New Delhi, November 16, 2006
The space between Indian haves and have-nots
is becoming very fast widening year after year.
This makes rich richer and poor poorer. How
can India ever become developed country when
millions of Indians live under poverty line?
Reservation provided in Indian constitution,
although hated by general and upper caste community,
does help narrowing down the space between Indian
haves and have-nots. However after the episode
of OBC 27% Quota in Professional Educational
Institutions introduced by Union Human Resource
Development Minister, Mr. Arjun Singh some time
early of this year, a campaign to snatch away
the reservation provision of Scheduled Caste
and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) began even by Supreme
Court of Indian by introducing Creamy Layer
propaganda. In Creamy layer proposed by Supreme
Court of India, under different categorical
heading, sons and daughters of whose parents'
annually income exceed Rs One Lakh (one hundred
thousand rupees) with possession of wealth limit
prescribed by Indian Wealth Act for consecutive
three years, will be listed in creamy layer,
who although being low caste and socially look
down, will not eligible to enjoy job and educational
reservation.
Dalit Sikh and Buddhist Reservation after years
of Discrimination In Presidential Order list
of SC/ST 1950, only the Dalit Hindu members
were listed in SC/ST categories while leaving
all other religions different from Hinduism.
Dalit Sikh is one of the most organized SC communities
in India who with political power fought back
to be listed in Presidential Order. After 6
years denial of their birth and constitutional
rights, Dalit Sikh got their statutory and beneficiaries
of SC when Article 341 Para 3 amended in 1956
by including Dalit Sikh in the Presidential
Order.
Dalit Buddhist got their birth and constitutional
rights after 40 years of struggle in amendment
of Article 341 Para 3 in 1990. Forty years of
denial was more than enough to keep Dalit Buddhism
socially economically and educationally backward.
They will struggle to over come the forty years
of damage done to them.
Dalit Christian Need to Learn People Power Dalit
origins converted to Christianity are denied
from the SC/ST list from colonial period but
their struggle to be listed under Presidential
Order 1950 has been from the time India got
Independent. Commissions after Commissions were
setup and almost approved to include all the
members of Dalits without any religions and
faith.
At last the ball has been thrown at vineyard
of Supreme Court of India, which has been postponing,
seems like done desperately. Supreme Court's
direction to study the socio-economic and educational
condition of Dalit Christians to National Commission
for Religious and Minority (NCRL) headed by
Ranganathan Misra – former
Chief Justice of Supreme Court of India, seems
only to get feed back from Saffron brigade's
rejection of Dalit Christian demand.
Religious discrimination in the country like
India is very true and visible in its history.
The demand for birth and constitutional rights
of Dalit origins who once were entitled and
enjoyed SC/ST Provision has been denied from
the movement he/she changed his/her faith other
than Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist.
Dr. John Dayal, Member of National Integration
Council, President of All India Catholic Union
and General Secretary of All India Christian
Council reminded the people movement in Dalit
Buddhist reservation struggle. He writes, Lest
we forget - when neo-Buddhists wanted the right
of reservation in government jobs after their
Conversion to Buddhism, the late P.N.
Rajhbhoj, Member of Parliament from Pune went
to eminent jurist Nani Palkhiwala, in his time
one of the most sought after lawyers in the
Supreme Court, to take up their case. He famously
told the Dalit leaders "Bring 10 Lakh Dalit
outside the Supreme Court when the case comes
up, and I will get you your reservation back"
Today Dalit Buddhist has SC/ST status and benefits
after forty years of struggle. Christian churches
and leaders need to learn from them.
2006 Winter Parliament Session will be important
as per as reservation either be it of Dalit
Christians or SC/ST in Private sector. A Mass
Protest during Parliament session on and before
Supreme Court hearing of Dalit Christian reservation
scheduled in April 2007 is a must needed.
Dalit Christian Reservation is much more than
just Job and Educational Reservation Being and
born as a Dalit does not change his/her caste
discrimination even after converting to any
religion. Dalits in all religions suffer caste
discrimination inside and outside of Hinduism.
Demanding inclusion of Dalit Christians in SC
status is much
more than just job and educational reservation.
It is demand of SC status and beneficiaries,
which includes all constitutional provisions
of SC communities.
Dalits other than the members of Hinduism, Sikhism
and Buddhism do not have title to enjoy SC/ST
Atrocity Prevention Act 1989 (Amendment 1995).
Once Dalit Christians are listed in Presidential
Order List 1950 by amendment of Article 341
Para 3, SC/ST Atrocities Prevention Act will
be applicable to the members of Dalit origins
even converted to Christianity.
Dalits suffer caste discrimination and their
denial to be listed in Presidential Order SC/ST
List 1950 after converting to Christianity is
double discrimination. Their demand to entitle
SC/ST statutory and Beneficiary is their birth
and constitutional rights.
Madhu Chandra
office@madhuchandra
.org
www.madhuchandra.
org
