Government flayed over apathy to atrocities against women

Hyderabad: Expressing serious concern over unabated atrocities against women and particularly from dalit community, Prof. Vimala Thorat on Sunday called for a due representation of the women of dalit, adivasis and lower caste communities in legislative bodies to stop social evils like caste, rape, untouchability and discrimination, she opined. Addressing a seminar "India Today: Looking Back, Looking Forward" conducted as part of CPI (M) stalwart Putchalapalli Sundaraiah Centenary Celebrations at Sundaraiah Vignana Kendra here, Prof. Vimala emphasised the need for transforming caste into class in the society to witness development. According to official information, there are a whopping 10 lakh Devadasis in the country, she said adding that they are said to be given to the temples by upper class. Even Union Minister Jairam Ramesh, recently, expressed shock on knowing that about 11 lakh women are eking out their livelihood by working in nights. This was a mute witness of our society that was caught in a web of shambles, she said. Political leaders to keep intact their hegemony are committing atrocities on lower class people and are preventing inter-caste marriages. Recently, a marriage held between dalit and upper class in a village in a state of northern India led to burning of about 400 thatched dalit houses allegedly by upper castes, she said. CPI (M) state secretary BV Raghavulu attributed the continuing atrocities against women to reluctance of the successive governments to take up the core issues. He said that the governments were using dalits and others as only vote banks. He claimed that they have championed the cause of SC, ST communities through continuous struggles and thus, the government brought SC, ST sub plans. Prof Suvira Jaiswal stated that there was a need for proactive rules to check the maladies of the society. Though Caste system was ruling the roost in rural areas, cities and towns are not so much influenced by it, she opined. However the governments should focus on preventing atrocities, wipe out caste system and provide equal justice.