MYSURU: Dalits are forced to walk barefoot in Rattehalli and are barred from the village temple, angry residents said on Wednesday, accusing the authorities of turning a blind eye to the prevailing discrimination.
The allegations were made at the first SC/ST Jagruthi Committee meeting held this year by deputy commissioner Abhiram Sankar. Members of the panel cited various instances in villages where Dalits were being oppressed.
"For the past many years, people from the scheduled castes and tribes are not allowed to wear slippers and go to Rattehalli village. They cannot step inside the temple in the village either," said Puttalakshmama, a member of the committee. Rattehalli is in Yelwala hobli of Mysuru taluk.
"For unemployed Dalit youth, the government sanctioned a ration shop but only a few SC/ST families frequent it. Non-Dalit families do not come to this ration shop," said Puttalakshmama, adding, "this was brought to the notice of Yelwala police who instead of getting people together, set up another ration shop for non-Dalits."
Diwakar of KR Nagar, who is also a member of the committee, said: "For every atrocity case filed by SC/ST communities, counter cases are filed in such a way that the victim has to suffer. At Tippur village, SC/ST people are not permitted inside the temple. They are not allowed to get a haircut in the village either."
Source: Times of India
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