Himachal: Organizations took to the streets in Nahan against Dalit oppression, submitted a 12-point memorandum to the Chief Minister.

The 12-point demands, including the investigation of pending cases under the SC/ST Act, the arrest of the culprits, and the formation of a clean-up commission, were submitted to the Chief Minister.

Nahan (Sirmaur). Dalit organizations held a strong protest in Nahan on Monday against the increasing atrocities, discrimination, and rights violations against the Dalit community in Himachal Pradesh. Representatives from more than eight organizations, united under the banner of the “Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch,” held a protest rally and presented their demands to the state government.

The protest began at the Hindu Ashram in Nahan and passed through various parts of the city, culminating at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) office. Here, the protesters, led by the forum’s state convener, Ashish Kumar, submitted a 12-point memorandum of demands to the Chief Minister through the Deputy Commissioner.

Anger over recent incidents

Prior to the rally, a joint convention of various Dalit organizations was held at the Hindu Ashram. Ashish Kumar inaugurated the convention, while Satpal Mann moderated the forum.

In his address, Ashish Kumar stated that incidents of atrocities against Dalits have increased in the state in recent times. He specifically mentioned the suspicious death of Dalit student Sikandar in Rohru and the fatal attack and death of a Dalit woman in Sainj, Kullu. He stated that these incidents have created deep resentment within the Dalit community across the state.

Formation of a New Committee

During the convention, a 31-member committee was also formed to formulate future strategies and strengthen the organization. Rajesh Tomar was unanimously elected as the convener, and Vijay Chauriya, Prasan Tomar, and Praveen Sodha were elected co-conveners.

Key Demands Included in the Memorandum

The memorandum sent to the Chief Minister includes several important demands related to the safety and rights of the Dalit community. The forum’s key demands are:

• Justice and Law: Pending cases registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act should be investigated in a timely and impartial manner, and the culprits should be immediately arrested.
• Reservation and Funds: An SC/ST Development Fund Act should be enacted in the state, modeled after Telangana, and the 85th Constitutional Amendment should be fully implemented. The reservation roster should be strictly followed in new recruitments.
• Victim Relief: Immediate financial assistance should be provided to families affected by harassment.
• Education: Timely payment of scholarships to Dalit students should be ensured.
• Monitoring: A state-level monitoring committee should be formed to investigate discrimination in government and educational institutions.
• Budget: The budget allocated for SC/ST welfare schemes should be utilized 100%, and a public report should be released.
• Sanitation Workers: Sanitation workers should be regularized in the state, the contract system should be abolished, and a ‘Sanitation Commission’ should be established in Himachal Pradesh, modeled after Delhi, Punjab, and Karnataka.

Rajan Chaudhary

Courtesy: Hindi News