HRLN - A Profile - Human Rights Law Network

Dalit RightsViolence, Discrimination, UntouchabilityOver five decades after independence, the practice ofuntouchability, violence against dalits, atrocities againstdalit women and routine discrimination in everyday life continuein India. Throwing excreta into wells, forcible eviction of dalitsfrom their lands, destruction of dalit houses and temples, socialand economic boycotts, looting of cattle and destruction of cropsare only some of the atrocities perpetuated on dalits.Despite the prohibition on untouchability found inArticle 17 of the Constitution of India, the practice ofuntouchability continues in many parts of the country.Inevitably, the dalit woman bears the brunt of thisdiscrimination. Women are frequently stripped andparaded. Kidnappings, beatings and rape are common. Ina situation of national food insecurity, dalit women aremore likely to suffer hunger, malnutrition, disease andearly death. Their children, most likely, will not have theopportunity to go to school. In villages, dalits cannotintermingle with the upper castes with respect to thelocation of their homes. Often they are not permitted todrink from the same well. In the mid-day meal schemesdalit children are made to feel like outcastes. Thecommunity is forced into vocations unsuitable forhuman employment such as manual scavenging.Due to what is perceived as Institutional casteism in thelegal system the Atrocities Act has not been enforced -with the conviction rate being less than 1%.Dalit Legal Aid CentresIn collaboration with prominent dalit rightsorganisations HRLN has worked to set up legal aidcentres for dalits in eight states where several cases underthe Atrocities Act are being conducted.Legal Aid & Public Interest LitigationNCDHR v. Union of IndiaRepresenting the National Campaign for Dalit29