Meeting of excluded women network in Asia Meeting of excluded women network in Asia 9-11 march 2008 at Bangkok-Thailand9-11 march 2008 at Bangkok-Thailand

CONDITION OF CONDITION OF DALIT WOMENDALIT WOMEN

IN PAKISTANIN PAKISTAN

BY: Kalavanti Raja from PakistanBY: Kalavanti Raja from Pakistan

kalavanti.raja@gmail.comkalavanti.raja@gmail.com

MY INTRODUCTIONMY INTRODUCTION I am I am Kalavanti RajaKalavanti Raja, from Karachi , from Karachi

PakistanPakistan First of all , I want to thank the host of this First of all , I want to thank the host of this

program for better arrangements and this program for better arrangements and this chance of discussion with you all.chance of discussion with you all.

On behalf of Pakistan, I welcome all On behalf of Pakistan, I welcome all distinguished guests and participating distinguished guests and participating delegatesdelegates

MY PRESENTATIONMY PRESENTATION

Contains four partsContains four parts

General overviewGeneral overviewOur activitiesOur activitiesCase studiesCase studiesDalit demandsDalit demands

PART-ONEPART-ONE

GENERAL GENERAL OVERVIEWOVERVIEW

MY COUNTRYMY COUNTRY Pakistan is a largest Muslim country in south Asia, Pakistan is a largest Muslim country in south Asia,

bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, India, China and bordered by Afghanistan, Iran, India, China and Arabian sea. It came into being in 1947.Arabian sea. It came into being in 1947.

Society is largely captured by feudal lords, religious Society is largely captured by feudal lords, religious bigots and military generalsbigots and military generals

Population is 180 million which includes:Population is 180 million which includes: 96% Muslims96% Muslims 1.5% Dalits1.5% Dalits 1.5% Christians1.5% Christians 0.5% Hindus0.5% Hindus 0.5% Budhist, Parsis and other minorities0.5% Budhist, Parsis and other minorities

DALITS IN PAKISTANDALITS IN PAKISTAN

Instead of Dalit, the word Scheduled Castes is Instead of Dalit, the word Scheduled Castes is commonly used in media and masses and all commonly used in media and masses and all scheduled castes are treated as Hindu by religion.scheduled castes are treated as Hindu by religion.

Population is 2.5 millions belonging to 40 various Population is 2.5 millions belonging to 40 various castes, mainly Menghwar, Bheel, Kolhi and Bagri.castes, mainly Menghwar, Bheel, Kolhi and Bagri.

Like other regions, untouchability and inequality Like other regions, untouchability and inequality made Dalits economically marginalized and made Dalits economically marginalized and socially excluded group.socially excluded group.

DALIT WOMENDALIT WOMEN Women have to face more inhuman social, physical and Women have to face more inhuman social, physical and

mental trauma everyday includingmental trauma everyday including Verbal abuseVerbal abuse Sexual harassmentSexual harassment Forced religion convergenceForced religion convergence Rapes / gang rapes / kidnappingRapes / gang rapes / kidnapping Physical assaultPhysical assault Medical negligenceMedical negligence

For above common happenings, no case being heard or For above common happenings, no case being heard or registered. All law enforcing agencies are working under registered. All law enforcing agencies are working under the command of feudal lords who are killing their own the command of feudal lords who are killing their own women in the name of honour [Karo Kari]women in the name of honour [Karo Kari]

In such circumstances, who is Dalit women??? Having 03 In such circumstances, who is Dalit women??? Having 03 demerits 1.Dalit 2. Women 3. demerits 1.Dalit 2. Women 3. Non-MuslimNon-Muslim..

SPECIAL INCENTIVESSPECIAL INCENTIVES Earlier Pakistani constitution had provided 6% Earlier Pakistani constitution had provided 6%

reserved quota and 3 years age relaxation in reserved quota and 3 years age relaxation in government jobs for scheduled castes.government jobs for scheduled castes.

Though it was not observed properly when it Though it was not observed properly when it remained enforced but in 1998 it was cancelled. remained enforced but in 1998 it was cancelled. Now no any special incentive exists.Now no any special incentive exists.

There is neither any incentive given to Dalit There is neither any incentive given to Dalit women earlier nor planned so far to up lift her.women earlier nor planned so far to up lift her.

DALIT OCCUPATIONSDALIT OCCUPATIONS Being untouchables, Dalits are bound to do low jobs. Being untouchables, Dalits are bound to do low jobs. MenMen

Agriculture farms = 50%Agriculture farms = 50% Garment factories = 20%Garment factories = 20% Shoe making/polishing = 20%Shoe making/polishing = 20% Sweepers = 5%Sweepers = 5% Government jobs = 0.5%Government jobs = 0.5% Other labour jobs = 4.5%Other labour jobs = 4.5%

WomenWomen Agriculture farms = 50%Agriculture farms = 50% Embroidery = 20%Embroidery = 20% House holding = 30%House holding = 30%

Being civic facility less, Dalit women have to spent long time to Being civic facility less, Dalit women have to spent long time to collect food and water.collect food and water.

PART-TWOPART-TWO

OUR OUR ACTIVITIESACTIVITIES

DALIT NETWORKINGDALIT NETWORKING Pak Dalit solidarity network [PDSN] is still in initial stage Pak Dalit solidarity network [PDSN] is still in initial stage

and trying its best to create awareness among Dalits by:and trying its best to create awareness among Dalits by: Holding work shops/consultation meetingsHolding work shops/consultation meetings Dialogues on religious harmonyDialogues on religious harmony Highlighting discrimination cases to pressHighlighting discrimination cases to press Networking of small Dalit NGOsNetworking of small Dalit NGOs Publishing pamphlets, magazines and bookletsPublishing pamphlets, magazines and booklets..

Initially following organizations are united under the banner Initially following organizations are united under the banner of PDSNof PDSN Scheduled Castes federation of PakistanScheduled Castes federation of Pakistan Scheduled Castes educational societyScheduled Castes educational society Menghwar welfare associationMenghwar welfare association Kolhi welfare associationKolhi welfare association Roshni Sangeet Prize managementRoshni Sangeet Prize management Pak research institute of Dalit emancipationPak research institute of Dalit emancipation

DR. AMBEDKAR’S BIRTHDAY DR. AMBEDKAR’S BIRTHDAY AT HYDERABAD SINDH 2007AT HYDERABAD SINDH 2007

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM WORLD SOCIAL FORUM KARACHI-2006KARACHI-2006

WORLD SOCIAL FORUM WORLD SOCIAL FORUM KARACHI-2006KARACHI-2006

PROTEST FOR THE RESTORATION OF PROTEST FOR THE RESTORATION OF JUDICIARY. KARACHI-2007JUDICIARY. KARACHI-2007

LONG MARCH FOR WATERLONG MARCH FOR WATER

DALIT AWARD DISTRIBUTIONDALIT AWARD DISTRIBUTION

IDSN DALIT WOMEN STRATEGY MEETING IDSN DALIT WOMEN STRATEGY MEETING ON 25-72 FEB 08 AT KHATMANDU-NEPALON 25-72 FEB 08 AT KHATMANDU-NEPAL

PART-THREEPART-THREE

CASE CASE STUDIESSTUDIES

DALIT WOMAN AND CHILDRENDALIT WOMAN AND CHILDREN

DALIT FARMERS IN SINDHDALIT FARMERS IN SINDH

EMPOWERMENTEMPOWERMENT Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was genuine in his concern Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, was genuine in his concern

for Dalits and he appointed Jogendar Nath Mandal as first for Dalits and he appointed Jogendar Nath Mandal as first Law Minister of PakistanLaw Minister of Pakistan

After Jinnah’s death in 1948, feudal lords, religious bigots After Jinnah’s death in 1948, feudal lords, religious bigots and military captured Pakistan and things began to change.and military captured Pakistan and things began to change.

Except some socialist groups, most of political parties Except some socialist groups, most of political parties support Hindu upper castes, having no space for Dalits.support Hindu upper castes, having no space for Dalits.

Presently there is only one Dalit parliamentarian out of 10 Presently there is only one Dalit parliamentarian out of 10 reserve seats for Hindu minorities while Dalit represents 75% reserve seats for Hindu minorities while Dalit represents 75% of Hindu minority populationof Hindu minority population

There is no Dalit women parliamentarian in history of There is no Dalit women parliamentarian in history of Pakistan.Pakistan.

MANOO BHEEL CASEMANOO BHEEL CASE It is very tragic case of bounded labour It is very tragic case of bounded labour

of peasantof peasant Due to allegation of involvement in Due to allegation of involvement in

peasant struggle of escaping from land peasant struggle of escaping from land lord’s private jails, in 1998 Rehman lord’s private jails, in 1998 Rehman Marri, a land lord, kidnapped 09 Marri, a land lord, kidnapped 09 family members of Manoo.family members of Manoo.

On the hunger strike for 02 years, On the hunger strike for 02 years, Chief Justice of Pakistan took suo Chief Justice of Pakistan took suo moto notice for the release of family. moto notice for the release of family. But it is still untraceable because But it is still untraceable because nothing is above to land lord.nothing is above to land lord.

RELEASE OF BONDED LABOURRELEASE OF BONDED LABOUR In Pakistan, 'slavery' In Pakistan, 'slavery'

persists. Land Lords persists. Land Lords have private jails.have private jails.

After a decade of After a decade of Human rights activism, Human rights activism, In 2005 more than In 2005 more than 7,000 bonded laborers 7,000 bonded laborers have either escaped or have either escaped or been rescued in raids on been rescued in raids on Pakistan's feudal fields. Pakistan's feudal fields.

• But Government has not provided shade for them still. Women facing very hard.

FORCED RELIGION CONVERGENCEFORCED RELIGION CONVERGENCE

Kidnap Hindu, force marriage to MuslimKidnap Hindu, force marriage to Muslim In 2003, Sanao Menghwar has had three of his In 2003, Sanao Menghwar has had three of his

daughters kidnapped, then forced to marry daughters kidnapped, then forced to marry Muslim men. Muslim men.

It is observed that only young women were It is observed that only young women were forced to become Islamics.forced to become Islamics.

This happens daily, particularly in the Sindh This happens daily, particularly in the Sindh province of Pakistan.province of Pakistan.

PART-FOURPART-FOUR

DALIT DALIT DEMANDSDEMANDS

DALIT DEMANDSDALIT DEMANDS We invite the attention of all intellectuals and We invite the attention of all intellectuals and

human right activist to force Pakistan to accord the human right activist to force Pakistan to accord the laws to uplift Dalits by reserving quota in:laws to uplift Dalits by reserving quota in: Jobs in military, judiciary and all Government Jobs in military, judiciary and all Government

departmentsdepartments Seats in national, senate and provincial assemblies.Seats in national, senate and provincial assemblies. Seats in higher educational institutions and scholarships Seats in higher educational institutions and scholarships

for abroad studiesfor abroad studies Ownership in agricultural lands and housing schemesOwnership in agricultural lands and housing schemes Distribution of Presidential and national awardsDistribution of Presidential and national awards

Special attention is needed to women participationSpecial attention is needed to women participation

THANKSTHANKS Thank you very much for listening meThank you very much for listening me In the end, I wish to dedicate you a poem In the end, I wish to dedicate you a poem

of great Sindhi poet of great Sindhi poet Shaikh AyazShaikh Ayaz Keep marching, keep marchingKeep marching, keep marching Slowly if necessary Slowly if necessary Quickly if possibleQuickly if possible Keep marching, keep marchingKeep marching, keep marching The path is hard and rockyThe path is hard and rocky And the body is tiredAnd the body is tired But for the glorious goalBut for the glorious goal Keep marching, keep marchingKeep marching, keep marching Slowly if necessary Slowly if necessary Quickly if possibleQuickly if possible Keep marching, keep marchingKeep marching, keep marching