Who Benefits SC/ST Status Facilities on Whose Struggle?

Introduction

Any Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe when they get the SC/ST status reservation facilities should ask this question, “Who benefits SC/ST status facilities on whose struggle?” Many of the young SC and ST generations, when they enjoy the presidential reservation facilities for underprivileged section of Indian societies, do not realize how and whose struggles, these privileges are provided. It will be very true to our north east India community from SC/ST background.

The struggle between High caste and oppressed communities of India has reached its crucial juncture. The presidential reservation facilities preserved in Indian Constitution is most precious gift given to Indian oppressed class community.  This most precious gift to protect and preserve the underprivileged communities of India has been under attack again and again by high caste minority ruler of the country.

This short write up is attempted to bring awareness among the SC/ST communities, particularly to those who have benefited SC/ST status facility yet failed to realize the importance of joint effort to safe guard of the constitutional right of the provision for Dalit communities.

Who are Dalits?

Why I attempt to redefine Dalit is because, many SC/ST communities are not aware about who Dalits and what injustice and inhuman matter of atrocities, they go through for being oppressed community at the hands of upper caste. Many of SC/ST of North East India do not realize how the SC/ST of other states are dehumanized by social evil elements.

To have better picture of SC/ST movement for freedom and dignity, it will be important to know what the term Dalit means. The name Dalit is self given name for Dalits by themselves. It is taken from Sanskrit word for outcaste, oppressed, crushed and untouchable. Dalits which is the self given name for oppressed, outcaste and untouchable communities of India do not fall under the four caste system of Hinduism. Dalits are much lower than the fourth caste Sutra. Sutra which is considered lowest caste among the caste system but Sutras have at least the identity to be included in the caste order, whereas Dalits are casteless, outside of the caste and untouchable. India has 250 millions of Dalits who are oppressed socially, economically, politically, religiously, intellectually for the period of over 3000 years.

Dalits found their messiah in their 20^th century history, when Dr. B. R. Ambedkar fought for them and left a place where Dalits can be protected and provided the means to live and survive caste oppression from high caste minority ruler of India. While millions of Dalits still live under illusion and suffer mercilessly at the hand of high caste, few have found the freedom through education and constitutional provision of SC/ST status. They have started to protest for their birth and fundamental human rights. The caste turmoil has begun and it will last until the complete freedom of Dalits is achieved once for all.

What are the differences of being SC/ST? Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe fall under the Dalit category and suffer the caste discrimination. In present India political term, All SCs, STs, and OBCs are known as Dalit Bahujan, which represent 75% of Indian population. Any SC/ST of North East India pretends to be different from the Dalits. The reasons could be the differences of background, culture, and geographical distinct. But one similarity is that like Dalits, the SC/ST of North East India are outcaste and do not fall under the four caste categories.

Schedule Tribes of India may not suffer caste discrimination while Scheduled Caste has suffered within the caste system of Hinduism. But ST has definitely suffered economic and educational oppression from the nation headed by the High caste minorities. The space will be too length, if I have to include the atrocities, dehumanization, and oppressions taking place against Dalits in India. Dalit women are raped, men are butchered, and homes are burned every then and now.

Who struggles the Dalits Cause and who Benefits?

Behind the curtain there are people who struggle day and night to ensure the SC/ST status of presidential provision which is included in Indian constitution. The Architect of Indian Constitution - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who should have been considered Father of the nation like Mahatma Gandhi, is one, who begun the struggle for oppressed communities of India. If any constitutional right and provision for SC/ST communities of India exist in this soil, then it is through self sacrificial effort of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar and his followers. Down the years, the high caste has attempted to proscribe the constitutional rights and provision of Dalits ever since special provision for underprivileged Dalit community of India is included in Indian Constitution. Dalit leaders who adopted the footpath of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar have taken the causes to fight for safe guard of constitutional provision of SC/ST. It will be mistaken if those SCs/STs, who have benefited the SC/ST status provision, consider that the facilities came naturally. No, it is not true, some body had to fight for this and we need to join hand in fighting for its safe guard. Otherwise, without realizing, it could be taken away any time.
 

It will not be wrong to say that thousands benefit the SC/ST status provision without realizing who struggled for it. Many Dalits have attained caste liberation by attaining educational, economical and political power, yet forgot their fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and children are still in the clutches of caste. What could be more patronage than realizing our dear ones who are under the clutches of caste and need our helping hand to get full deliverance? This could be even through the medium of advocacy!

The Need of Unification

The struggle of Dalit freedom movement does not stand only for present days. It is the fight for future generation too. Once the anti-human elements succeed their attempt to snatch the constitutional protection of oppressed communities of India, there will not be any future left for Dalit children. Ensuring Dalit freedom and protection once for all is a must.

This struggle is not easy fight because the political power, economical power, intellectual power – including judiciary power and power of media are at the hands of high caste minority. Only one power the oppressed Dalit communities have is the power of public, which can determined the future of this nation and Dalit community.

Therefore, a small contribution, every SC/ST individual can offer is to extend helping hand to the bodies that are fighting for Dalit cause. Dr. Udit Raj, National President of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organization has taken daring step to ensure Dalit rights in national and International level. Under the leadership of Dr. Udit Raj, a movement to ensure the future of SC and ST of country demanding the following demands: 1. Govt. to enact law to give reservation in private sector. 2. To demand from US Govt. to give reservation to Dalits in their Indian based businesses and job quotas in World Bank and US AID Projects. 3.Govt. to defend the 77^th, 81^st, 82^nd and 85^th Constitutional amendments pending before Supreme Court & Reservation law to be enacted and placed in the 9^th Schedule of the Constitution. 4. To provide reservation to Dalits in Higher judiciary and armed forces. 5. To provide equal and compulsory education to all. 6. Caste certificate of one state should be valid in other states. 7. To provide time bound promotion to Safai Karmcharies and ban contract system. 8. To provide employment to all and predetermined share of Dalits in land reforming land laws.

Conclusion

While someone benefits ST/ST status facility on some body’s struggle, it is the urgent call for unification for united fight for the protection of birth and constitutional right. Beneficiaries of SC/ST status facilities need to realize that very benefits under SC/ST provisions can be lost forever, if united effort to ensure is organized and fight together on time.

Email: madhuchandra@softhome.net