The idea of India is envisaged in the Preamble of the Constitution by the makers of modern India which has visualized to build a society of democracy, equality and justice for all its citizens. There are special provisions placed for SCs and STs to ensure realisation of their fundamental rights through participation in governance in matters relating to their protection, participation and development.
Since the days of constitutional governance, a number of statutory bodies have been constituted to look after the protection and wellbeing of these sections but unfortunately, it is being observed that the Government of Odisha has paid very less attention to the formation and functioning of such committees that are primarily dedicated to serve the interest.
Take for example, the three important bodies, the State Tribal Advisory Council (TAC), the State Scheduled Caste Welfare Board (SCWB), and the State Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (SVMC) which are constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Minister to review and monitor the protection and welfare of SCs and STs. But these bodies are almost non-functional. Mostly the elected people’s leaders and higher level Government officials are the members of these bodies which are supposed to meet regularly to review the implementation of various protective laws and developmental programmes for SCs and STs as well as to monitor the progress and take decisions beneficial to their cause at appropriate time.
Article 164 of the Constitution says that in the State of Odisha there shall be a Minister in charge of welfare of STs, SCs and BCs and Article 244(4) speaks about TAC in States having 5th scheduled areas. Similarly, as per provision of SCs and STs POA Act 1989, there shall be a SVMC led by the CM. There is also provision of standing committee under the chairmanship of Minister SCs and STs Development under the Odisha Reservation of Vacancies Act 1975.
But it has been observed that for last many years there have been no regular meetings of these bodies though it is mandatory to have minimum two meetings in a year for each body. The SCs and STs constitute almost 40 per cent of the population but their issues are not being addressed with seriousness. Even the elected members from these communities constitute a sizable portion of the legislative bodies holding important positions in Government but they look not much concerned about this though it is desirable that they must take a proactive role and activate their party’s SCs and STs cells, specially assigned to address the issues of STs and SCs.
The protective legislations against practices of untouchability and atrocities such as PCR Act 1955 and POA Act 1989 are not getting reviewed at State level. In the year 2018, the State has witnessed 1,810 reported cases of atrocities against SCs and STs ranging from rape, assault on women and children, murder, rioting, attempt to commit murder, hurt, house burning, arson, physical assault, and many more forms of heinous crime and unabated practices of untouchability in many forms. The NCRB report for the year 2018 says that 10,000 atrocity cases have been pending for trial in different courts of the State where as the conviction rate is only 3%. A survey revealed that hundreds of different forms of caste and ethnic based untouchability practice and social segregation have been existing in rural villages. It includes residential segregation, seating separately in childcare and PDS centers, during mid-day meal in schools, separate hostels for students, separate bathing place, drinking water sources, cremation ground, two-glass system in tea stalls and eateries, denying access in saloons and public places, temples and honour killing to prevent inter caste marriage and many more.
Students and employees from these communities have been facing institutional discrimination. The people are not treated with dignity in local Government offices such as police station, Tehsil, RI offices, Block offices, Panchayat offices and banks in rural areas. Very often, they face extortion, humiliation and negligence in dealing while they make any claim for their rightful dues and entitlements under different Government laws, schemes and provisions.
Similarly, their discrimination- free participation, developmental issues and scope of employment within Government sphere is not being discussed in appropriate forums. It is a fact that mostly SC and ST hamlets are deprived of basic amenities such as safe drinking water, toilet, electricity, housing and connectivity which are linked to health and hygiene during this Covid-19 pandemic situation. But no special effort has been made to address the specific issues of these sections.
The structural poverty and distress migration issues are more visible among these communities. The incidence of poverty is very high as reported in the Odisha Economic Survey 2018 that 42 per cent of SC and 64 per cent of ST households were under BPL where as it is extremely higher than the State average of 33 per cent (2011-12). The Agriculture Census and SECC in 2011 very well established the fact that a vast majority of SC population is landless and without Record of Rights (RoR) over their homestead land in possession.
Though almost 85 per cent SC rural households depend on agriculture for livelihood as sharecroppers and agricultural workers, agriculture in Odisha is still crippled by lack of irrigation, incidence of natural calamities, like flood, cyclone, erratic rainfall, drought etc. These have a direct bearing over the life of the people in agricultural who are usually low paid. They have no social security measures in spite of social security laws since 2008.
There are 1.45 lakh cooks cum helpers and 29 900 women self-help groups engaged in MDM scheme in the State since 1995. There are thousands of contractual jobs created in rural areas to facilitate effective service delivery system where SCs and STs have almost very insignificant presence. This is a burning example of denial of right to participation and realisation of development.
(manasbbsr15@gmail.com)