The plight of sanitation workers from the Valmiki community in Jodhpur: The District Collector is bent on making them do the work of four people, a complaint will be filed with the Human Rights Commission against this inhumane treatment!
BJP government accused of ‘Manu mentality’ Jodhpur – The sanitation workers’ movement in the Jodhpur Municipal Corporation of Rajasthan is no longer limited to street protests, but has also become a sharp written struggle at the administrative level. Sardar Prakash Singh ‘Vidrohi’, the district president of the All India Safai Mazdoor Congress, has written a strong letter to the District Collector, directly targeting the shortcomings in the sanitation system. The letter makes serious allegations against Municipal Commissioner Siddharth Palanichamy of suppressing the Valmiki community, protecting non-Valmiki employees, and issuing arbitrary orders. Vidrohi has warned that if the demands are not met, the organization may file a complaint against the officials with the Human Rights Commission and pursue legal action. Vidrohi termed this the ‘Manu mentality’ of the BJP government, which is a violation of constitutional rights. This letter marks a significant turning point in the movement that has been ongoing for the past few months, starting from November 17, 2025. From semi-naked protests in the cold to threats of a broom-down strike, the sanitation workers’ struggle is centered on the dignity of the Valmiki community and the issue of equal workload. Vidrohi’s letter highlights the burning problems of the sanitation workers in three main points. This letter not only questions the policies of the Municipal Commissioner but also points a finger at the role of the District Collector, who himself is actively involved in sanitation system meetings. The main points of the letter are as follows: Impractical order for nighttime sanitation system: According to Municipal Commissioner’s letter number 3585, dated January 4, 2026, instructions have been issued to ensure sanitation services from 8:00 PM to 2:00 AM. Ward in-charges have been ordered to provide sanitation workers. The protesters have questioned the rationale behind such an order, given that ward in-charges do not have any reserve sanitation workers at their disposal. Even if employees were available, what arrangements are in place at the municipal level for their safety and security? Who will be responsible for the lives and property of sanitation workers who are forced to work in the dark of night? This order is not only impractical but also jeopardizes the safety of the employees. Opposition to undue pressure on Valmiki employees and the appointment of non-Valmikis: The letter directly questions the Collector, asking why he himself gives directives in sanitation meetings at the municipal office, but these directives only apply to Valmiki sanitation workers? Has he ever requested a list from the Commissioner of those sanitation workers who have not been performing sanitation duties for the past 7 years? Most of these are non-Valmikis, and their inaction is causing the entire sanitation system to collapse. The protesters argued that if the responsibility for sanitation rests solely with Valmiki employees, then why are non-Valmikis being appointed to sanitation positions? These employees accept the appointments but then shirk their primary duty of sanitation work. The Collector is accused of pressuring Valmiki employees in meetings – trying to make them do more and more work, even attempting to make one employee do the work of four. This is inhumane. The Municipal Act stipulates 5 sanitation workers per 1000 population, but in reality, a ward has a population of 10-15 thousand, and there are only 15-20 employees. The protesters suggested that if a well-organized sanitation system is desired, then sufficient employees should be appointed in each ward to reduce the burden and ensure proper functioning. Biased Use of the Monitoring Team: The Collector has formed a supervisory team to improve sanitation, but this team is only monitoring the working (primarily Valmiki) employees. The activist asked whether such monitoring has ever been imposed on the negligent, lazy, and non-performing non-Valmiki employees? The answer is no, because the administration itself is protecting them. This is why they are acting with impunity, and the commissioner remains a silent spectator. At the end of the letter, the activist issued a strong warning: “For this, the organization will be forced to file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission against such officers and initiate legal proceedings, for which you will be solely responsible.” BJP Government Accused of ‘Manu Mentality’ In a conversation with ‘The Mooknayak’, the activist delved deeper into the root of the movement. He said, “Things are very bad for sanitation workers in Jodhpur. The municipal commissioner is working to suppress the Valmiki community. The current BJP government has a Manu mentality towards the Valmiki community. They are giving benefits to non-Valmiki sanitation workers, not making them do sanitation work, and have placed them in other departments. This is against the Constitution, but the municipal commissioner is running his own law. He is issuing orders as he pleases, acting arbitrarily. The opposition Congress is also helpless. The struggle has been going on since November 17, 2025, but the solution is still zero.” The activist emphasized that there are 3300 sanitation workers in Jodhpur, of which 700 are non-Valmiki. Due to their failure to perform sanitation work, the entire burden has fallen on the Valmiki community. The area of 60 wards has now increased to 100, doubling the pressure. The ward changes for 2000 employees on November 15, 2025, added fuel to the fire. He reminded that the agreement reached in the presence of MLAs Atul Bhansali and Devendra Joshi is not being followed, where the promise was made to restore original positions and assign women and disabled employees to nearby wards. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
The search for livelihood has robbed him of his existence; a Dalit son from Telangana is searching for proof of his Indianness in Dubai’s dungeon.
An Indian laborer who went abroad 8 years ago is now forced to languish in a Dubai jail due to the lack of a passport and other documents; his Dalit family has appealed for help. Dubai/Hyderabad: A man who went abroad with dreams of a bright future is now struggling behind bars to prove his citizenship. The case concerns a Dalit laborer from Telangana who has been stranded in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for nearly two decades. He has been jailed for illegally staying, but ironically, he has no documents left to prove his Indian identity. Now, his family is running around government offices to bring him back. What is the whole matter? 59-year-old Mandula Rajanna, a resident of Madhapur village in the Son Mandal of Nirmal district in Telangana, went to the UAE in 2007 in search of livelihood. There, he started working in a construction company. But circumstances led him to flee the company after just a year and has been living there as an illegal resident ever since. Rajanna belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) and hails from a remote village in the erstwhile Adilabad district. Being illiterate, he has no educational records. Today, 18 years later, when he wants to return home, proving his citizenship has become a herculean task. Neither Rajanna nor his family has a copy of his passport. His name is also not on the voter list. When he left India 18 years ago, Aadhaar was not mandatory, which is why he didn’t have an Aadhaar card. Lack of Documents and the System’s Fault According to Rajanna, when he arrived in Sharjah in 2007, biometric registration wasn’t in place. Employer companies often kept workers’ passports, and this is exactly what happened to Rajanna. The company he worked for later closed down, and no trace of his passport (either original or photocopy) was found. Debt Burden and the ‘Gold Loan’ Trap A major reason for Rajanna’s illegal stay was debt. Rajanna, a father of two, had taken a loan under the ‘Gulf Gold Loan System,’ prevalent in Telangana. Under this system, people borrow gold in tolas (tolas) and are required to repay the excess weight as interest. Rajanna had borrowed 4 tolas (tolas) of gold and was required to return 6 tolas (tolas). Unable to repay the loan on time due to employment problems, he did not take advantage of the amnesty schemes announced by the UAE government from time to time and continued working there secretly. Through hard work and odd jobs in the desert, he repaid his debt. Meanwhile, his children, Nitish and Nikhita, grew up, but Rajanna himself found himself in trouble with the law. Only a passbook is his support. Rajanna is currently in jail on charges of illegal residence. Indian Embassy officials visited him at the detention center, but they demanded a copy of his passport or other proof of citizenship for his release, which Rajanna was unable to provide. Now, his wife, Lakshmi, has appealed for help. She has contacted the Chief Minister’s Grievance Cell in Hyderabad and the Nirmal District Collector to help prove her husband’s Indian citizenship. Ironically, the family has only a bank passbook (with a photo) in Rajanna’s name as proof. Now, it remains to be seen how the administration will help this poor laborer return to his homeland. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Karnataka Honor Killing Case: Dalit Husband’s Anguish After Pregnant Wife’s Murder, Father Destroyed His Own Daughter’s World
Caste Pride Destroyed a Happy Family: Husband Vivekananda’s Painful Revelation After Pregnant Daughter’s Murder, Read the Full Story of the Hair-Raising Incident in Dharwad, Karnataka. New Delhi: “Manya’s father and my father were friends for a very long time,” Vivekananda Dhoddmani’s voice trembles as he says this. It is difficult for 22-year-old Dalit youth Vivekananda to understand how the wall of caste became so high that a father took the life of his own 20-year-old pregnant daughter. Two weeks have passed since this heartbreaking incident, but the question remains the same. Everything was fine until the friendship, but as soon as Vivekananda and Manya got married and crossed social boundaries, things changed. Speaking to the Indian Express with teary eyes, Vivekananda says, “I had a dream that perhaps one day my child would play in Manya’s father’s lap. I never imagined that the poison of caste would blind a father to such an extent that he would become his daughter’s murderer.” An Incident That Shook the Entire State Incidents of caste violence or ‘honor killings’ have occurred in Karnataka before, but the brutality with which pregnant Manya was murdered has shaken the entire state. While Dalit organizations have protested against it, Lingayat groups have also strongly condemned it and observed a ‘Repentance Day’. Currently, Manya’s father Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives Veerangouda Patil and Arunagouda Patil are in police custody. They have been booked under charges of murder and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Government and Administration Take Strict Action Considering the seriousness of the case, on January 4, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that a fast-track court and a special public prosecutor would be appointed to hear the case so that the victim gets justice as soon as possible. He also said that his government would consider bringing in special legislation to curb evil practices like ‘honor killings’. In Inam Veerapur village in Dharwad district, where both Vivekananda and Manya lived, the administration has increased security. Dharwad SP Gunjan Arya said that eight CCTV cameras have been installed for surveillance at the police station level. Vivekananda and his family have been provided with 24-hour security. To maintain peace in the village, the police have held meetings with the villagers and are also taking the help of local religious leaders. The love story that ended tragically Vivekananda, a final-year BA student, says that he and Manya met three years ago when Manya was in pre-university. At the time of the murder, she was an engineering student. Inam Veerapur is a small village with about a hundred houses. Here, 60% of the population belongs to the Lingayat community, while 25% are from the ST (Talwar group). There are only six houses belonging to the Dalit Madiga community, to which Vivekananda belongs. Being from the same village, they knew each other since childhood, and their families were also acquainted. Vivekananda said that when he expressed his love, Manya accepted it, but due to the circumstances in the village, they could not meet often. Elopement and police negligence A year ago, when Manya’s father got wind of their relationship, restrictions began. Manya’s family wanted her to marry someone else. Fed up with the harassment, Manya decided to leave home. The couple eloped, got married in a temple, and registered their marriage. When Manya’s father filed a missing person report, the couple appeared before the police and stated that they had married of their own free will. Vivekananda recalls that Manya’s father had also threatened them at the police station, but he thought it was said in anger and that everything would be fine with time. Two constables from the Hubli Rural Police Station have been suspended following Manya’s murder. SP Arya acknowledged that there was negligence on the part of the police and that they should have anticipated the possibility of an attack. The ‘Dark Evening’ and the Unfinished Exam After the marriage, fearing threats, the couple started living at a relative’s house in Haveri city. Vivekananda started working at a shop. He says those were some of the happiest days of their married life. Manya was very happy, but even the news of her pregnancy did not soften her family’s hearts. On December 21, when this heartbreaking incident occurred, they had come to the village to update their Aadhaar cards. The hospital had advised that Manya’s records should include her husband’s name. Besides, Vivekananda had to take the Railway Recruitment Board’s ‘Group D’ exam in Dharwad the next day. Around 5 PM, when Manya was at Vivekananda’s parents’ house, Prakashgouda Patil and his relatives attacked. Vivekananda was not there at the time. When he returned, he saw the attackers assaulting Manya and his parents. Vivekananda was chased away, but by then, the father had taken his daughter’s life. Vivekananda’s parents were also injured in the attack and had to spend two days in the hospital. Irony: The very tradition they followed took their lives The greatest irony in this entire incident is that Vivekananda’s family followed the Lingayat traditions. Vivekananda says, “I was given Linga initiation in my childhood. We follow the principles of Basavanna (the founder of Lingayat beliefs), and we don’t even cook non-vegetarian food at home.” Despite this, caste pride destroyed a happy family. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit woman raped after being lured with marriage promise: Physically abused for three years, police arrest the accused
A case of rape has come to light in the Manikpur police station area of Pratapgarh, where a Dalit woman was raped after being lured with a promise of marriage. A case was registered three years later, after which the absconding accused, Adarsh Singh, was arrested by the police. Adarsh Singh, a resident of Miria village, frequently visited his relative’s shop. During this time, he met a Dalit woman who worked at the shop. Gradually, their conversations increased, and the accused trapped the woman in a love affair, promising to marry her. It is alleged that Adarsh Singh physically exploited the woman for about three years under the pretext of marriage. When the woman pressured him to marry her, the accused refused, citing that it was an inter-caste marriage. Following this, the victim filed a complaint at the Manikpur police station regarding the incident. Based on the complaint, the police registered a case against the accused, Adarsh Singh, under various serious sections, including rape and the SC/ST Act. The accused had been absconding since the case was registered. A police team led by Sub-Inspector Amarnath Singh took action and arrested the absconding accused, Adarsh Singh, near the Upper Primary School in Khamsara. After the arrest, the accused was brought to the police station for questioning, and after legal proceedings, he was produced before the court. The police said that a fair investigation of the case will be conducted, and further action will be taken. Manu Kumar Singh | Pratapgarh Courtesy: Hindi News
Attempted abduction of Dalit teenager in Meerut: Mother attacked with a sharp weapon for resisting, condition critical
An attempt was made to abduct a minor Dalit girl in the Sardhana police station area of Meerut on Thursday morning. When the girl’s mother resisted, she was attacked with a sharp weapon, leaving her seriously injured. She has been admitted to a private hospital in Meerut, where her condition remains critical. According to the victim’s family, the incident occurred around 8 am on Thursday. The woman was going to the fields with her 17-year-old daughter to cut sugarcane. Near the canal, some young men from the same village stopped them. It is alleged that the youths misbehaved with the mother and daughter, and when they resisted, they started verbally abusing and assaulting them. It is alleged that the accused used casteist slurs and attacked the woman on the head with an axe. The woman was seriously injured in the attack and fell unconscious on the spot. After this, the accused abducted the minor girl and fled the scene. Upon receiving information about the incident, family members and villagers reached the spot. They admitted the injured woman to the hospital. The woman’s condition remains critical in the hospital. Based on the complaint filed by the victim’s family, the police have started an investigation into the matter. CO Ashutosh Kumar said that a case has been registered based on the complaint. The search for the accused is underway, and they will be arrested soon. Ajay Kumar | Sardhana, Meerut Courtesy: Hindi News
AIBE 20 result released at allindiabarexamination.com: Check direct link, more details here
AIBE 20 result: The Bar Council of India has released the result for the All India Bar Examination-XX (AIBE-XX). The link is not yet activated on the official website. The exam was held on November 30, 2025. It took place across 399 centres in 56 cities. A total of 2,51,968 candidates appeared for the test. The overall pass percentage stands at 69.21 per cent. A total of 1,74,386 candidates have qualified, while 77,579 did not clear the examination. The candidate pool showed wide participation. It included 1,65,613 male candidates, 86,336 female candidates and 19 transgender candidates. The Bar Council of India said the examination was conducted in a smooth and orderly manner. It followed all prescribed norms. Fairness and transparency were ensured throughout. Category-wise and gender-wise outcomes Among male candidates, 1,13,063 qualified. The number of qualified female candidates stood at 61,310. Thirteen transgender candidates cleared the exam. Category-wise data shows the highest number of qualifiers from the unreserved category, followed by Other Backward Class, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe candidates. High-level monitoring ensured smooth conduct The examination was conducted under the direct supervision of the Monitoring Committee of the All India Bar Examination. The committee was headed by Justice Hima Kohli, former judge of the Supreme Court of India. Members included Prof. (Dr.) Manoj Kumar Sinha, Vice-Chancellor of Dharmashastra National Law University, and Prof. (Dr.) Sanjeevi Shanthakumar, Director of Gujarat National Law University. Senior legal academicians served as special invitees. Answer key review led to key revisions Following the exam, provisional answer keys were uploaded and objections were invited. All objections were examined by the Subject Oversight Committee. After detailed scrutiny, the Monitoring Committee withdrew five questions found to be incorrect. For two questions, two answers were accepted as correct. Full marks were awarded in such cases. The final result was calculated out of 95 marks. AIBE 20 result 2026: Steps to download scorecards Candidates can follow the steps elucidated here to download the AIBE 20 result 2026 once the link is activated on the official website: Visit the official website of the Bar Council of India at allindiabarexamination.com. On the homepage, click on the link for AIBE-XX Result. Enter the required login details, such as roll number or registration credentials. Submit the details. The AIBE-XX result will appear on the screen. Download the result and take a printout for future reference. Candidates can click on the link provided here to download the official notice related to the AIBE 20 result release. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Modi bowed under Trump’s pressure; Rahul Gandhi, invoking Indira Gandhi’s name, said, “Understand the difference, Sir.”
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has accused PM Modi of surrendering to the US. He said that Modi bowed to Trump’s dictates, while then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi did not yield to American threats during the 1971 war. New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, has targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of succumbing to pressure. He also compared Modi’s leadership to that of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi’s statement comes a day after US President Donald Trump’s statement in which he claimed that PM Modi had sought an appointment with him. Trump also mentioned high tariffs imposed by India. Trump says that the Indian government is now paying very high tariffs. The US President also claimed that India has significantly reduced its purchase of Russian oil. BJP-RSS people run away under a little pressure: Rahul Meanwhile, Rahul Gandhi shared a video message on X, captioned – Understand the difference, Sir. Rahul Gandhi said, “I know these BJP-RSS people very well now. Put a little pressure on them, give them a little push, and they run away in fear.” Rahul claims Modi surrendered at Trump’s behest Rahul Gandhi said, “As soon as Trump gave a signal from there, he picked up the phone and said, ‘Modi ji, what are you doing?’ Narendra surrendered and saying ‘Yes sir’, Narendra Modi followed Trump’s instructions.” Referring to the 1971 war, he said Indira did not bow before America Comparing it to the 1971 war, Rahul Gandhi said that India once stood strong despite American pressure. Referring to the US Seventh Fleet, he said, “You might remember the time when there was no phone call – the Seventh Fleet came. In the 1971 war, the Seventh Fleet came, weapons came, an aircraft carrier came.” Indira Gandhi said, “I will do what I have to do. That’s the difference between the BJP and the Congress.” Trump’s claim that Rahul Gandhi used to target Modi In fact, Trump has imposed a total of 50% tariff on Indian exports, which includes a 25% tax due to buying oil from Russia. Trump said, “I have a very good relationship with him (Modi). He is not very happy with me because now he has to pay a lot more tariffs. He has significantly reduced buying oil from Russia.” These tariffs, imposed in August, have led to several rounds of trade talks and at least four conversations between the two leaders, but no bilateral trade agreement has been reached yet. Trump also said that India has cited delays in the delivery of Apache helicopters, and claimed that New Delhi has been waiting for these aircraft for five years. Curated by: Varun Shailesh About the Author Varun Shailesh is an Assistant News Editor at Navbharat Times Online. He has over 15 years of experience in current affairs, politics, social issues, and features. He started his career with the news agency IANS in 2009. He worked at the central desk of Hindustan (Hindustan Times Group) for more than 5 years. Courtesy: Hindi News
Samajwadi Party leader says Yadavs are not Hindus, triggers row
He alleged that the current BJP-led central government has organised the most atrocities against Dalits. New Delhi: Samajwadi Party leader Shivraj Singh Yadav sparked controversy with his “Yadavs are not Hindus” comment as he slammed the caste system and criticised how it puts Shudras at the bottom of the hierarchy. He rejected the Hindu identity due to the caste-based discrimination in Hindu texts, citing the scripture, Manusmriti. “I do not follow a religion that treats a human being as lower than a dog,” he said. Yadav, a close aide of Akhilesh Yadav, was addressing a public meeting called “PDA Patshala” in the Dandiyamai village of Sirsaganj Assembly Constituency in Uttar Pradesh, an event for Dalits, backward classes, and minorities. “Brahmin, we are not. Kshatriya, we are not. Vaishya, we are not. Now, which one is left? Shudra.” “So if we are Hindus, I’m just saying, because being Hindu is not mandatory. Like I say on every platform, I am not Hindu. I am Shivraj Singh Yadav, and I am a human. I am not Hindu. Because the religion that makes a human lower than a dog, I don’t follow that religion at all, never,” he added. Yadav alleged that the current BJP-led central government has organised the most atrocities against Dalits and backward classes. He further explained the PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) concept, stating that nearly 90 per cent of the population, which is comprised of Dalits, backward classes and minorities, are constantly overpowered and excluded, while a small group controls the system. Several leaders from the Yadav community have publicly distanced themselves from the Hindu identity, different to the Dalits themselves, who reject the religion through conversions to Buddhism, Christianity or Islam. The socialist party is known for accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party of being anti-Dalit and anti-backwards class, with Akhilesh Yadav also claiming that there has been an apparent rise in atrocities under the government. Meanwhile, BJP Andhra Pradesh spokesperson Dr Vinusha Reddy accused Yadav of taking part in identity politics “to break Hindu unity.” He said that the party’s remarks showed where its vote bank is, for which the party “would do anything.” Shivraj Singh Yadav later issued a clarification, denying that he said he was not a Hindu, and said the virality of the comment was a “BJP conspiracy.” “I never said that I am Yadav but not a Hindu. I will take them (the BJP) to court in this matter. The viral video is part of BJP’s conspiracy. When BJP sees that its secrets are being exposed, they resort to such tactics to set a narrative like this…” Courtesy : Telangana Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/telanganatoday.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Man jailed for life for rape of dalit girl
Trichy: A 35-year-old man was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Trichy mahila court on Tuesday for the abduction and sexual assault of a six-year-old dalit girl on Jan 31, 2021. M Neerkathalingam, from Trichy district, abducted the girl playing near her home and sexually assaulted her. The chargesheet was filed on April 2, 2021. Following a trial, sessions judge D Shanmugapriya pronounced the sentence. Neerkathalingam received life imprisonment under the Pocso Act with a fine of Rs 2,000 and another life term under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act with a fine of Rs 1,000, alongside 10 years rigorous imprisonment under IPC Section 366 (kidnapping) and one year under Section 342 (wrongful confinement), each with fine of Rs 1,000. The court ruled that all sentences be served concurrently. Trichy police commissioner N Kamini praised the Fort police team for the investigation leading to the conviction. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit, tribal women in Delhi commemorate Savitribai Phule, reiterate education and dignity
A series of community-based events marking the Jayanti of Savitribai Phule were organised across working-class and marginalised neighbourhoods of Delhi in December 2025 and early January 2026 by the Dalit Adivasi Shakti Adhikar Manch (DASAM) and its women’s collective, Mahila Kaamkaji Manch (MKM). The commemorations sought to move beyond symbolic observance and instead create spaces for dialogue, reflection and collective resistance, foregrounding education as a question of rights, dignity and social transformation. Savitribai Phule, widely recognised as India’s first woman teacher and a pioneering social reformer, was remembered for her role in challenging caste oppression, patriarchy and social exclusion through education. Organisers highlighted that at a time when educating girls and oppressed communities was considered an act of defiance, Phule’s work asserted education as a fundamental right rather than an act of charity, and as a pathway to liberation. The programme began on December 21 in Khichdipur and continued across several slum clusters and informal settlements in the capital. These neighbourhoods, while facing chronic issues such as displacement, inadequate civic services and structural exclusion, were described by organisers as sites of collective strength and grassroots organising. One of the key gatherings was held on December 28 at Naraina Pahari in New Delhi, where Dalit and tribal women from different generations came together to reflect on Savitribai Phule’s life, her struggles and her enduring relevance to their own lived experiences. During the interactions, women spoke about how Phule’s courage resonated with their daily efforts to educate their children, particularly daughters, despite poverty, discrimination and systemic barriers. Young girls shared that learning about her life strengthened their belief that education could challenge injustice and affirm self-respect and dignity. Participants also spoke at length about the harsh conditions they confront, including the absence of adequate housing and sanitation, limited access to quality education, high school dropout rates, severe financial constraints that force families to prioritise survival over schooling, demands for bribes in employment, acute water shortages, lack of toilets affecting women’s safety, unsafe working conditions without job or social security, and extremely low wages. Women further highlighted how extreme weather conditions exacerbate their struggles, with inadequate housing making summers unbearable and winters harsh. Frequent illnesses among children, including dengue, malaria, seasonal fevers and respiratory infections, were cited as an additional burden on families already struggling to survive. The organisers noted that through these events they interacted with thousands of Dalit and tribal women employed as domestic workers, sanitation workers, sweepers, cooks, construction workers and other informal sector labourers, who face multiple and intersecting forms of marginalisation based on gender, caste and class. A significant aspect of the commemorations was the public honouring of women and girls from these communities, which organisers said was a deliberate attempt to affirm girls’ education, self-worth and collective responsibility. The gesture challenged entrenched social attitudes that view daughters as a burden, instead recognising them as bearers of hope and social change. The series of events concluded on January 4, 2026, at Kusum Pur Pahari, where the occasion was marked with the participation of women, children and youth from the Dalit settlement. According to DASAM, the commemorations were intended not only to remember Savitribai Phule but to actively carry forward her legacy by strengthening collective organising and ensuring that the voices of working-class women are heard. The organisers said the gatherings reaffirmed the vision of education as a tool for liberation and as a means to challenge caste, gender and class oppression. By A Representative Courtesy : Counterview Note: This news is originally published on https:/counterview.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights