“No Permission Needed”: Dalit Bahujan Front Rebuilds Ambedkar Statue Platform in Telangana After Government Demolition
Dalit activists rebuilt an Ambedkar statue platform in Velur village, Wargal mandal, a day after R&B officials demolished it under police protection overnight. Dalit activists staged a protest and rebuilt a platform for installing a statue of Dr B. R. Ambedkar at Velur village in Wargal mandal on Wednesday, a day after Roads and Buildings department officials demolished the original structure under police protection. The incident has drawn sharp criticism from Dalit organisations across the district. What Happened at Velur Village Members of the Dalit and backward class communities in the village had constructed a platform along with pillars around it about a week ago with the intention of installing a statue of Dr Ambedkar. R&B officials subsequently objected to the construction, claiming the land on which the platform was built belonged to their department, even though the location was reportedly around 50 feet away from the road. Following a complaint from R&B officials, Gouraram police registered a case against 14 Dalits from the village. On Tuesday night, R&B officials removed the platform under police security, drawing immediate anger from the community. Community Returns, Builds Again News of the demolition spread quickly and drew Dalit activists from across the district to the village on Wednesday. Despite the presence of police, a large number of people gathered and constructed a fresh platform at the same site. Dalit Bahujan Front secretary Shankar addressed the gathering and made clear that the community would not be deterred. “We will not tolerate any attempt to create obstacles in our efforts,” he said, warning that they would confront anyone who tried to prevent the installation of the statue. Shankar also dismissed the need for any official permission for the act. He said the community had every right to install the statue of Dr Ambedkar and that no approval was required from any authority, as Ambedkar was the principal architect of the Indian Constitution. Courtesy : TOP Note: This news is originally published on https:/theobserverpost.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Reservation vs affirmative action
Dalit assertion in India is different from Black political mobilisation in the US. For one, the faculty of elite institutions in America are much more diverse than in India. Reservations were designed as corrective mechanisms in a society where social capital, networks and inherited privilege determine life trajectories The recurring charge that marginalised communities advance by ‘playing the victim card’ reflects a deep misunderstanding of both history and constitutional morality. In India, the language of victimhood is often deployed to delegitimise Dalit assertion and trivialise structural discrimination. Yet, constitutional democracy does not treat the articulation of injustice as a pathology; it treats it as the starting point of reform. The debate must therefore shift from personalities to principles: from rhetorical dismissals to a substantive examination of Dalit rights, and from superficial comparisons with American race politics to a grounded comparative analysis of affirmative action in the US and reservation policy in India. Attempts to equate Dalit assertion with Black political mobilisation in the US frequently ignore a fundamental difference identified by B R Ambedkar. He argued that untouchability is structurally distinct from slavery. Slavery, however brutal, permitted the theoretical possibility of emancipation through legal abolition. Untouchability, by contrast, was a system of graded exclusion embedded in social, religious and economic life. It did not merely subordinate; it stigmatised and segregated across generations. Ambedkar warned that statutory reform alone would not dissolve caste stigma. The social order would require sustained intervention—educational, administrative and political—to dismantle entrenched hierarchies. The Indian Constitution thus embedded reservations not as charity, but as instruments of equal citizenship. Consider faculty diversity in elite institutions. In the US, even the most prestigious universities have institutionalised diversity monitoring. At Harvard, roughly a quarter of the faculty belongs to minority groups such as Blacks, Hispanics and Asians. This has not diluted academic excellence; Harvard continues to rank at the top globally. Contrast this with India’s premier science and technology institutions. An analysis published in Nature reported that at leading IITs and at the Indian Institute of Science, nearly 98 percent of professors are drawn from socially privileged castes. Assistant and associate professors too show a similar skew. Even in universities celebrated for progressive politics, representation of scheduled castes, scheduled tribes and other backward classes among faculty remains disproportionately low. This divergence is not incidental. In India, recruitment processes often involve roster complexities, interview-stage filtering, and the recurrent declaration of candidates as ‘not found suitable’. These mechanisms cumulatively impede the entry of marginalised scholars into higher decision-making echelons. The issue, therefore, is not about ‘victimhood’, but about measurable access to institutional power. A comparison of government workforce statistics further clarifies the structural gap. In the US, Whites constitute approximately 61 percent of the population and hold about 59 percent of federal government positions—a narrow variance. Black Americans form roughly 18 percent and hold about 12 percent of federal positions. While disparities remain, representation is broadly aligned with demographic presence, and Black participation in higher administrative tiers has steadily improved over decades. In India, the demographic picture is starkly different. SCs, STs and OBCs together constitute close to 80 percent of the population. Yet their aggregate representation across Union government services is just above 50 percent. This headline number conceals deeper stratification: marginalised groups are concentrated in Group C and D positions, while their presence in Group A and senior civil services remains far below their proportionate share. The representational gap—nearly 28 percentage points between population share and government jobs—cannot be dismissed as incidental. It signals enduring barriers to upward mobility within the state apparatus itself. Another important distinction lies in the scope of intervention. In the US, affirmative action historically extended beyond public universities to federal contracting, corporate diversity mandates and structured minority enterprise programmes. Even where judicial retrenchment has occurred in recent years, diversity practices remain embedded in corporate governance and hiring frameworks. In India, reservations are largely confined to public sector employment and publicly funded educational institutions. The private corporate sector, which commands increasing economic influence, operates without comparable mandatory inclusion mechanisms. Moreover, disparities in primary and secondary education—where marginalised children disproportionately attend under-resourced schools—compound inequality long before university admissions begin. Thus, the structural ecosystem supporting Black upward mobility in the US has been broader than the Indian framework supporting Dalit advancement. The claim that Dalit assertion mirrors a ‘temporary drug’ mischaracterises the nature of constitutional safeguards. Reservations were not designed as emotional compensations; they were designed as corrective mechanisms in a society where social capital, networks, and inherited privilege determine life trajectories. Empirical evidence across wealth distribution, land ownership, literacy, and professional representation demonstrates persistent intergenerational disparity among Dalits and Adivasis. While Black Americans continue to face racial inequality, their integration into mainstream educational and administrative institutions is measurably higher than Dalit integration into elite Indian institutions. The argument, therefore, is not about comparative suffering as a moral competition. It is about recognising that the structural design of caste exclusion has produced uniquely durable inequalities. Public acknowledgment of this reality is not self-pity; it is democratic accountability. A mature democracy does not silence marginalised voices by branding them perpetual victims. It measures inclusion, audits outcomes, and reforms institutions accordingly. If India seeks to become a genuinely developed nation, representation in knowledge systems, civil services, and wealth creation cannot remain skewed. The relevant question is not whether Dalits speak too often of discrimination. It is whether the Republic has fulfilled its constitutional promise of equality of status and opportunity. To describe Dalit rights discourse as “victimhood” is to misunderstand both history and the Constitution. Assertion is not weakness; it is participation in the democratic project. The true benchmark of progress will not be rhetorical discomfort with grievance, but tangible parity in education, employment, and institutional authority. Only when representation reflects demographic reality—and when stigma no longer determines destiny—can the debate on victimhood finally become obsolete. Nethrapal Nethrapal | Commissioner of income tax and author of The Pain of Merit (Views are personal) Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news
Internal reservation: Dalit Ministers hold meetings to arrive at a consensus ahead of Karnataka Cabinet meeting on March 5
Ahead of the Cabinet meeting during which the internal reservation issue is scheduled to be discussed, Dalit Ministers held parleys to arrive at a possible broader consensus on the issue that has now driven a wedge among Scheduled Castes and left the Cabinet divided Ahead of the Cabinet meeting on Thursday during which the internal reservation issue is scheduled to be discussed, Dalit Ministers on Wednesday held parleys to arrive at a possible broader consensus on the issue that has now driven a wedge among Scheduled Castes and left the Cabinet divided. The BJP, meanwhile, has announced a State-wide protest against the confusion. Ministers from both the Dalit Right (Holeya) and the Dalit Left (Madiga) castes separately met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, the senior most Dalit leader in the State. Dalit Left Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and R.B. Thimmapur also met Dalit Right Minister G. Parameshwara to find a possible solution. Kharge’s guidance Mr. Muniyappa said they held a comprehensive discussion with Mr. Kharge on implementing internal reservation, and the latter gave guidance to arrive at a settlement. “A just and balanced sharing of reservation among the SCs will be discussed with the Chief Minister,” he said. The Cabinet is divided over the government’s decision to kickstart the recruitment process for 56,432 posts, adhering to the 50% cap in reservation and without internal reservation among SCs. While the Dalit Right Ministers are against internal reservation within 15% quota for SCs, the Dalit Left Ministers are insisting the internal reservation matrix should be drawn for the 15% quota. Meanwhile, defending the decision, another Dalit Right Minister Priyank Kharge told presspersons about the legal hurdles, “The government favouring social justice stopped recruitment process before the internal quota matrix was drawn. Based on empirical data, the legislature passed a law. How are we then against internal reservation? If someone goes to court, is it the government’s fault? There are a total of six cases in court.” Stating that everything had to be done legally, he said, “We have been transparent. We are ready to provide 6% as backlog. Let the court give its verdict.” On the opposition to 15% reservation for SCs, he said, “Is there empirical data for 15%? It (data) was (based on) a 15-year-old census. We do not know how it was arrived at.” State-wide protest Accusing the Congress government of meting out injustice to Scheduled Castes communities, the BJP has warned of a State-wide protest if provisions were not made for including internal reservation for SC communities during the proposed recruitment initiative. Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru on Wednesday, BJP State president B.Y. Vijayendra took exception to the decision to go ahead with the recruitment without internal reservation and also peg the total reservation quantum at 50% as against 56% provided by the erstwhile BJP government. He warned that this would create unrest among oppressed communities. Mr. Vijayendra accused Chief Minister Siddaramaiah of meting out injustice to Dalits despite coming to power with the support of communities from AHINDA (Kannada acronym for Minorities, Backward Classes and Dalits). He said that the government was citing the reservation issues being challenged before the court as an “alibi.” Right and Left divide The Dalit Left communities, under the Federation of Madiga Sanghas, are also seeking legal opinion about the government decision to keep away internal reservation from the recruitment process. A handbill issued to create awareness in the community terms the decision on internal reservation as “betrayal by Congress”. On the other hand, welcoming the government’s decision to hold recruitment with 15% quota and without internal reservation, the Federation of Karnataka State Dalit Right Communities has asked the government to reject the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission report as “unscientific” since it had “under reported” the numbers of Dalit Right by spreading communities in various other categories. K.H. Muniyappa Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit outfit’s 13-year wait for Ambedkar statue ends in TN’s Erachakulam
Sources said the authorities did not grant permission to the outfit to install the statue allegedly because it did not have patta land. KANNIYAKUMARI: Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin is scheduled to unveil a nine-ft bronze statue of Dr BR Ambedkar at Arulgnanapuram in Erachakulam on Friday, bringing to fruition the 13-year-long struggle of Tamil Nadu Dalit Rights Protection Movement that has been trying to install the statue. Sources said the authorities did not grant permission to the outfit to install the statue allegedly because it did not have patta land. Vai Dinakaran, president of the outfit said the unveiling of the statue would help the DMK garner Dalit community votes in the district. After 13 years of struggle, we received permission from the district administration to instal a 9-feet bronze statue of Dr Ambedkar last year. We staged 42 protests for this over the last 13 years, including black flag protest, hunger protest and a month long continuous protest in 2024. Both the previous DMK and previous AIADMK governments refused permission stating the land meant for installing the statue was not a patta land. Hence, we brought 2.5 cents patta land and installed the statue.” The deputy Chief Minister unveiling the statue will make the Ambedkar followers happy and would help the DMK in the assembly election, he added. M Abdul Rabi Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/tkenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Dalit leaders clash over internal reservation as Karnataka plans 56,000 recruitments
Bengaluru: Amid the ongoing power-sharing tensions within the Karnataka Congress, a fresh controversy has erupted among Scheduled Caste leaders over the issue of internal reservation in the proposed recruitment of 56,000 government posts. The state government’s decision to proceed with the recruitment process without applying internal reservation has triggered sharp differences between Dalit “left-hand” and “right-hand” communities within the party. Leaders from the Dalit left-hand community have expressed strong dissatisfaction, fearing that their share of opportunities could be diluted if internal reservation is not implemented within the existing quota. The development has intensified political pressure on the government led by Siddaramaiah. What triggered the controversy? Earlier, the Karnataka government had decided to provide 17 percent reservation to Scheduled Castes based on the recommendations of the committee headed by Justice H. N. Nagamohan Das. However, the move faced a legal hurdle after the reservation ceiling crossed 50 percent, taking the total to about 56 percent. The Supreme Court of India subsequently stayed the implementation of the enhanced quota. Following large-scale protests by job aspirants in Dharwad demanding immediate recruitment to vacant government posts, the state cabinet decided to go ahead with filling about 56,000 posts based on the existing 50 percent reservation cap. However, while implementing the recruitment process, the government reportedly decided not to apply internal reservation within the 15 percent quota reserved for Scheduled Castes. Instead, the recruitment is expected to be carried out through a general distribution within the SC category. Dalit leaders demand internal quota This decision has angered leaders belonging to the Dalit left-hand community, who insist that internal reservation must be implemented within the 15 percent SC quota. They argue that the distribution should follow the same pattern proposed under the 17 percent reservation framework recommended earlier. According to them, failing to implement internal reservation within the 15 percent quota would deny fair representation to certain sub-castes within the Scheduled Caste community. The issue has also created political tension within the Congress party. Leaders from the Dalit left-hand community allege that the delay in implementing internal reservation is due to pressure from ministers representing the right-hand community. Separate meetings and political pressure Amid the growing dispute, leaders from both factions have reportedly held separate meetings and submitted their concerns to Mallikarjun Kharge, President of the Indian National Congress. They have demanded that internal reservation be implemented while distributing the 15 percent quota during the recruitment process. Senior ministers including R. B. Timmapur and K. H. Muniyappa have strongly supported the immediate implementation of internal reservation. However, ministers representing the right-hand Dalit community have not yet publicly expressed a clear stand on the issue, further deepening divisions. Meanwhile, Govind Karjol of the Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded that the government issue orders implementing internal reservation during the upcoming cabinet meeting. Crucial cabinet meeting A cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled for Thursday evening, where the issue of internal reservation is expected to be discussed. Sources say both Siddaramaiah and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge have advised Dalit ministers to arrive at a consensus before a final decision is taken. In the previous cabinet meeting, guidelines were issued for recruitment based on the 50 percent reservation framework, but internal reservation was not included. Whether the government will revise the guidelines and incorporate internal reservation is now being keenly watched. The decision taken in the upcoming cabinet meeting is likely to have significant political implications, both within the Congress party and among Scheduled Caste communities in Karnataka. Courtesy : THI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehansindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress surprises with ‘unblemished’ Haryana Dalit leader Karamvir Baudh’s Rajya Sabha nomination
Baudh is a former Haryana government employee, having served 32 years in the Haryana Civil Secretariat with a clean record The Congress surprised many by announcing Dalit activist Karamvir Singh Baudh, a ticket aspirant from the reserved Mullana assembly segment in Ambala, as the party’s candidate for the Rajya Sabha seat. While the party was keen on an “insider” candidate, it chose an SC leader to balance caste representation in the state. Among other contenders were former state chiefs Udai Bhan and Ashok Tanwar, both SCs; former MLA Jaiveer Balmiki, also an SC; and three Ahir leaders—state chief Rao Narendra Singh, Rao Dan Singh, and Capt Ajay Yadav. Ultimately, the party opted for Baudh, a Dalit activist closely associated with SC employees and the SC officers’ lobby within the Haryana bureaucracy. Belonging to Rohtak, he is seen as a neutral candidate with no allegiance to any of the multiple party factions. His name was proposed by the AICC SC cell. Who is Karamvir Singh Baudh? Baudh is a former Haryana government employee, having served 32 years in the Haryana Civil Secretariat with an unblemished record. He held key positions, including Administrative Officer, and had responsibilities in the Home Department and Industries & Commerce Department. He also worked on governance coordination, vigilance assignments, and policy implementation. He has built strong credibility among SC government employees, advocating for service justice and reservation in promotions aligned with the 85th Constitutional Amendment. Since 1998, Baudh has been active in grassroots Dalit mobilization and social justice leadership. He has served as the President of the Confederation of SC/ST/OBCs Haryana since 1998. Originally from Bhaini Maharajpur village in the Meham Assembly segment of Rohtak district, Baudh completed his early education in Meham before moving to Ambala after securing a government job. Article_Author Geetanjali Gayatri Courtesy : The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https:/thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
TN: Disabled Dalit man, Odisha migrant worker killed in caste attack; accused linked to previous caste violence
Speaker of Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly M. Appavu comforts the family of the injured at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital on March 3, 2026 A horrific incident of alleged caste violence has been reported from Nanguneri in Tirunelveli district, Tamil Nadu, where a disabled Dalit man and a migrant worker from Odisha were killed in a brutal attack in Perumpaththu village. It has also emerged that two of the accused had previously been charged in another caste attack a few years ago, though their identities were withheld then under the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act. According to reports, on March 2, seven men armed with sickles carried out an indiscriminate attack in Perumpaththu village, near Nanguneri. The assault left two people dead, a disabled Dalit man and a migrant labourer from Odisha, while six others, including members of an Other Backward Class (OBC) community, sustained injuries. Police have arrested seven accused, identified as Kannan (21), Vasantha Kumar (21), Anthony Michel (18), Uchimahali alias Mittai (20), Raja alias Esakkiraja (19), Subbaia alias Subash (19), and Kalyani (19). While police initially did not confirm the motive behind the attack, reports now indicate that the assault was allegedly planned by a group of young men from dominant intermediate castes to intimidate and silence Dalit youth in the area. One of the accused is reportedly the nephew of R. S. Sudalaikannu, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) union secretary of Nanguneri. However, Sudalaikannu has stated that he has had no contact with his nephew for the past five years. The region had only recently begun recovering from another caste-related attack. In August 2023, seven teenage boys from the Maravar (Most Backward Class) community allegedly attacked a Dalit student, Chinnadurai, with sickles inside his home in Nanguneri town. Chinnadurai survived the assault but was grievously injured, while his 13-year-old sister, who rushed to help him, was also wounded. The attackers were reportedly angered by Chinnadurai’s academic success, and he had allegedly faced caste-based harassment for several years before the assault. Following the 2023 attack and the public outrage that followed, the Tamil Nadu government appointed a one-person commission headed by retired Justice K. Chandru. After its investigation, the commission recommended banning the wearing of coloured threads and other caste markers in schools. Meanwhile, residents of Perumpaththu village from both Backward Class (BC) and Dalit communities staged protests after the latest attack. On Wednesday afternoon, the family of Odisha migrant worker D. Trinath Kata received his body and cremated it at the Tirunelveli Corporation crematorium, while also seeking financial assistance from the Tamil Nadu and Odisha governments. Meanwhile, the family of John Mark, the Scheduled Caste victim, refused to receive his body, demanding the arrest of all those involved and strict action against the culprits. The Tirunelveli District Police on Wednesday said that all the accused involved in the March 2 murder incident at Perumpathu village near Nanguneri have been secured, arrested, and remanded to judicial custody following an investigation by the Nanguneri Police Station. In a statement, police said they had also noticed several individuals posting provocative and divisive content on social media related to the incident, using abusive and inflammatory language that could disturb public peace and law and order. Authorities said legal action has been initiated against those spreading such objectionable content online. Cases have already been registered at the Vijayanarayanam Police Station and Nanguneri Police Station, and efforts are underway to identify and arrest those responsible for the posts. Prassanna Kumar, Superintendent of Police, Tirunelveli district, warned that strict legal action would be taken against anyone spreading provocative, divisive, or violence-inciting content on social media. Police also urged the public to avoid sharing misleading or inflammatory messages online and to act responsibly in the interest of communal harmony and public peace. Courtesy : Maktoob Media Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Under pressure from the Dalit Left, recruitment GO likely to come up for discussion again in Karnataka Cabinet
Dalit left community delegation, including Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and R.B. Thimmapur, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday and is learnt to have exerted pressure for withdrawal of GO on recruitment The Dalit Left community has also sought replacement of Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, accusing him of being ‘biased’ against internal reservation. The Dalit Left community has also sought replacement of Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, accusing him of being ‘biased’ against internal reservation. | Photo Credit: file photo Under pressure from Dalit Left community leaders, who have criticised a Government Order that has not provided for internal reservation for the recruitment of 56,432 posts, the State government is likely to discuss the reservation issue again during the next Cabinet meeting. The issue seems to have driven a wedge among the Dalit communities in the State. On Tuesday, a Dalit Left community delegation, including Cabinet Ministers K.H. Muniyappa and R.B. Thimmapur, met Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and is learnt to have exerted pressure for the withdrawal of the notification. It has also sought replacement of Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa, accusing him of being “biased” against the internal reservation. Later in the evening, the two Ministers told prespersons that the matter would be discussed during the next Cabinet meeting on Thursday. Disappointed, say Ministers Sources said that the two Ministers expressed their disappointment and disapproval of the GO that has asked recruitment authorities/department to stick to the reservation quota that existed before December 2022, which effectively means sticking to the 50% cap and without internal reservation. Sources said that the two Ministers told the Chief Minister that they were kept in the dark and were not told about internal reservation not being part of the GO. Among others present in the delegation were former MLC and KPCC SC cell head Dharmasena, former Minister Anjaneya, and former MP L. Hanumanthaiah. The Dalit Left community has been upset over the State government’s plan to recruit 56,432 posts, one of the biggest recruitment drives in recent decades, without implementing the internal reservation. This comes amid the Karnataka Sub classification Bill that seeks to provide internal reservation in 17% quota getting Governor’s assent. The community estimates that SCs and STs will lose 1,129 posts and 2,258 posts, respectively, as per the GO. Resignation sought In another development on Tuesday, a number of Dalit Left community organisations that met here decided to seek the resignation of Dr. Mahadevappa, and immediate withdrawal of the GO. A note issued after the meeting said that the government should reconsider recommendations of either the A.J. Sadashiva Commission or the H.N. Nagamohan Das Commission to ascertain backwardness. They also discussed the future action to exert pressure on the government not to hold recruitment without internal reservation. The Hindu Bureau Courtesy : The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
EPS slams CM Stalin over ‘poor L&O’, says Dalits under repeated attacks
TVK president Vijay expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. TIRUNELVELI: AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the DMK government over the sickle attack carried out by a nine-member gang at Perumpathu near Nanguneri on Monday night, in which two persons were killed and several others injured. In a statement on X handle, Palaniswami said Chief Minister MK Stalin had spent the past five years in a lethargic manner, as if law and order was not a priority. He charged that the government has been focusing only on promotional campaigns while violence continued across the state. Referring to the incident, Palaniswami said residents belonging to the Scheduled Caste community in the area were staging protests claiming that they were being repeatedly targeted. “Does the government intend to keep Tamil Nadu in constant fear and tension,” he asked. TVK president Vijay expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. He questioned whether there was any guarantee for the safety of people. BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran alleged that the growing use of drugs and liquor had contributed to such incidents. TNCC president K Selvaperunthagai demanded stringent action against those responsible. NTK chief Seeman, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss and former BJP state president K Annamalai also condemned the government. Courtesy : TNIE Note: This news is originally published on https:/thenewindianexpress.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Karnataka: A major initiative against untouchability; the government opened a salon after a barber refused to cut the hair of Dalits.
Following the high-handedness of barbers in Gadag, Karnataka, the government launched a historic initiative, opening a “government salon” in a village to eradicate untouchability and caste discrimination. Karnataka: The Karnataka government has taken a significant step towards eradicating caste discrimination. After local barbers in Singatalur village, Gadag district, refused to provide services to Dalits, the government opened a new salon in the village at its own expense. This is likely the first government initiative of its kind in the state. This government salon has been built on government land near the village bus stand. Several officials from the Social Welfare Department and the Gram Panchayat were present at the inauguration. Constructed at a cost of ₹1.2 lakh The Social Welfare Department spent approximately ₹1.2 lakh on the construction and necessary equipment for this tin-framed shop. Initially, a barber from Mundargi was specially called in to run this salon. What was the whole controversy? According to officials, the Hadapada family, traditionally engaged in barbering, had been refusing to cut the hair of Dalits in the village for several years, citing religious beliefs. An official explained that the Hadapada family are devotees of the village deity, Veerbhadreshwar. They believe that the deity visits their homes during a specific time of the year, and therefore, they cannot provide services to Dalits during that time. The matter escalated when Dalit youth began demanding their legal right to receive services at the village’s only barber shop. They approached the district administration, stating that denying service based on caste is completely illegal. Administrative Strictness and New Solution As the controversy escalated, the old shop was closed. Subsequently, the district administration held several meetings with the villagers and the barber community. They were persuaded to reopen the shop and offer services to all sections of society. When negotiations failed, notices were issued threatening legal action, but the problem remained unresolved. Finally, with no other option left, officials decided to establish a separate government salon to ensure equal rights for all. At the administration’s request, Devu Hadapada, the state president of the Hadapada Annappa Samaj, agreed to send his brother (who is also a barber) to run the new shop. A Step Towards Social Change Devou Hadapada supported the move, saying, “It’s very sad that the sick mentality of looking down on the backward classes still exists in society. But we have extended our full support to the government to end such practices. This shop is now open to all communities.” Mundargi Taluka Panchayat Executive Officer Vishwanath Hosamani explained that the problem had been ongoing for nearly two years. He added, “Now, with the coordination and efforts of all concerned departments, we have been able to find a peaceful solution to the issue.” Villagers heave a sigh of relief Villagers have wholeheartedly welcomed the administration’s move. Mariyazza, a resident of Singatalur, expressed hope that this initiative will help eliminate discriminatory practices. She said, “This step has given us hope that this evil practice of untouchability will now end forever.” Officials also believe that this unique initiative could serve as a role model for addressing such discrimination elsewhere in the state. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News