Radhamma, a Dalit woman, was appointed as a head cook in Government Higher Primary School in Kagganahalli village of Kolar district, Karnataka.
Over 100 children quit the school just because of Radhamma’s appointment for Midday Meal Scheme. The remaining 18 students were kept to study in that school on parent’s condition that she doesn’t cook any meals.
According to laws, a school can be shutdown if it has less 10 students. Parents line up in front of the principal’s office demanding transfer certificates for their children. “They abuse me if I try to convince them not to take their wards out,” Y.V. Venkatachalapathi, the headmaster of the school said.
“All the students have left due to pressure from the upper castes in the village. Nobody is willing to have food prepared by me. Even students belonging to my caste have been forced to leave the school,” Radhamma said.
Radhamma is the sole breadwinner for her family of seven, earning Rs 1,700/month (24 euro, 26 USD).
This just followed by around 2 weeks another unpleasant occurrence against dalits happened in the same state of Karnataka. A young Dalit activist and writer was allegedly attacked by unidentified men whom he suspects to be right-wing activists, for his “anti-Hindu” writings at Davangere in central Karnataka.
Huchangi Prasad, a 23-year-old student and author of a book ‘Odala Kichchu’ which speaks against the caste system, alleged that he was assaulted and threatened that his fingers would be cut for writing against Hinduism.
Prasad said he received some minor injuries in the attack, adding, “The attackers said I’m born as Dalit, because of sins I had committed in my previous life.”
Asked whether the men belonged to any particular group, Prasad said “From their words it was almost clear that they are from some right wing group but I’m not completely sure about their identity.”
A case has been registered against unidentified persons at RMC Yard Police Station in this regard. Police said they are on a lookout for the suspects.
For honesty into chronicle it should be noted that the Indian state of Karnataka is proverbial for religious tolerance. Until now, at least.
For more information and source article:
Students Quit School After Appointing Dalit Woman as Head Cook
Young Dalit writer assaulted in Karnataka for ‘anti-Hindu’ writings