AFFIRMATIVE ACTION: Kula Vivaksha Vyathireka Porata Samithi (KVPS) activists breaking tumblers and mugs outside a hotel to protest against the discrimination of dalits in hotels in the rural areas. — Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

VISAKHAPATNAM: Caste discrimination is continuing in rural areas despite claims made by the Government to the contrary.

Dalits, many of whom work in the fields of the upper castes, dare not question them for fear of losing work. The two-tumbler system is being practiced in hotels at Maddi village of Padmanabham mandal in the district.

Six decades of Independence has not brought about much change in the lives of dalits, especially in rural areas, as they continue to be discriminated upon. Maddi is hardly about 25 km. from the city, and it is not as though villagers are unaware of the repercussions of the practice of untouchability.

Social evil

Kula Vivaksha Vyathireka Porata Samithi (KVPS) has launched a campaign against discrimination in the district. The KVPS activists started off a cycle rally at 5 a.m. from Sabbavaram on Wednesday. They visited various villages en route and educated dalits on their rights and told the perpetrators of the social evil that they could be jailed under the law.

There are five small hotels selling tiffins and tea at Bandhevupuram village. While three are run by SCs, two are run by upper castes. The hotels run by SC s are open to all but upper caste persons avoid them. Dalits are not denied entry into hotels run by upper castes but are asked to bring their own tumblers and plates and keep them separately.

"During wedding feasts and other functions also we are allowed to eat only after the upper caste invitees finish their meals. While they eat on the tables, we have to sit on the floor and take our meals," said a dalit.

"We do ask them to keep their tumblers separately and serve them food on leaf plates.

Our clients belonging to upper castes wouldn't patronise us otherwise," maintains the owner of a hotel who belongs to an upper caste.

KVPS activists crushed the tumblers kept separately for dalits at a hotel at Bandhevupuram and raised slogans against discrimination.

Addressing the villagers, CPM district secretary Ch. Narasinga Rao said that cycle rallies were launched at different places in the State to create awareness on the issue.

He said that the two-tumbler system, denial of entry for dalits into temples and preventing SCs from drawing water from community wells was in vogue at many villages in the State.

He commended the KVPS activists for exposing the social evil at a time when officials were unable to identify the problem.

He demanded granting of an acre land to each dalit family in the rural areas as recommended by the Ranga Rao Committee to reduce their dependence on landlords.

CPM city secretary K. Lokanadham and KVPS leader Appala Narasayya spoke.

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