The coalition government has been in power in Andhra Pradesh for two years now.. In these two years opposition parties and Dalit organizations have said many times that the government is not doing enough to stop attacks on Dalits. They also say that the government is not helping Dalits with things like education and jobs. The government is also being accused of not doing enough to stop discrimination against Dalits.
Let us look at the issues that have affected the Dalit community in the last two years.
Allegations of Increasing Attacks and Violence Against Dalits
Some leaders of the YSRCP like Mekathoti Sucharita and Pinipe Viswaroop have said that there have been attacks on Dalits since the current government came to power. They say the government is not doing enough to protect Dalits. For example a Dalit woman was killed in Naganathapalli village in Kurnool district. She was run over by a tractor. This incident made a lot of people very angry. There have been incidents too like the one in Rajahmundry where a Dalit youth was stripped and humiliated in public.
Allegations of Social Discrimination
The government has also been criticized for not doing enough to stop discrimination against Dalits. Some politicians have made comments that have hurt the feelings of Dalits. For example Jana Sena MLA Nadendla Manohar made some comments about Dalit High Court judges that were not nice. The opposition parties have asked why the government did not take any action against him. There have been incidents too like the one where Minister Mandipalli Ramprasad Reddy and former minister Savita made comments that hurt the feelings of Dalits.
Controversies Around Ambedkar Statues and Dalit Dignity
There have been some incidents where statues of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar have been damaged or disrespected. This has made Dalit organizations very angry. In some places Dalit groups have said that political banners put up by TDP workers have blocked or disrespected Ambedkar statues. This has led to protests and criticism from the public.
Criticism Over Welfare Schemes and Employment Opportunities
The government has also been accused of not doing enough to help Dalits with welfare schemes and jobs. Some organizations have said that Dalits are not being given opportunities in employment schemes like MGNREGA. The opposition parties have also said that the government is not being transparent about how it’s using funds meant for Dalits. They say that the funds are being used for things.
Concerns Over Dalit Education and Universities
The government has also been criticized for not doing enough to help Dalits with education. The construction of a Dalit University has stopped and this has made Dalit groups very unhappy. There have also been allegations that Dalit Gurukul institutions and welfare hostels are not being given attention or funding. The opposition parties have said that the government is not doing enough to support education and student welfare programs for Dalit students.
Alleged Discrimination Against Dalit Sarpanches and Public Representatives
There have been reports that Dalit sarpanches in areas are facing caste discrimination and are being restricted from exercising their official powers. The critics say that elected Dalit representatives are being sidelined and are not being given authority at the local level.
Akiveedu and Chebrolu Incidents Raise Questions
The murder of a Dalit B.Tech student in Chebrolu colony has raised a lot of questions. People are asking why the police did not handle the case better. In Akiveedu there have been disputes over construction activities in Dalit areas that have not been resolved despite many complaints from locals. There have been issues with access roads to Dalit burial grounds and local residents are demanding that the government do something about it.
Controversy Over GO No. 77
The opposition parties have strongly criticized GO No. 77 Saying that it is affecting Dalit rights and land protections. The critics say that the government order is impacting Dalit lands, burial grounds and residential areas and this is creating fear and uncertainty among communities.
Questions Before the Public: When Will Dalits Get Justice?
After two years of coalition rule the opposition parties are still saying that attacks on Dalits have increased and the government is not doing enough to help Dalits with things like education, jobs and social justice. The Dalit organizations and opposition leaders are demanding laws to protect Dalits transparent implementation of welfare schemes and firm action against caste-based violence and discrimination. The government says it is committed to the development and welfare of all communities equally.. The debate over Dalit rights, safety and social justice is still a big issue, in Andhra Pradesh. The Dalit community is still waiting for justice. The government needs to do more to help the Dalit community. The Dalits are not getting the justice they deserve.
