Dalits don’t need dinner diplomacy
The community needs better education, jobs and healthcare
Political parties are in the middle of a pitched battle over whether Karnataka state BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa ate food ordered from a restaurant in a Dalit home recently. This, apparently, is in keeping with the party’s plan of making inroads into the Dalit community by having leaders eat in their homes. BJP leaders are doing the same thing in other states. Whether there is any truth to the allegation from opponents that food was procured from outside as the Mr Yeddyurappa did not want to eat food cooked by a Dalit or not, the whole practice is abhorrent.
It suggests that Dalits need some sort of legitimacy by dint of higher caste leaders eating in their homes. The BJP is not alone in this, all political parties have adopted the practice to demonstrate their progressive credentials. This is to shortchange, and indeed, insult the Dalit community. Its members don’t need the meaningless show of leaders deigning to eat with them. They need substantial inputs in education, healthcare and jobs to give them a level playing field. This dinner diplomacy is solely aimed at getting votes. Dalits today are not content to be considered a buyable votebank to whom leaders can pay lip service. As the BSP debacle in Uttar Pradesh shows, their vote can no longer be taken for granted. The discrimination against them continues as recent cases of a Dalit groom being beaten up for daring to come to the wedding venue on a horse shows. Mindless reservations in low-paying jobs and relaxation of marks restrictions too are not the answer. Dalits need concrete measures for empowerment.
As has been seen before, these visits by politicians result in raised expectations in the family in question. As we have also seen, they are forgotten quickly after the publicity purpose has been served. This tokenism must be stopped and cannot be a substitute for action on the ground. Dalit students should have equal access to education in a non-discriminatory environment. We have seen talented students like Rohit Vemula face the inherent prejudices in educational institutions. Politicians should put their money and resolve where their mouths are to push the cause of Dalits, not be part-time lunch or dinner companions.