Even as the issues of people living in the Madhesh gained significant grounds in the past few years, the plight of Dalits in Madhesh are still being ignored. The Madheshi Dalit community is one of the most vulnerable and excluded groups in Nepal due to the centralized and feudalistic nature of the state formulated on the basis of Hinduism. The centralized state has left Madheshi people in general as second-class citizens, and the situation of the Dalits in Madhesh is even worse. They have been facing severe untouchability and caste-based discrimination for centuries.
These types of discriminatory practices are based on the structure of the particular Madheshi society’s construct and developed from the fourfold Varna system of Hinduism. At the top are the Brahmins, followed by Kshetriyas, Baishyas, and Shudra at the bottom. During the course of perverse traditions, the Shudras have been severely mistreated and coined as ‘Untouchables’ by the higher castes through the caste-based discrimination and occupational divisions. Historically, Nepali society holds deep roots in the Hindu caste system with the hierarchy of different groups of people within the system. Dalits are one of the groups of people within this Hindu caste system who are the lowest in social, economic and political rungs compared to other groups. This age-old caste system has left Madheshi Dalits suffering more than anyone else.[break]
A Dalit woman sleeps besides her baby
Though Nepali society is regarded as multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-cultural and multi-lingual, the feudalistic Hindu caste system still maintains the deep division among various caste groups. The caste system which has its roots in the ancient religious texts, codes and traditions derived from them, was formalized by the 1854 Civil Code. Although it was legally abolished by an amendment of the old Civil Code in 1963, the caste system, including untouchability, is still rampant in the Nepali society. Despite legal provisions that prohibit discrimination on the basis of caste, discrimination against Dalits is still widespread.
The social structure of Madhesh is more unequal and hierarchical than in the hills due to lack of awareness. Madheshi Dalits are compelled to face different kinds of caste-based discrimination along with extreme economic exploitation. For instance, they are indentured laborers, in Haruwa-Charuwa and Kamad systems. These factors have created structural inequality between Madheshi Dalits and non-Dalits.
This study focuses on how the complex social structure of Madhesh has contributed to economic exploitation and caste-based discrimination of Madheshi Dalits in the Madheshi society. In this research, structural inequality means the social construction of caste-based discrimination and the economic exploitation of Dalits created by social institutions.
Major findings
The research study conducted in two VDCs – Brahmangochhari and Pidariya – of Siraha District revealed that among the total number of 156 illiterate respondents, 92 percent faced discrimination at workplace as Dalits. This fact can be taken as a strong indicator of untouchability prevalence in the Tarai Madhesh region. Among 199 respondents, 184 were found to have faced untouchability practices which clearly indicate that untouchability practice is rampant in these villages.
Due to their poor economic condition, most Dalits in these villages are compelled to work for their landlords for survival. The survey data shows that 26 percent of Dalit children are working as child labors. Among them, 31 percent are under pressure to work in their landlords’ houses. Most Madheshi Dalits are landless and economically backward and their children are compelled to work for their landlords, mostly herding cattle or working in the field along with their parents. Due to their work pressure, these children have been deprived of their rights to education.
The survey data indicates that there is also labor wage discrimination between Dalits and non-Dalits in Tarai Madhesh. Non-Dalits get more wage than Dalits for the same work. Moreover, Dalits mostly get their wages in kind, like paddy, wheat, grains as per the decision of the landlords. Thus, labor wage discrimination remains as one of the key factors for structural inequality between Madheshi Dalits and non-Dalits.
The wage labor practice is known as Haruwa-Charuwa in the region. One fourth of the respondents in the survey reported that they have been working as Haruwa-Charuwa for their landlords. Among the 199 respondents, 178 have felt labor exploitation and discrimination.
The situation of Dalit women in Madhesh is more serious because they face domestic violence along with the Haruwa-Charuwa system’s explotations.
One of the main reasons behind this discrimination against Madheshi Dalits is that they don’t own their own land which forces them to work for their landlords. The survey data reveals that more than 39 percent of respondents are landless while almost 50 percent of them have marginal landholding of less than one Kattha, not enough to survive. Only 2.5 percent of respondents have one Bigha of land and above. Land is the key variable for structural inequality of Madheshi Dalits.
The survey also revealed that Madheshi Dalits face caste-based discrimination due to the deeply rooted Hindu caste system. Of 199 respondents, 121 found discriminated against by religion, and among these discriminated, 69.4 percent felt that discrimination is due to the Hindu caste system.
This structural inequality is also seen in the employment sector, as the Madheshi Dalits are less likely to get employed compared to other groups. Eighty five percent of respondents have faced employment discrimination on the basis of their caste when they tried to get into the services like offices, hospitals, hotels and schools. In the case of employment discrimination, 87.60 percent faced domestic work discrimination, 10.70 percent faced discrimination in local product selling, 9.50 percent faced discrimination in hotels, and 3.60 percent faced discrimination in schools and 2.40 percent I in hospitals or health posts. This is prevalent among Madheshi Dalits due to lack of education opportunities and awareness. For the major reasons behind the unemployment of Madheshi Dalits, 49.20 percent revealed the reason as caste-based discrimination, 23.60 percent cited lack of technical education, 23.10 percent mentioned lack of appropriate policy to uplift Dalits, and 7.50 percent felt it was due to lack of social networks.
Due to their low status in society, Madheshi Dalits are further discriminated against in other spheres of public life. Hence, they do not have the ownership of whatever happens in the local society. Most Dalits are hardly involved in the decision-making processes as they are not represented at the local bodies like consumer committee or public construction committee. Only 22.6 percent of respondents said that they have been represented in the local socio-economic development groups.
Out of 199 respondents, 45 said they have participated in socio-economic development committees while 154 said they are yet to be represented in these committees. Out of those being involved, 40 percent is engaged in microfinance, 22.20 percent in women’s groups, 15.60 percent in community forestry user groups, 8.90 percent in school management committees, and 4.40 percent in health management committees.
But things are changing
Having highlighted the various discriminatory practices against the Madheshi Dalits, one should not think, however, that nothing has happened in the changing society. The majority of respondents during the survey said that the practices of untouchability and caste-based discrimination are gradually decreasing after the political changes of 1990. Out of the 199 respondents, 184 felt that the incidents of caste-based discrimination have decreased since 1990 but they felt a lot needs to be done to bring about radical changes in the society and provide equal opportunities to Madheshi Dalits.
The reasons behind this change are the role of I/NGOs in awareness building, increase in education, improvement in economic status and increase in participation. Despite all these, however, Madheshi Dalits are still discriminated against when it comes to marriages, worshipping at temples or eating at public eateries.
A shy Madheshi Dalit woman covers her face while she’s being interviewed.
Conclusion
The research basically proves that Madheshi Dalits are still being discriminated against and a lot must be done to bring them into the mainstream of overall development. And structural inequality between Madheshi Dalits and non-Dalits still remains.
Labor exploitation, caste-based discrimination at workplace, especially in the domestic sector, and severe poverty are the main reasons behind the said structural inequality, according to the findings of the abovementioned survey.
To overcome this grave human rights situation, constant efforts are necessary from all the government and non-government entities to take the Madheshi Dalit children out of the bonded labor system of Haruwa-Charuwa and enroll them in schools.
A conscious effort is also needed to ensure these Dalits’ participation in the decision-making bodies at the local level which would not only empower them to feel the ownership of the overall development process but would also make them aware of their rights and responsibilities.
The discrimination over the labor wages should be meted out immediately and introduce technical education to them which would help them make necessary income, thereby improving their livelihood.
Fact file
Some facts from the research study entitled “Structural inequality between Madheshi Dalits and non-Dalits” conducted by Ranjit Kanaujiya. The study was conducted in two villages – Brahmangochhari and Pidariya – of Siraha district from January 2010 to July 2012. The two villages were selected due to existence of mixed community and prevalence of Haruw-Charuwa, the system of attached labor who plough land for landlords in exchange of payment in cash or kind. The study has tried to explore the structural inequality between Dalits and non-Dalits in Madhesh and to analyze the exclusionary practices based on their occupation and labor and existing practices of caste-based discrimination.
Caste and ethnic composition
Musahar 49 %
Chamar/Ram 28 %
Dusadh (Paswan) 14 %
Others 9 %
Educational Status
Illiterate 51 %
Literate (but not schooling) 11 %
Primary 22 %
Lower Secondary 11 %
Secondary 2 %
SLC and above 4 %
Occupational Status
Agriculture (Own) 8 %
Labor (agriculture and non-agriculture) 75 %
Service 2 %
Foreign employment 3 %
Small business 0.44 %
Caste-based occupation 1.5 %
Housewife 11 %
Language and Religion
100 % of the population have Maithali as a mother tongue
57 % of respondents don’t understand Nepali
100 % Madheshi Dalits are Hindu
Landownership
39 % of respondents are landless; Among 61 % landownership: <1 Kattha – 50 %, 1-Kattha to 1 Bigha - 48 % and >1 Bigha – 2 %
Employment discrimination
85 % have faced employment discrimination on the basis of caste
Ownership discrimination
Only 22.6 % of respondent’s representative in different socio-economic development groups at local level. And the types of representation are elected - 26 % and nominated - 74 %
Attached labor discrimination
25 % respondents are working as Haruwa Charuwa. Attached labor discrimination is the key for structural inequality in Tarai-Madhesh. Madheshi Dalits are working as attached labor. They are mostly known as Haruwa-Charuwa in the region.
Child labor discrimination
26 % of children worked as child labor. Among them 31 % are forcefully worked as domestic child labor at landlords’ houses
Discrimination in wages
30 % reported that they have given low wage than non-Dalits in the same work. This type of discrimination existed in both agriculture and non-agriculture sector. Most of the Madheshi Dalits get wage in kind rather than cash.
Untouchability practices
95 % faced untouchability practices in their village
The causes of untouchability, respondents shared:
Due to Hinduism 5%
Due to biased policy 30%
Due to poverty 39%
Due to lack of awareness 20%
Others cause 8%
Changes in untouchability practices
Incidents of caste based discrimination have reduced after 1990: 95 % agreed and reasons of reduction in cases of discrimination are: Role of I/NGOs - 68% (127 Person); Due to increase in education - 55% (103 Person); and Improvement in economic status - 12% (23 Person)
Participation Level
Only 22% were found having participation in socio-economic development organizations at local level - In micro finance - 40%; Women’s group - 22%; Community Forest User Groups - 15%; SMC - 9% and HMC - 5%
Major Reasons Behind the Unemployment:
Caste based discrimination 49%
Lack of technical education 24%
Lack of appropriate policy 23%
Lack of financial capital 48%
Lack of social networks 7%
The writer conducted his survey under the aegis of the Harka Gurung Fellowship provided by Social Inclusion Research Fund.
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