A disturbing video showing a group of men dragging a woman by her hair, brutally kicking and assaulting her with sticks, while she screams and cries surrounded by onlookers is going viral on social media platforms. As per credible SM and Twitter accounts the disturbing footage of the violent incident took place in UP where a Dalit girl is being subjected to extreme violence, taking place in an open field near a water body, on the charges of her bathing in the nearby water; making the water impure/ de-sanctifying it for upper-class Hindus. The footage has again uncovered the charade from the face of India claiming to be on the path of social and economic progress and lay bare the inherent flaws in Hindutva ideology. As reported by Beena Pallical –General Secretary of the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights in India; for centuries, Dalit minorities in South Asia have faced discrimination, marginalization, stigma, and violence. And this violence stems from the illogical phenomena of descent-based discrimination. According to the International Dalit Solidarity Network, there are an estimated 260 million Dalits worldwide. The Dalit live in South Asia (India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka) and in communities that migrated from South Asia across the globe.

Statistics Concerning the State of Dalits in India

Atrocities/Crimes against Schedule Castes have increased by 1.2% in 2021 (50900) over 2020 (50,291 cases). Uttar Pradesh (13,146 cases) reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes (SCs) accounting for 25.82% followed by Rajasthan with 14.7% (7524) and Madhya Pradesh with 14.1% (7214) during 2021. The next two states in the list are Bihar accounting for 11.4% (5842) and Odisha 4.5% (2327). The above top five states reported 70.8% of cases of atrocities against Schedule Castes. The recent incidents of atrocities against Scheduled Castes in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana reflect the harsh realities of caste-based violence against SCs and STs, said the group.

Violence against Adivasis

 Atrocities/ Crimes against Scheduled Tribes have increased by 6.4 % in 2021 (8’802 cases) over 2020 (8,272 cases). Madhya Pradesh (2627, cases) reported the highest number of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes (STs) accounting for 29.8% followed by Rajasthan with 24% (2121 cases) and Odisha with 7.6 %( 676 cases) during 2021. Maharashtra was next on the list with 7.17% (628 cases) followed by Telangana at 5.81% (512 cases). The above top five states reported 74.57% of cases of atrocities against Scheduled Tribes.

Dalit and Adivasi Women at the Receiving End

Cases of rape against Schedule caste women, (including minors) account for 7.64% (3893 cases), with 2585 cases of rape against Dalit Women and 1285 cases of minor rape, of the total cases reported. Cases of rape, attempt to rape, and assault on women, to outrage her modesty, and kidnapping of women and minors cumulatively stood at 16.8% (8570 cases). Cases of rape against Scheduled Tribe women stood at 15% (1324 cases) of the total cases reported. Cases of Rape, Attempt to rape, Assault on women to outrage her modesty, and kidnapping cumulatively stood at 226.8% (2364 cases). Cases of murder, Attempt to murder, and Grievous hurt were reported as 967, 916, and 1286 respectively against Scheduled Caste. Similarly for Scheduled Tribes. Cases of Murder, Attempt to murder, and Grievous hurt were reported as 199,148 and 114 respectively. Cases, trials in 10108 of atrocities against SCs were completed, and in 1947 cases for STs. A graphical display of crimes against Dalits/Scheduled Castes is enclosed herewith along with the source (National Crime Records Bureau).