Caste Violence on the Dalits of Khairlanji Village

The reports of the brutal murder of the four Dalits in Khairlanji village once again point to the caste equations in the republic. It is very unfortunate that an atrocious cast violence of this sort has occurred in a progressive state like Maharashtra. There seems to be some attitudinal problems in the rural areas of the state. The law and order machinery which is supposed to protect the weaker sections of the society appear to be tacitly supporting the perpetrators of such cast atrocities. The conduct of the officials like the Police and the Medical officials of the area after the heinous crime in Khairlanji leaves much to be desired. What is astonishing is the fact that in modern times four people could be brutally murdered in broad day light in front of many villagers. Out of these, the modesty of two girls has been allegedly outraged by a group of people in a most primitive manner. With very low population, the Maharashtra villages, unlike the towns and the cities, are noteworthy for the peaceful co-existence of the inhabitants. Therefore, the whole affair raises more doubts and must be investigated very seriously from all the angles.So are the spontaneous outpourings of the Dalits' Protests following the Kanpur desecration of the statue of Dr.Babasaheb Ambedkar in Maharashtra wherein properties worth lakhs of Rupees were damaged in the Dalit violence?

It is to be noted that the state has been receiving a large amount of attention from the industry magnates for investment. The industrial climate and the agricultural climate, barring the farmers’ suicides in some areas, are very encouraging. It is the most attractive destination for the much sought after FDI. The caste outrage at Khairanji village in the state is likely to affect this positive image of the state

It is to be believed that the fruits of the industrialization are not reaching the most deprived sections of the society. Despite the model statutes and the forward-looking affirmative actions for the Dalits in the state of Maharashtra, the matters at the ground level refuse to move ahead in the desired direction and quantum for the Dalits.

In fact, the Dalits are not able to derive satisfactory benefits from the affirmative action due to several factors like their overall backwardness in education, lack of resources, lack of awareness etc. Incidentally, the influential sections of the Dalits, who live in the comforts of the city life, appear to be walking away with the cakes reserved for the more deserving Dalits living in the most trying circumstances and conditions. Once the City Dalits come up in life after taking benefit from the affirmative action, some of them are seen to behave like the upper caste persons. They have earned an epithet of Dalit Brahmins for their holier than thou attitude. Let alone assisting, they do their best to distance themselves away from their less fortunate brethren, who genuinely need help and support.

Therefore, if the state is serious about providing succour to the deprived sections of the society, the government must ensure that the fruits of the affirmative measures reach those who deserve. Most deserving oppressed sections of the society are living in the rural areas where they are far below the poverty line and landless labourers. The Government must legislate to exclude the creamy layer from cornering the legitimate rights of the hapless Dalits as guaranteed in the Constitution.