As members of the lowest caste in a patriarchal society, Dalit women face daily violence in both public and private spheres. According to a study, 62.4% of them have faced verbal abuse. The study, included in a book, Dalit Women Speak Out, was released last week. Initiated in 2004 by the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights, the study put under the light “the culture of violence, silence and impunity” that makes a large number of Dalit women live in a “constant fear”. “One Dalit woman is not allowed to get fresh water at the community well, either to enter a temple because she would ‘pollute’ both the well and the sacred place. But the same woman is raped or harassed in the street or in an opened field: it doesn’t make sense!” claimed Dr. Shanti, an activist in All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch. The study relies on the experiences of a 500 sample of women selected by social workers in four states: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu/Puducherry and Uttar Pradesh. “Talking was not so easy, these 500 women were really courageous to tell us about their stories,” the AIDMAM member said. The study gives details of the domestic violence, which is perpetrated most of the time by the husband — including marital rape — by the women’s in-laws or by her relatives. It also points out the public violence they have to endure. Some times, even police officers or public doctors become part of these women’s nightmare. “In some other cases, protectors themselves are involved in violence against them. Sure, affirmative action for women empowerment and legislation against women harassment or against domestic violence are good steps. But there are no practical implementation of these policies,” Dr Shanti regrets. Police officers may accept bribes from the perpetrator of violence for giving up the inquiry or he may force the victim to accept “compromises,” she said. Moreover, Dalit women are often blamed or beaten twice more by their relatives when they try to complain at the police. That may explain why, according to the study, 40.4% of Dalit women victims of violence don't even attempt to ask for any justice. Economic factors such as failure to pay debts, asking for loans or for the payment of their wages also happen to be one relevant cause of this violence. According to Shanti, Dalit Women Speak Out is not to be considered as a “nice book that you put in your library”. “It is a book that must be used by teachers, researchers and human rights organisations,” she said.
