. The distinction that arose between Aryans and Anaryas centuries ago culminated in the practice of untouchability. Anaryas were branded as “dasas” or servants and kept at a distance. They were not given any good position in the army, politics and public life, but made to follow “unclean” occupations such as scavenging, removing human waste and dead animals, tanning, shoemaking, spinning, washing clothes, barbering, supplying water and so on. The physical touch of these people following “unclean” occupations was considered enough to pollute the so called upper caste [varna] people. Thus, the so called ‘untouchables’ were not only kept at a distance but also denied of various civic facilities. Several disabilities were attributed to them.
(ii) Civic Disabilities
For a long time, the untouchable castes were not allowed to use public places and avail of civic facilities such as-village wells, ponds, temples, hostels, hotels, schools, hospitals, lecture halls, dharmashalas, etc. They were forced to live on the outskirts of the towns and villages during the early days. Even today they are segregated from others spatially. They were not allowed to enter the houses of the higher castes. They were allowed to work as labourers during construction or repair, storing grains, etc. but later the houses were imposed on the mode of construction of their or cow dung. In South India, restrictions were imposed on the mode of construction of their houses, types of dress and patterns of their ornamentation. Some lower caste people were not allowed to carry umbrellas, to wear shoes or golden ornaments and to milk cows. They were prohibited from covering the upper part of their body. The services of barbers, washer men and tailors were refused to them. In the court of justice, they had to shout from the pointed distance and take their change of being heard.
(iii) Educational Disabilities
The untouchables were forbidden from taking up to education during the early days. Sanskrit was denied to them. Public schools and other educational institutions were closed for them. Even today majority of them are illiterate and ignorant.
(iv) Religious Disabilities
The untouchables also suffer from religious disabilities even today. They are allowed to temples in many places. Even after the successful campaign of Dr. Ambedkar demanding the untouchables right to enter the Kalaram temple at Nasik in 1930, things have not improved much. The Brahmins who offer their priestly services to some lower castes, are not prepared to officiate the ceremonies of the ‘untouchable’ castes. They Vedic mantras which are considered to be purer, could not be listened to and chanted by the untouchables because of the taboos. They were only permitted to make use of the upanishadic mantras which are considered to be less pure and more secular. Burial grounds were also denied to them in many places. However, things have started improving radically in these especially after 1990s.
2. Economic Problems and Disabilities
The untouchables are economically and have been suffering from various economic disabilities also.
(i) No Right of Landed Property Ownership
For centuries the untouchables were not allowed to have land business of their own. It is only their ownership to the property has become recognised. The propertied people are comparatively less among them. Majority of them depend upon agriculture but only a few of them [hardly 28%] own land.
(ii) Selection of Occupations Limited
The caste system imposes restrictions on the occupational choice of the members. The occupational choice was very much limited for the untouchables. They were not allowed to take up to occupations which were reserved for the upper caste people. They were forced to stick on to the traditional inferior occupations such as curing hides, removing the human wastes, sweeping, scavenging, oil grinding, spinning, tanning, shoe-making, leather works, carrying the dead animals, etc. These occupations were regarded as “degraded” and “inferior”.
(iii) Failure to Fill the Full Quota of Reserved Posts
The SCs have not been able to take full advantage of the reserved seats allotted to them in government jobs. The poor educational performers of the SCs candidates has been the major obstacle. The poor educational performance of the SCs candidates has been the major obstacle in this regard.
(iv) Landless Labourers: Majority of untouchable are today working as landless labourers. More than 90% of the agricultural labours in India belong to the depressed classes which include the Scheduled Caste Tribes. More than 52% of the Scheduled Caste workers in rural areas are agricultural labourers. A large number of SC families are in debts. Their indebtedness is increasing day by day. The SCs are economically exploited by the upper caste people. Even today they are lowest paid workers. Some of them continue to suffer as bonded labourers at the hands of the other higher caste people. The untouchables constituted 90% of the total number of the bonded labourers found in India, according to a recent survey report. It is also observed that a large number of atrocities are committed against the untouchables because of economic reasons. Though jobs are reserved for them in government department due to lack of eligibility they are not able to get into them.
3. Political Disabilities:
The untouchable hardly participates in the political matters for centuries. They were not given any place in politics, administration and the general governance of the country. They were not allowed to hold any public post. Political right and representation were denied to them. Under the British rule, they were given been the right to vote for the first time. After independence, equal political opportunities and rights have been provided for the SCs also. Politically, the SCs are yet to become a decisive force. The untouchable or the SCs living in the city are trying to organise themselves in the form of “Dalit Sangharsha Samithi” and such other organisation to fight for their rights. But the vast mass of rural SCs are totally unorganised. Political parties such as “The Republican Party of India”, started by Dr. Ambedkar, “Dalit Panthers’ Party” [or 1970s], “Bahujana Samajavadi Party” [BSP of 1980s] are no doubt mobilising the SCs but so far they have not been able to form a “dalit lobby” or “Harijan lobby” at the national level except in some pockets. Their political influence is mostly localised. Their total influence in the Indian politics is, so far, not very much impressive.
4. Problem of Atrocities Against Untouchables [SCs]
Another problem confronting the untouchables is that lot of atrocities are being committed against them. In fact, such atrocities are on the increase even now.
In some states serve caste conflicts are taking place and in many instances the targets of attack are the SCs. Bihar is notorious for caste conflicts. Bihar has sheltered several “Jat senas” which take a leading role in caste conflicts. For example, Bhoomi Sena of Kurmis, Lorik Sena of Yadavs, Brahmarshi and Ranvir Sena of the Bhumihars, Ganga Sena of the Brahmins, and the Kunwar Sena of the Rajputs, represent such jati senas. Further, there are also the Naxal groups of Maoist Communist Centre {MCC} which normally consist of people who belong to communities of the Yadavs, Koeris, and the Paswans. These jati senas and Naxal groups organised mass murder in the past. The reason for these murders was a long-standing conflict between upper caste landowners and landless dalit farmers. The National Commission of the SCs and STs have also been regularly reporting an increase in the number of atrocities against the SCs. The central and the State governments are also seriously concerned with these crimes.