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1ST DALIT CONFERENCE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND POLITICALLY MARGINALISED PEOPLE'S CONFERENCE/ CULTURAL SHOW
Held on :3rd July 2005
Time: 6.30 PM
Venue: Dewan Ahamad Razali
Batu:4, Jalan Kapar, Klang, Selangor Darul Ehsan
Malaysia
Organised By The Malaysian Dalit Network
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 | TENAGANITA |
| PANAP |
| MOTHERSFORCE |
| CONSUMERS ASSOCIATION OF KAPAR SELANGOR |
(1)CASTE IN ASIA(2)Women Workers (3)An Orang Asli community(4)INT'L LABOUR DAY:
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Caste in Asia
Despite its constitutional abolition in 1950, the practice of ¡®untouchability¡¯ remains very much a part of rural India. Some 160 million dalits endure near complete social ostracisation. Their share in the development successes of the past 50 years is dismal.
India¡s caste system finds corollaries in other parts of the sub-continent, including Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Discrimination against Buraku, sometimes known as eta (variously defined as ¡®pollution abundant¡¯ or ¡®unclean¡¯) persists in Japan.
Caste has migrated with the South Asian diaspora to firmly take root in East and South Africa, Mauritius, Fiji, Suriname, the Middle East, Malaysia, the Caribbean, the United Kingdom, North America, and other regions.
Pakistani Dalits Seek Rights - December 2003 The Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistan (SCFD) presents clear demands in a petition to the Government. SCFD objects to the continued discrimination of Dalits and reports that most incidents of caste discrimination go unreported as violence against Dalits are treated marginally by the law enforcement institutions. At the same time, incidents of atrocities and caste based discrimination of Dalits are increasing because of growing awareness and assertiveness of Dalits. The SCFP demands, among other things, that one of the indicators to assess SAARC members' commitment to human rights should be governments' treatment of Dalits; state protection of scheduled castes against threats, exploitation, and vitimization by caste people by provision of access to legal remedies; allocation of seats in Parliament for scheduled castes as per their population ratio and establishment of a National Commission of Scheduled Castes. Sign the petition at http://www.petitiononline.com/scfp2003/petition.html
The Dalit caucus at the World Conference against Racisme in Durban, 2003 raised international awareness about caste discrimination
Women throughout the world are denied human rights in the labor force with no effective redress. Governments turn a blind eye to illegal practices and enact and enforce discriminatory laws. Corporations and private individuals engage in abusive and sexist practices without fear of official condemnation or sanction. For example, job advertisements in Ukraine often specify "man" among the requirements for work in business and government agencies, and employers often deny women employment based on age and marital status and family status. Private manufacturing companies in Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic routinely oblige female job applicants to undergo pregnancy exams as a condition of work and deny work to pregnant women. South African farm owners deny black women farm workers legal contracts, pay them less than men for similar work, and deny them maternity benefits. Guatemala’s labor code denies live-in domestic workers — many of whom are indigenous women — equal rights under the labor code. Women are often the last chosen for retraining programs and the first to be fired, particularly in transitional economies and in economic recessions, when downsizing leads to discrimination. Sexual harassment and violence in the workplace are common and constant threats to working women’s lives and livelihoods. Women migrant workers in Malaysia and Saudi Arabia are especially vulnerable to abuse, including trafficking and forced labor.
Human Rights Watch Work on Women Workers
An Orang Asli community
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An Orang Asli community in Selangor claim that their livelihood is being threatened by the poisons used in oil palm plantations near their settlement.
Representing the 400- strong community in Pulau Carey, Diman,43, said they could no longer rely on fishing as the rivers are "contaminated with chemicals".
The plantations are located along the Langat river, which used to be a major source of food and income for the indigenous community.
Diman, who lives with his nine children in Kampung Sungai Bumbun and does odd-jobs for a living, said the situation becomes worse when it rains heavily as residues of the chemicals can be found on the river surface.
He lamented that he could no longer continue the livelihood of his forefathers due to this problem.
"The fishes are dead, and the river is muddy and filthy," said the member of the Mahmeri tribe.
"We are sad as we are unable to eat fish anymore and people like me who come from a family of fisherfolk can't do our work properly," he added.
Diman was speaking at the People's Caravan for food sovereignty event yesterday. The Caravan, organised by Pesticides Action Network Asia-Pacific (PAN-AP) and local host Tenaganita, is journeying through Malaysia after kicking off in Penang on Aug 31.
It will also travel to 13 countries in Asia and three in Europe before culminating in Nepal at the end of the month.
Health problems
Meanwhile, a vegetable grower, who wanted to be known only as Kok, said the community has made a conscious effort not to work in the plantation sector as it uses 'harmful' pesticides.
"We saw it with our own eyes," he said, referring to paraquat, the herbicide commonly used in oil palm plantations.
"Ever since the plantations came, our families are becoming more sickly. We start having many health problems like rashes, headaches and aches in our bodies," added, the 54-year-old father of eight.
Many Orang Asli have resorted to growing their own fruits and vegetables to earn a living. But Kok said this is barely enough to feed his family.
However, their produce is slowly gaining popularity as people flock to their markets to purchase "pesticide-free" fruits and vegetables.
Kok said if things are good he could earn up to RM200 per month selling chilies, bananas and pepper.
Save Ourselves (SOS) coordinator Ong Boon Keong, who was present at the gathering, shared his views and struggles in organic farming, which he has been practising for several years.
Ong, who resides in Penang, warned that companies will insist that their poisons are safe.
"But if these chemicals can kill insects, don't you think they can kill you too?" he asked and a resounding ‘yes’ was heard from the participants.
"We are gambling with our lives if we use pesticides," he stressed.
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DALIT WOMEN IN INDIA
by
DR. J. MUTHUMARY
PTOFESSOR
CENTRE FOR ADVANCED STUDIES IN BOTONY
UNIVERSITY OF MADRAS
GUINDY CAMPUS, CHENNAI 600 025
E-mail: botany_vsnl.com
INTRODUCTION:
There are about 250 million Dalits in India. There is meagre improvement in the socio-economic condition of dalits in the past 50 years. Which that is not enough when compared to non-dalits. Of course, much more needs to be done. The urgent need is to have a national sample survey on dalits. Every fourth Indian is a dalit. There is no proper survey to give the correct number of dalit women in India. They are generally scattered in villages and they are not a monogamous group. About 75% of dalits live below poverty line. Economic backwardness of dalits is mostly due to injustice done to them by the high castes and also due to exploitation. From the time immemorial they worked like slaves, sold as commodities resulting in their social discrimination, economic deprivation and educational backwardness. To assess the position of dalit women in India this chapter is divided into various heads.
EDUCATION:
Till some years ago, many dalit women were ill treated and educationally backward inspite of the facilities for free education. The reasons for the high rate of illiteracy among dalit women are many.
The following are the main reasons:
1 Resistance from the family to send girls to schools.
2 Fear of insecurity in villages.
3 Lack of physical facilities like accommodation, school, transport and medical facilities.
4 The girls were forced to take care of the siblings when the parents are away at work.
5 Girls were forced to do domestic chores which prevent them from attending school.
6 Working to earn for the family prevent the girls from attending school.
7 Working with parents to earn their livelihood in beedi factories or other unorganized sector made them illiterate.
8 Because of the sick and unemployed parents girls were forced to work.
9 Many were forced to get married at young age, which stop schooling.
10 Social restriction is that the girls should stop education after marriage.
11 In some areas there are complaints from dalit women teachers of misbehaviors, blackmail and exploitation by the male staff of other high caste people.
12 Distance of schools from home.
13 Irrelevant content of the education system.
14 Fear of alienation of girls from their environment as a result of education are some of the other factors for low literacy level among SC girls. Even if the education improved the marriage prospects of the girls, the minus point is the increase in dowry. Therefore many parents wish to withdraw the girls from schools.
The present positions seems to be better with reference to the rate of literacy among dalits. The literacy rate is 31.48% for boys and 10.93% for girls. Dalits women belonging to the creamy layer of the society are better with good education and socially and economically they are well off like other high castes. They are fully aware of the welfare schemes provided by the Government and their percentage is very low when compared with the total dalit population. In rural areas, the first generation girls from SC needs the attention of Government and other organization. Mostly the teachers of the locality provide information to them about the welfare schemes. In many Dalit association executive position are occupied by male members whereas very poor representation is made by women in their pasts. The women are not properly informed about the Government schemes and there is an urgent need to get a feedback about the welfare schemes where lot of money is spent for the development of Dalits. The funds are not utilized properly for their upliftment. Many of the schemes go unnoticed because they are not popularized properly.
The coaching programmes conducted by the Government for dalit women are beneficial in training many women to compete in the competitive exam. These programmes also do not reach the needy dalit women because they are cornered by the very few creamy dalit women. This should be monitored properly and the schemes should be reached by the most deprived and constantly struggling dalit women. Because these dalit women are neglected by socially advanced communities and also by the better off among the dalits, which leads to an unhealthy socio-economic condition. There should be some scientific basis to pick up the poorest and they should be equipped with facilities.
There are some pre-examination coaching centers giving trainings for dalits which are doing very good service to train them in vocational line, for competitive exam, in medical and engineering field, railway recruitment boards, bank recruitment, etc.
Here are some suggestions for the better implementation of the schemes to dalit women:
1 Competitive spirit should be instilled in the girls.
2 Selection and identification of the talented girls should be done correctly.
3 Identify the candidate at college level for coaching.
4 Result oriented teaching is necessary.
5 Group discussions, quiz, and seminars to instill confidence.
6 Teacher : Student ratio 1:20 or below.
7 Monitoring by the teacher after class hours.
8 Loan facility.
Financial aid for uniform for girls, maps, charts, examination grant, laboratory facilities, library facilities should be provided for them special coaching should be given for meritorious dalit girls to compete for IAS and IPS. Hostel facilities for dalit girls at all levels of education starting from primary school up to higher education should be provided reservation policy especially for girls should be allotted in both admission and employment.
There is an increased awareness in recent years among dalit women about their rights and about the Government welfare schemes about higher education. This should be augmented by information technology, which should reach even to the remote rural citizen.
HIGHER EDUCATION:
The UGC has given reservation for seats in colleges for SC students 25%, ST 7.5%, which is highly beneficial. Also relaxation in marks for 5% is given to all dalit students in admission. Financial assistance in the form of fellowships is given to dalits. Rs. 3,600/- is given per JRF to continue research studies at the University level. There are special SC/ST cells at the University for effective implementation of the Government orders and to improve the condition of University level dalit students.
There are some of the suggestions for effective implementation of the various welfare schemes for the dalit students.
1 The communication gap between the educational institution and the social welfare department should be reduced.
2 District wise computer database of the male and female dalit students is very essential to provide necessary facilities to them.
3 Pamphlets with details about the welfare schemes should be distributed to the students.
4 Supply of books to the dalit students.
5 Incentive scholarship should be given to deserving and meritorious girls to encourage them for higher education.
GENDER EQUALITY:
Female infanticide is more prevalent among the uneducated dalit families. Educational development among SC women is very marginal because only girls were not sent to school because of the responsibilities at home.
Therefore the gender discrimination starts at the very early stage in the life of a dalit girl. Normally girl children are retained at home to look after the siblings. Another thing is the compulsory marriage of the girls at very early age after which the education is stopped. Generally in the male-dominated society, polygamy is allowed and more so in many dalit families. Because of this the position of the women deteriorated. Joint family system, polygamy, property structure, early marriage, and permanent widowhood were hurdles for the development of all women in early period. But in the twentieth century, after the Mahatma Gandhien movement to educate women, slowly changes occurred in the position of women. But here, rural women were more blessed than urban women because divorce and remarriage were allowed for them. Mainly Sudras (i.e. low caste people) allowed divorce and remarriage for their women.
OCCUPATION:
The occupation of many SC women can be divided in the following heads:
1 Agriculture labourer.
2 Marginal Cultivators.
3 Fisherwomen.
4 Traditional artisans.
5 Leather Workers.
6 Weavers.
7 Scavengers and sweepers.
8 Midwifery.
9 Beedi factories and unorganised sectors.
The Work Participation Rate (WPR) of SC population is said to be for males 22.25% and for females 25.98%.
The contribution of SC women to the economic development of our country is significant especially in the agricultural sector. They are exploited by the higher caste landlords. They are paid very marginal salary for the hard work in the field for the whole day. In leather industries the tanning process is considered to be an unclean job which is done only by socially backward class. Traditional artistes get very more benefit because the middleman exploits them. The condition of scavenger and sweepers is very deplorable and they the most vulnerable sectors among SC. The working condition is very poor and the remuneration is also very poor.
FAMILY ROLE:
Because of the girls remain uneducated, they got married very early. Marriage in the high reproductive stage with high fertility rate, children care more. Because of the unlimited family, the burden fell on the young girls which affected their health. They were not able to assist in family matters to their husbands. But now the situation is different. The girls manage to plan their family, educate the children, assist the husbands in family matters and office going and professional girls improve the economic conditions. On the whole the family becomes socially developed because of the education of the girls.
Education among women increased intercaste marriages, which is definitely a sign of development. Government also encourages intercaste marriages among dalits and highcaste by incentives.
PROTECTION FROM ILLTREATMENT:
Most women are illtreated even today among tribals. Ministry of welfare GI (1993 –94) Annual report had recorded 18,014 crimes against SCs (murder, rape, etc.).
Disputes on land, minimum wage for SC workers bonded labourers, in debatedness – problem.
SC/ST under privileged, regarded less then humanbeings assigned lowest of the low status in society.
Scavenging: is no other country scavenging is amalgamated with the evil structure of caste.
UNTOUCHABILITY AND ILLTREATMENT:
1 Non-access to temples, places of worship.
2 Non-access to hotels and eating-places.
3 Not available – barber services for SC/ST Tamil Nadu.
4 Not allowed in gramsabha sittings – Tamil Nadu.
5 Discrimination in educational institution, public health services.
6 Not allowed to participate in social ceremonies – Tamil Nadu.
7 General untouchability – Tamil Nadu.
8 Enforcement of removal of carcasses – Tamil Nadu.
9 Not access to public cremation / burial ground / public pathways/roads.
10 Not allowed in residential premises of high caste.
11 Access to Dharmasalas – denied.
Untouchability is acute in villages. There is a gradual change in rural areas because they have become aware of their rights. Spread of education, improvement in economic conditions, welfare measures.
MEASURES TO BE TAKEN FOR UPLIFTMENT:
BASIC COMMON NEEDS:
The following facilities should be provided:
1 Nutrition:
Malnutrition in female children high infant mortality should be corrected.
2 Health:
Unclean surroundings – proper accommodation should be provided.
3 Family welfare:
SC – women get married very soon high fertility – affect health.
4 Safe drinking water.
5 Electricity in village.
6 Essential goods and medicines.
7 Retail outlets not available.
8 Fair price shops – necessary.
SLUM IMPROVEMENT AT THE GOVERNMENT BASE:
1 Conservation of assets of SC.
2 Provide land to SC women.
3 Train them in new fields for employment.
4 Ensure minimum wages.
5 Compulsory education up to 35 years.
6 Introduce new employment facilities.
7 Self-employment program for women.
8 Modernizing existing traditional activities.
9 Liberate the women from scavenging work – alternative arrangement for dignified work.
10 Eradicate social untouchability.
11 Provide minimum basic facilities.
12 Positive discrimination. i.e. policy of reservation should be continued both in Government and public sector.
13 Fee excemption, age relaxation for direct recruitment – separate interview.
14 Atrocity control room:
Close watch, monitoring of atrocities against dalit women.
PRESENT POSITION:
The present position is better because of education, literacy rate for boys 31.48%, girls 10.93%. Now they have lot of self respect, aware of their rights, organisations to voice their feelings. The creamy layer is well aware of the Government welfare schemes. Among SC dalits executive positions in associations are occupied only by men, very poor representation by women. Feedback about the welfare programme is very essential.
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INT'L LABOUR DAY:
Malaysian Workers to March Against Privatisation
Malaysia's workers will mark International Labour Day on May 1 with a strong protest against globalisation, which they feel is gradually eroding away their rights and making poor Malaysians poorer.
Some 5,000 thousand trade union members are expected to gather on Saturday night at Dataran Merdeka (Independence Square) to usher in Labour Day in one of the biggest workers' gatherings in recent times. They are expected to be joined by up to 3,000 political and grassroots activists as well as workers from marginalised sectors from across the country.
This year's theme is 'Globalisation erodes workers' rights'. And uppermost on the minds of workers will be their concern over the privatisation of water and healthcare services in the country.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress, the main organisers of the gathering, is heading into unknown territory under the leadership of committed trade unionists who swept aside the national labour centre's previous leadership, which was widely seen as politically compromised.
For newly elected MTUC president Syed Shahir Syed Mohamud, workers have reason to be worried about globalisation. ''We are concerned about privatisation, the right (which has been taken away) of civil servants to engage in collective bargaining, lack of security of tenure, (the struggle for) a minimum wage, and the occupational safety and health of workers,'' he told.
Rani Rasiah, one of the coordinators of the Oppressed Peoples Network (JERIT), agrees that these issues are of major concerns to workers now. JERIT brings together five different coalitions of groups working among urban pioneers, plantation workers, factory workers, farmers and students.
''This year it's very stark,'' she said. ''We are feeling the effects of globalisation even more than we did last year.'' But she said the government was being shrewd. ''They are giving it to us in little doses.''
She said its actions were not much different from those of governments in Europe, where workers' rights and security of tenure are gradually being eroded. Apart from the issues Syed Shahir mentioned, she spoke of local workers being forced to face competition from migrant workers as well as worries about multinational companies relocating to other countries in search of cheaper labour.
But it is the privatisation of essential services like water and healthcare that is dominating concern in this year's gathering. ''It's a good thing that the MTUC is taking an interest in this issue (of privatisation).''
The MTUC has joined the newly set up Coalition Against Water Privatisation, which is opposing the privatisation of water supply management in the country amidst fears that it will lead to higher tariffs and burden the poor.
Parliament passed the Constitution Amendment Bill in January transferring supply and management of water away from respective states to the federal level to pave the way for water privatisation. Two more bills - The Water Industry Bill and a bill to establish a regulatory National Water Services Commission - are expected to be passed soon. The government, meanwhile, is bypassing the need to set up a Parliamentary Select Committee to solicit views from the public and civil society groups.
The Coalition Against Water Privatisation, comprising 26 civil society groups, has been trying to raise awareness among workers and the public about the perils of privatisation.
''The privatisation of water resources is taking place at a time when the cost of other essential services such as healthcare, infant food, rental, food, petrol, transport and education is escalating,'' said Charles Santiago, the coordinator of the coalition, in a recent commentary. These rising costs are marginalizing the poor and low-income workers and increasing hardship to vulnerable groups, he added.
Other activists are campaigning against the privatisation of healthcare. Key services in state-run general hospitals such as maintenance, catering, procurement and supply of medicines have already been privatised. The result: expenditure on these services has soared.
To cope with rising costs, the government has just announced the setting up of the National Health Financing Scheme from next year. Under this scheme, Malaysians would have to make regular contributions for healthcare. This is in contrast to the situation now, whereby Malaysians have access to medical treatment at nominal costs from government hospitals and more expensive treatment at private hospitals.
''I think it is bad news,'' said Jeyakumar Devaraj, a respiratory physician-turned-activist who is on the steering committee of the Coalition Against Healthcare Privatisation. ''Overall, there is a tendency to shift the financial burden to the workers.''
He said this was done either by shifting the tax burden or by making them pay for services once provided by the state.
Devaraj mentioned the proposed Goods and Services Tax, a tax on consumer spending, as an example of the shifting of the burden of taxes to workers even as corporation taxes are kept low.
''What's more, they bring in migrant workers and allow contract workers to keep wages at low levels,'' he complained. ''All this puts economic pressure on the workers.''
Although a National Healthcare Financing Scheme would theoretically provide additional funds for general hospitals and allow cross-subsidies for the poor, Devaraj is worried.
He questioned the occasion the Health Ministry chose to announce the national scheme: at the launching of two private medical insurance schemes by a major insurance firm in Kuala Lumpur. ''The Health Minister should have told the firm to hold on, as the new national healthcare financing scheme was coming into force.''
''It's not a question of the idea (of a national healthcare scheme). Rather it has to be administered by a government that has the interests of the poor and workers at heart,'' he told IPS. ''Right now, I don't see any commitment towards improving healthcare services for the poor. In fact, the whole system of setting up a parallel private hospitals sector has bled the public (general hospitals) sector dry.''
MTUC's Syed Shahir is clearly concerned. ''We are taking the issue of privatisation seriously,'' he said, ''and we will go down to the grassroots to take serious initiatives to create awareness among workers. '' (
Women Workers
peoples caravan against pesticides
Dr.Irene Fernandaz-Malaysia
Fatimah Burnad-Tamil Nadu India
Sarojeni V.Rengam -Malaysia
Romi-Philipines
Maneyvannan -Malaysia
Dalit
Dr.Irene fernandaz
