Dalit village faces 'economic boycott'

Wed, Aug 20 03:27 AM

The Dalit settlement in Pirali village in Limdi Taluka is facing an economic boycott of sorts by the upper caste Darbar community which blocked their access to the village and even stopped them from going outside for work. The trouble started after the Dalits protested against the Darbars releasing sewage into their area three years ago.

"Earlier, the sewage from the Darbar locality used to flow out of the village, but about three years ago they changed the direction of the water and made it flow towards our village," said Tulsi Parmar, a resident of the Dalit village. "With the sewage flowing straight into our area we have major water contamination," he said.

The Darbars have now blocked the road connecting the settlement to the Dalit village. The Dalits are now being forced to travel through another road which bypasses the village. The Indian Express reporter, too, was accosted by some men wielding sticks when he tried to take the disputed road."What are you doing here? You guys have no business here," said a member of the group. Asked about the problems with the Dalits, a youngster in the group, said: "Yes, there are issues with the Dalits here, but we do not wish to discuss it with you."

Meanwhile, last week the police refused to register an FIR against the Darbars for assaulting Tulsi Parmar who had been protesting the release of sewage. Though a few arrests were made, the accused were later released on bail. "I have arrested 12 men as a preventive measure and produced them in the local court, where they have been granted bail," said Panshena SI P L Padvhi, who claimed to have visited the village.

The Dalits allege that an economic boycott has been imposed since they approached the police. "Most of us work in their fields. Now they have stopped giving us work, they also stopped us from working in other villages," said Raju Soya.

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