Dalits, tribals focus on discrimination

Braving the rains, they later took out a procession and submitted a memorandum to District Collector R R Chauhan demanding proper implementation of the Prevention of Atrocities on SC and ST Act, 1989. Chauhan could offer them little more than assurance which, the rallyists say, is all they8217;ve been offered for ages.

The silent uprising owes its existence to Naranbhai Rathod, Sangh president for Navsari and Valsad districts. The septuagenarian, who has spent decades fighting for tribals and Dalits, was joined by Indukumar Jani of Naya Marg and Martin Macwan of Navsarjan on Saturday.

Rathod says more than 70 cases of atrocities have been reported from the region in the last eight years. 8220;Untouchability is an ugly reality even five decades after Independence8221;, he says, adding that the cases did not reflect reality since victims were too afraid to come out in the open.

The fate of those brave enough to speak up could also be a deterrent. A Dalit youth complained to the police when upper-caste Hindus in the Ramnagar locality of Vejalpore did not allow them to sit in the open because he8217;d asked some youngsters to play cricket elsewhere after a ball smashed through his window and almost injured his child on June 9. But he found himself behind bars, while the accused, who had filed a cross-complaint, were set free immediately.

8220;His advocate did not arrive in time, their8217;s did8221;, explains District Superintendent of Police Amarsinh Vasava who, despite being a tribal, found himself the target of criticism.

He says 22 cases have been reported from Navsari so far and claims action has been taken against all the accused. 8220;Most of the cases were of a trivial nature and did not involve physical injury to any lower-caste Hindus8221;, he adds.

Rathod refutes the claim, maintaining that irrespective of the nature of the case, police investigations were always tardy and aimed at letting the accused free. 8220;Not a single person has been convicted so far8221;, he says.

A Dalit was killed in cold blood in Navsari for being involved with a high caste girl in November, 1995. No one has been arrested so far. Admittedly, this was an extreme case, but many cases of ostracisation had been reported from Vedchha, Hansapore, Boriach, Kothamadi, Chhinamgam, Simangam, Delwada, Rumla, Cliari, Dhekti and Malgam, among other villages, alleges Rathod.

Vasava admits the cases are genuine, but maintains that the allegations of police inaction are false. Another police official, however, says, 8220;The Act is misused by the police to save their skin. We don8217;t want to take chances when the complainant belongs to the lower caste in any dispute, irrespective of the accused8217;s intentions.8221;

Jani takes up the point. 8220;The police, the administration and the judiciary are responsible for the present state of affairs. When men are not treated as men, they either convert or take to arms8221;, he warns.

While advocate Bipinbhai Rathod alleges that even the judiciary is not free from bias, Naranbhai Rathod demands a special court for cases under the Act.