ANDHRA PRADESH

RAGHAVULU LEADS 13-DAY CYCLE YATRA OF THE KVPS

Raising Consciousness Of Dalits Against

Caste Discrimination &  Oppression

FLAGGED OFF: Veteran civil liberties activist K G Kannabiran flags off the cycle yatra in Vikarabad on April 2

                                                        M Venugopala Rao

THE 13-day cycle yatra embarked under the banner of Kulavivaksha Vyatireka Porata Sangham (KVPS) – Struggle Committee against Caste Discrimination – led by its vice president and state secretary of the CPI(M), B V Raghavulu, to raise social consciousness of the dalits against caste discrimination and oppression and for equality and their rights is going on successfully and receiving tremendous response in Ranga Reddy district, giving a new hope and spirit to the dalits to unite themselves to fight for their rights.

Started on April 2, 2006, at Vikarabad in Ranga Reddy district, this yatra for social consciousness would cover about 205 villages and reach Hyderabad on April 13 and a mass rally would be taken out on April 14 from Mehedipatnam to the Ambedkar statue at Tankbund where a public meeting would be held, coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar.

NEED FOR SOCIAL REVOLUTION

Formed nine years back in the state and organising struggles against untouchability and caste discrimination and on other problems of the dalits, KVPS conducted a state-wide survey on the conditions of the dalits.  In the survey it was found that in Ranga Reddy district, surrounding the state capital,  the dalits were being subjected to discrimination in several forms –  untouchability, two glasses system, no entry into temples,  barbers not being allowed to do hair cutting, keeping dalits away from drinking water taps and bores,  lack of civic amenities in dalit colonies, etc. “There is no scope for ending discrimination simply based on law and the government alone. Unless the society, progressive forces and parties relentlessly fight for a long time, we cannot eradicate discrimination.  KVPS was formed only for this and it is trying to end this kind of discrimination.  As a part and parcel of this effort, this cycle yatra for social consciousness is taken up”, explains Raghavulu.  As a result of the pressure brought on it by the movement of KVPS, the earlier  TDP government had appointed Justice Punnayya Commission on scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, but powers and staff were not given to it. The Commission remained like an organisation without teeth.  It was useful for study and understanding of the problems of the dalits.  Since there was caste discrimination in many forms and the influence of superstitions was also high in Ranga Reddy district, the yatra for social consciousness would be useful to raise the consciousness of the dalits and to bring it to the notice of the government, said Raghavulu. 

Led by Raghavulu, KVPS state general secretary John Wesley, CITU state secretary Paladugu Bhaskar, SFI state vice president Bhaskar, DYFI state assistant secretary Venkanna, state secretary of A P Agricultural Workers’ Union N Venkataswamy, SFI district president  and secretary Sobhan and  Narayana, KVPS district secretary Mallesh and district secretary of A P Rythu Sangham Amreswar are participating in the cycle yatra, braving the excruciating summer heat. President of People’s Union for Civil Liberties K G Kannabiran flagged off the cycle yatra, after Raghavulu garlanded the statue of Dr Ambedkar at Vikarabad. Speaking on the occasion, Raghavulu reminded that the then Telugu Desam government refused to conduct janmabhoomi programme on the rights of the dalits, and again asked the present Congress government, which has taken up pallebata, nagarabata and rythubata programmes, to organise dalit chaitanya bata to enlighten the dalits about their rights.  He made it clear that if land is distributed to dalits, they can progress with self-respect.   Raghavulu reiterated the demand that the government must first develop the dalitwadas under the Indiramma scheme started by it from April 1. He demanded the government to allot 17 per cent of budgetary funds for the development and welfare of the dalits in the state and appoint an educated and efficient person as chairman of the Commission on SCs and STs.  Kannabiran termed the cycle yatra the beginning of a social revolution. John Wesley, state secretary of AIDWA Swaruparani, vice president of KVPS G Ramulu and others spoke on this occasion.    

TUMULTOUS RESPONSE

Everywhere during the cycle yatra for social consciousness, the local Dalits and other people welcomed it with enthusiasm and tumultuously, submitted memoranda to Raghavulu explaining their numerous problems and heard him and other leaders who addressed them. During the yatra, Raghavulu and other leaders entered  the colonies of dalits, examined the conditions there, enquired about the problems they have been facing and took  gruel and food along with them. Raghavulu and other leaders asked the dalits to unite and fight for their rights, bring instances of discrimination to their notice and  assured them of all support of the KVPS. Raghavulu promised to bring their problems to the notice of the government. If the government won’t respond to solve their problems, the struggle would be intensified, he announced.  At several villages instances of grabbing of lands, including burial grounds,  of the dalits were brought to the notice of Raghavulu, who in turn installed flags of KVPS in those lands and even ploughed some of them as a token measure.  He warned the officers concerned that serious consequences would follow if the lands are not restored to the dalits concerned and action taken against the grabbers.

FORCIBLE TEMPLE ENTRY: Raghavulu leading the dalits entry into a temple after breaking open the locks

At several villages where dalits were not being allowed by the local landlords and other upper caste people to enter into temples, Raghavulu and other leaders dispelled the fears of the dalits and led them into temples playing tappetlu (drums) and in one case even breaking the locks of a temple at Ekmayi  where the priest was deliberately sent to a neighbouring village  and the other concerned people refused to give the key. These actions gave the dalits a sense of  self-confidence and enthusiasm. Speaking at Mittakodur village, Raghavulu said when dalits entered the temple at Tirumalapur earlier,  the upper caste people were not allowing   water from the local tank to flow into the lands of the dalits.  When dalits are asserting their rights, they are being subjected to social and economic boycott and atrocities. The government is not coming to their rescue.  

In some of the villages where a system of two glasses was prevalent in hotels –  not allowing dalits inside or serving them tea, water etc. in separate glasses –  the owners were warned of dire consequences legally and otherwise if they would not stop this discrimination against dalits.  As a token protest against  this discriminatory system, glasses were broken in many such hotels.  Knowing about the cycle yatra, some of the owners of the hotels introduced disposable glasses. Instances of the local upper caste people not allowing the barbers to do hair cutting to dalits came to the notice of the leaders during the yatra. At Rannam village in Yalala mandal,  when dalits were taken to the street where barbers reside, the latter already left, locking their houses.  Barbers from another colony were brought there and Raghavulu personally supervised hair cutting to one dalit by a barber.   When barbers told him that there would be pressure from people of other castes if they do hair cutting to dalits, he asked them to bring to his notice if any such difficulties arise.  Raghavulu visited several residential schools and hostels for scheduled caste children and interacted with the students.  He found that the conditions at these hostels  were worse than those in a central jail, with no drinking facility and toilets. 

UTTER STATE OF NEGLECT

Dalits in several villages brought to the notice of the yatra team the lack of civic amenities in their colonies and the kind of discrimination they were being subjected to. Tribals at Rampur thanda in Tharur mandal pointed out that though their families have been raising crops for the last eighty years in their lands, the government  has not given them pattas so far. Despite repeated representations, there has been no response from the district administration, they said.  Addressing the dalits at Navalga village in Basheerabad Mandal, Raghavulu said 16 per cent of the panchayat funds were not being spent for the development of dalitwadas (residential areas of dalits), and as the funds were common, dalitwadas were not being developed. For the development of dalitwadas a separate organisation should be set up and funds allocated, he said. Without even basic civic amenities like drinking water, sewerage lines and  proper roads, and  education and health facilities, the dalits were leading miserable a life away from civilisation, said Raghavulu.   

John Wesley said till April 9, the yatra covered 400 km through 91 villages.  During the yatra, in 85 villages  entry of dalits  into temples was ensured. In 35 villages, two-glasses system in hotels was broken.  He demanded the government to waive the dues of domestic power bills of SCs and STs. Wesley found fault with the government for not implementing 18 GOs issued by itself on the recommendations of Justice Punnayya Commission for the development and protection of dalits. The officers concerned entrusted with the responsibility of enlightening the dalits were not visiting the villages and they were not to be seen anywhere during the yatra also, he criticised.

Eminent educationist Chukka Ramayya complimented Raghavulu for leading the yatra and himself participated in it for some time. Nomula Narsimhaiah, leader of the CPI(M) legislature party,  B Tulasidas, president of A P Rythu Sangham, S Vinaya Kumar, editor of Prajasakti daily, and T Ashok, editor of  Vartha  daily, were among those who participated in the cycle yatra.

The cycle yatra for social consciousness has once again brought to the fore the issues of caste discrimination and untouchability.  Apart from drawing the attention of the people in general, the yatra is getting  good coverage in the media, with news and views being expressed widely on the issue.  Apart from alerting the officers in the government, the yatra  and  related issues have become a point of hot debate among political leaders, dalit organisations and others.