Stating that the incidents of atrocities on Dalits are on the rise in recent times, Mavalli Shankar, leader of Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (Ambedkar Vada), on Tuesday said that all right-thinking people should join hands in opposing such incidents.
Mr. Shankar was speaking after releasing “Boodiyagada Kenda” written by Vijaykumar Sigaranahall.
Reports
“Every day, we hear reports of atrocities on Dalits in different parts of the country. India has not changed over the years. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar found it difficult to get a house for rent, when he returned to India from abroad after completing higher studies in the early years of the last century. Even today, the situation has not changed,” he lamented.
In the 1970s, the Dalit movement was at its peak level. The pro-Dalit organisations fought against atrocities and succeeded in spreading awareness among Dalits about their rights. “Now, there is a need for strengthening the organisation for the welfare of Dalits,” he said.
Narayana Kyasamballi, a research student, in his introductory remarks on the book, said the status of Dalits had not improved over the years.
“As a Dalit boy, I faced atrocities in my childhood days. We face difficulty in getting a house for rent. Because of my caste, I had to struggle to clear my degree examination as a section of lecturers refused to give me internal assessment marks,” he said.
Rati Rao of People’s Union of Civil Liberties and others were present.
All right-thinking people should join hands in opposing atrocities on Dalits, says DSS leader Mavalli Shankar
