Dalit-Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra In Odisha
By All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch
02 June, 2015
Countercurrents.org
We seek your support and solidarity as the Dalit-Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra travels to Odisha from June 1-10, 2015. After Haryana, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, we are now moving to Odisha to learn, seek support and build our communities in addressing the multiple levels of violence faced by Dalit and Adivasi Women. Through our Yatra we would engage in understanding the issues of our communities at local levels and identify the perpetrating forces that violate the rights of Dalit and Adivasi communities, specifically women from these communities. Taking action against those forces is one of the main objectives of the Yatra. Through this process, Dalit-Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra aims at identifying and nurturing the women leaders of our communities and strengthening their leadership.
In the first phase of Yatra in Odisha, we shall travel to those districts where Caste based violence, communal riots and affects of enormous level of corporatisation has reflected in its worst form for all and more specifically the Dalit and Adivasi women. Those districts are Kandhamal, Boudh, Sonepur, Balesore, Jajpur, Jagatsingpur, and Kendrapada & Puri.
Friends, the predicament is complex and situations always very volatile. Take a look at the statistics -
Odisha has been witnessing several massive attacks on Dalits and Adivasis aroused out of Caste and Communal forces, the increasing amount of Corporatisation is leading to further increase in the apathy of the state towards Dalits and Adivasis. The extremely atrocious and continued attacks on Dalit Christians in Kandhamal by the Hindu forces, Caste Violence in Balangir are some of the cases. The issues around religious conversions of Dalits and Tribal/Adivasis are one of the main factors for Hindu forces to attack these communities.
The violence against Dalits and Adivasis is observed in multiple forms those are the violation of Prevention of Atrocities act of Scheduled Caste and Schedules Tribes, encroachment of the Tribal/Adivasi Land, Sexual violence against Dalit and Adivasi women, and exploitation of Tribal/Adivasis holding them responsible for insurgent activities. There have always been planned attacks on assertive Dalit and Tribal communities. History reveals that the State has always been in support of dominant feudal forces and Hindu extremist groups such as RSS and right wing forces. The gruesome attacks over Dalits and Adivasis have been committed with absolute impunity.
During the last 12 years from 2001 to 2012, 24,796 atrocity cases against SCs and STs have been registered in different police stations of the State out of which 18,446 are against SCs and 6,350 are against STs. The nature of atrocity includes 1,002 rape cases (SC 574 + ST 428), 264 murder cases (SC 158 +ST106), and rest of the cases are arson and other crimes. The situation of women in general is worst in the State. It is reported that the number of registered cases under rape from 2001 to 2012 is 11,430. Odisha’s Dalit & Tribal Girls Unsafe at Ashram schools 8 out of 16 victims were sexually-assaulted by teachers and rest by other persons and employees.
Dalit & Adivasi Mahila Swabhiman Yatra has been initiated by All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch led by young leaders challenging centuries of exploitation. Small voices pitched against large monsters of oppressions. The Swabhiman Yatra is perhaps one of the largest set of coordinated actions against caste-based sexual violence in Indian History. The broader goal of this process is to confront perpetrators, and stage mass protests as well as expose the culture of impunity perpetuated by individuals and social institutions. This is our way of organising and bringing our people together to learn, un-learn, re-learn and stand together in the long battle for justice and freedom for all.
Please do let us know if you would like to join these steps along with us. You could -
write back for additional details
follow us on social media posts on Facebook and Twitter
host the yatra team and volunteers in Odisha
plan a seminar or day workshop in your university
contribute your time and resources
volunteer in more ways than one ... please write to us and we can find a way of working together !
Thank you and Jai Bhim !
On behalf of the team
Asha Kowtal
NCDHR | All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch
www.ncdhr.org.in
+91-9560100442.
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