Voice of the lower caste should be heard
let me recall a discussion I recently had on welfare schemes for Dalits with an IAS officer who belonged to the upper caste. The officer argued that support the Dalit students be given in kind — books and stationery, not in cash. According to him, Dalits can’t handle cash. If the money is given to students, they will spend it on clothes and shoes rather than on books. If the money is given to the mother, it may be spent on buying household items. If given to the father, he may either gamble it or buy liquor.
A similar debate took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) when an upper caste activist/student leader had criticised Dalits student who had been given fellowship. With the money, the Dalits were buying ice-creams. The university was originally a research-oriented institution where fellowships were common. Many students who belonged to the upper caste were also given fellowships. Many bought motorbikes with scholarship money. I, too, bought a scoter with scholarship money.
Scholarships and fellowships are meant to support students. To name a few needs, a student has to buy books and stationery, clothes, food, accommodation, transport and places where he can go and entertain himself. Then why, though well intended, do people from the upper caste only talk of how Dalits will spend money on other things if they are given cash.
Be it an IAS officers or a student activist, how they typecast Dalits/tribals is often puzzling.
Take the case of Naxalites in tribal areas. Why should the these people, who most often are not even tribals, leave Andhra Pradesh and roam in the forest seeking a revolutionIJ Why should these people want to create a separate Telangana in Andhra Pradesh or for that matter demand a separate region in Chhattisgarh and JharkhandIJ Why can’t they let the tribals fight their own battleIJ Tribal leaders know better what is good for their people.
let us debate the classic case of National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC). Set up in 1989 by the Centre to eradicate poverty of Dalits/tribals through entrepreneurship. To begin with, the NSFDC also helped the tribals. But by an order by the Centre, there was a bifurcation of the NSFDC into two separate corporations (one each for SCs & STs). The existing NSFDC is now functioning exclusively for the development of the Scheduled Castes with effect from April 10, 2001.
The NSFDC can give a loan of up to `30 lakh to a Dalit entrepreneur. Since its inception in1989, not a single loan has been disbursed to any Dalit entrepreneur. The reason behind the failure of the scheme is equally puzzling. The eligibility criteria is such that a loan can’t be given to a Dalit if his annual income in the rural area is above `81,000 and `1.03 lakh in urban area. In other words, A Dalit making more than `6,750 a month, in the village, is not entitled to a loan.
The question is — will a Dalit who earns `6,750 a month ever apply for loan of `30 lakhIJ Needless to say, the above scheme was conceived by a well-intended upper caste officer.
Take the case Mid Day Meal Scheme (MDMS). I haven’t seen any Dalit asking for MDMS and I have also not met a Dalit who appreciates the scheme either. Most Dalit I have spoke to, say that schools where such schemes are in place have turned into eateries. “Slates have been replaced by Plates”, commented a Dalit school teacher in Uttar Pradesh. Needless to say, the NSFDC was conceived by upper caste officers.
Take the case of ‘no fail’ idea of education activists. Students don’t given an exam till they are in Class VIII. Students are promoted to the next class and no one fails. As a result, a great number of students can’t read or write even though they are in Class VIII. A good number of students drop out. Many don’t get admission in Class IX as most schools fear bad results in Class X board. Needless to say, the well-meaning upper caste officer started the n‘o fail’ campaign get their children admitted to public schools where children are tested on a weekly basis.
For the past few years, I have been working with Dalit Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (DICCI ) which has a slogan — be job giver, not a job seeker. We are trying to bring in Dalit youth into our fold so that dependence on jobs is reduced thus opening a new career option. Many upper caste people working for the uplift of Dalits have taken offense to our effort. To them, it will be unwise for Dalits to become businessmen.
Earlier, we had a campaign where all Dalits were motivated to learn English and send their children to English medium schools. Many upper caste people who have the best interest at heart for the Dalits were upset. They think that the community is creating an elite class within the group. My question is — should Dalits remain underdogs foreverIJ
This of course, doesn’t mean that there are no well-meaning people who belong to the upper caste who don’t want the Dalits to progress. It also doesn’t mean that these people should stop working in Dalits’ interest. The point here is that upper caste people working for Dalits should listen to what the Dalits have to say and respect their opinion. After all dalits know what they need the most and when.
Since the upper caste ignores the Dalit viewpoint, they end up making policies that hurt Dalit/tribal. Thankfully, Dalits have closed their doors to what the upper caste has to say. Sadly, they have found taken up the cause for the tribals who will end up paying a heavy price.
It is time that the upper caste starts listening to what tribals/Dalits have to say.