March 27, 2009

BANGKOK/GENEVA – Church representatives at the recent "Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits" in Bangkok have underlined the need for consistent implementation of comprehensive affirmative action policies in order to protect marginalized groups from discrimination.

The conference workshop "Affirmative Action and Advocacy in Affected Countries" determined that members of ostracized groups such as Dalits remain social, economic and political outcasts, even in countries with laws targeting prejudicial practices.

Politicized Divide in India

In India, affirmative action policies exist to address specific issues such as bonded and child labor, manual scavenging and jogni (ritual prostitution). However, Mr. Paul Divakar, a Dalit activist representing the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights, noted that "Dalit reality in India is not a mark of national pride. It is in fact a shame."

He indicated that, despite the existence of different schemes and programs to improve the socioeconomic conditions of the poor and marginalized, the plight of the Dalits still remains largely unchanged. It is reported that 80 percent of Dalits live in rural areas, 86 percent are landless, 60 percent are dependent on occasional employment and only 30 percent are literate.

As a Dalit social activist, Divakar feels that the divide in the name of caste is politicized. When not enforced, he contended, constitutional laws in India – in particular those intended to integrate women and other marginalized groups – become a farce and a mockery of the political structure, and cited the example of affirmative action "reservation policies."

In theory these policies allocate a proportionate percentage of places in education, employment and politics to the Dalit populace. However, as Divakar pointed out, many prestigious educational institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology or the Indian Institute of Management do not abide by the reservation policies.

Divakar emphasized that this discriminatory situation prevails not only in education but also in employment and politics, with the tacit knowledge of the government. As a result, large numbers of Dalits are "simmering with resentment" about the opportunities denied to them.

"What pains me," lamented Divakar, "is that the few Dalits who are in the legislative assembly of the government, whom the Dalits count on to be their spokespersons to bring about changes in their lives, are under vested interests, hijacked to the power games of politics."

Not a Uniquely Indian Problem

Participants learned that similar dynamics can be found in other countries. While Nepal also has anti-discriminatory laws in place, Dalits there, who constitute 20 percent of the population, share the same predicament of the Dalits in India, according to Ms. Indira Ghale of the Feminist Dalit Organization in Nepal. "Though reservation policies [are in place] in Nepal, Dalits are deprived of their right to education, employment and politics. They, without other options, are pushed [into] menial jobs."

Other South Asian countries where caste is a defining reality, such as Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have yet to enact affirmative action legislature. Rev. Vincent Manoharan, international advocacy secretary of the National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights in Pakistan, stated that all Pakistani Dalits, whether Muslim, Hindu or Christian, face discrimination from the government. "The Islamic state does not recognize the Dalit issue," he commented. Studies among Hindu Dalits reveal that they are mostly bonded laborers, and Dalit Christians are doubly marginalized.

Manoharan pointed out that Dalits' primary form of employment in Bangladesh is as "sweepers" cleaning streets and collecting garbage.

In Sri Lanka, despite ethnic struggle having a stronger impact, caste-based thinking is prevalent even among Buddhists. Though not given the name "Dalit," Dalits of Indian origin who are citizens of Sri Lanka do not have the right to vote.

The workshop revealed the need for anti-discriminatory policies outside the region as well, even if the concept of "caste" is not expressed as such.

In the Philippines, for example, there is no caste system, according to Rev. David Tabo-oy, dean of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Resurrection in Baguio City. However, "the society is divided [into] majorities and minorities. The minorities are [the] indigenous people similar to the Aborigines of Australia." He noted that there is legislature in place to protect indigenous people, but at the same time other laws such as the Mining Act actually deprive indigenous people of their rights, in this case to land.

Countries such as the United States of America, Ireland and Malaysia have enacted affirmative action policies in order to protect excluded groups.

Churches Called to Solidarity

The church representatives at the workshop called on the global ecumenical community to be more proactive in ensuring that their respective governments enact and implement policies targeting discrimination.

In the eyes of Lutheran World Federation vice president Bishop Dr Zephania Kameeta of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia, a universal human rights issue is at stake and, as such, advocacy is not optional for the church: "Discrimination and oppression is a scandal on humanity. Our solidarity with Dalits is not a favor; it is our Christian calling and responsibility to be involved in the global Dalit solidarity process."

Over 100 representatives and leaders of various churches and organizations worldwide attended the "Global Ecumenical Conference on Justice for Dalits: A Call for Solidarity from the Global Church" on 21-24 March in Bangkok, Thailand. The conference was organized by the LWF and the World Council of Churches in partnership with the Christian Conference of Asia.

More information on the conference is available at http://www.lutheranworld.org/What_We_Do/OIahr/OIAHR-Dalit_Justice.html.

Lutheran World Information
A contribution by Timothy Melvyn, communication officer for the United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India.