COVID-19: Women MPs On The frontline series - Dalit Member of Parliament Chinta Anuradha shares her views on the issues faced by Dalit communities
“The statistics for Dalits is equally skewed: Over 21.7 percent of convicted inmates, 21 percent undertrials and 18.15 percent detainees in Indian prisons were Dalits. Their share in population is, however, around 16.6 percent.”
“For Casteless Collective, gaana is a tool to end caste-based discrimination, which features in many spheres of Indian life.”
“Is it really possible advocating for inclusion without acknowledging the history and lived experiences of marginalised people?‘”
“the State must acknowledge the crimes as caste atrocities and not as law and order issues.”
“Six Dalit groups, headed by the NCDC, held a virtual conference recently and resolved to appeal to the Indian Church, the apostolic nuncio and the pope to stop “visible and invisible discrimination” against them.”
Khalid has spoken across India and articulated the dreams of all young Indians. “He staked his claim to the full measure of citizenship, he spoke for all marginal peoples, and above all Umar spoke for peace,”
“Maria Arena, the chief of the panel, said that protests over the Citizenship Amendment Act have led to “arbitrary detentions and an unnecessary loss of life”. She said that journalists and peaceful critics were being arrested under “draconian counter-terrorism and sedition laws”
The central government’s actions ‘mimic that of authoritarian regimes’ that cannot take criticism and target those who speak out, the organisations said.
The Real Story: India's Dalits: Fighting for justice (BBC Podcast) The current racial justice movement in the United States is inspiring Dalit activists to be move assertive in speaking up for their rights – but what gains can Dalits expect to make? What is at the core of the discrimination and prejudice against them? And why are Dalit women especially targeted for sexual violence? Ritula Shah and guests discuss the future of Dalits in India.
“The need of the hour is to clear the area and give maximum space to Dalit women to speak.”
"oppression and discrimination experienced by members of the community have been multidimensional – from brutal physical, emotional, psychological and sexual abuse to everyday microaggressions, leaving a haunting imprint on the psyches of the people."
"the very police administration and judicial system that Dalit women approach to seek justice works against their interests ... how long will this keep happening to our Dalit women and children and for how long must they be deprived of justice?"
Collection of press clippings on rape cases in India and Nepal in September 2020.
India's "untouchable" Catholics have threatened to split from the Indian hierarchy and establish a separate church if the Holy See continues to discriminate against low-caste clergy in the appointment of bishops and cardinals.
”I have seen the men of my neighbourhood die doing this. They have slowly vanished in the sewer one after the other. One goes and the other follows. I saw Ravi die in front of me.”
“Qualified and deserving Dalit candidates are ignored due to the compulsions of caste-mindedness and are purposely neglected. There is only one person from the Dalit community among 17 Catholic bishops in Tamil Nadu.”
Thought provoking photo feature depicting some of the reasons Dalits have been killed in India.
“Abirami Jotheeswaran, director, All India Dalit Women Adhikar Manch, says due to negligence of police, many rape cases against Dalit women go unreported. This is a problem not restricted to Tamil Nadu alone, it is the same story all over the country”.
“Exclusion of caste from discrimination policies makes companies caste-blind. Emerging research suggests caste-based losses to companies are similar to those due to a lack of gender and race diversity.”