UN set to treat caste as human rights violation
Posted by samathain on October 8, 2009
Samatha
discrimination based on caste is human rights violation. U can’t abolish caste as every hindu is assigned a caste at birth. this is an
identity. What this declaration is calling for, is that social sanction
and indirect support by state machinery for caste based persecution
can be challenged in international courts. This enables international
recognition for brutal injustice in the name of caste based hatred. What
international audience tend to view as clan war and cultural prejudice can be treated as “human right violation” now on. This will enable human rights watch groups to monitor caste based injustice too.Government welfare policies use caste as one of the criteria because it is a practical and realistic way to target people who need assistance. Just like you target sex workers, lorry drivers, taxi drivers etc for AIDS welfare schemes. So reservations based on quotas for SC/ST/OBCs would still be required. Infact, it is necessary to extend it to extreme poor and converted dalit muslims or dalit christians.
This should encourage intercaste marriages as opposition based on caste violates human right to choose a life partner.
Satinath Choudhary
However, the million dollar question is how to empower the vast majority that languishes below poverty level, of which the SC/ST can be looked upon merely as only the tip of the iceberg.
I think the two main tools that lend themselves towards catapulting small minorities into stratosphere, enabling them to control the whole country of impoverished people are: (1) First-past-the-post (FPTP) system of election, which enables a small dominant section of the country to take political control of the country in spite of its minority status. (2) Deciding most employments and admission to colleges, etc., mostly on the basis of so called merit-test.
(1) I think the sooner the world community recognizes FPTP to be a most pernicious tool of unfair distribution of political power, which happens to be the mother of all powers! The sooner the world gets rid of it, the better we will be. Had it not been for FPTP, the US Congress would not have allowed Bushes and Regan to be as destructive as they were. Actually, all elections for a single post are basically FPTP, as such even the direct elections of President should be abolished. In fact, a single person should never hold any significant position of power, particularly not at the very top. Most positions should be held by collectives of people – the way the Election Commission of India (ECI) works; the way the Swiss Federal Executive Council works; and the way multi-seat benches of juries and jurists work.
(2) As for deciding employments and admissions, all “merit-tests” should be replaced by a combination of tests that evaluate reading writing ability together with how many votes of appreciation and esteem from the public with the help of their social work. Without the requirement of votes of appreciation, most civil servants tend to behave as feudal lordships, with absolutely no accountability to the public at large. They treat the public worse than dirt! Every single individual must go to the public for some votes of appreciation, and these votes should have some impact on their jobs and ability to get admission in colleges and so forth. That would turn the whole society into a collective of social workers eager to be of some kind of visible service to them. Most people will behave pleasantly with each other. The whole world is likely to be a different place in that case.
I took a cursory glance at the commentaries of the public with regard to this news. I was expecting a universal denunciation of the news from the usual middle class crowd. However, a lot of people appreciated the news. It was interesting to find that some appreciated the news but at the same time they denounced all reservation policies and some hoped that reservation policies would be discarded.
Source : Times Of India
UN set to treat caste as human rights violation
Manoj Mitta, TNN 28 September 2009, 06:10am IST
NEW DELHI: If the recent genome study denying the Aryan-Dravidian divide has established the antiquity of caste segregations in marriage, the
ongoing session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva looks set to recognize caste-based discrimination as a human rights violation. This, despite India’s opposition and following Nepal’s breaking ranks on the culturally sensitive issue.
Nepal has emerged as the first country from South Asia — the region where untouchability has been traditionally practiced — to declare support for the draft principles and guidelines published by UNHRC four months ago for “effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent” — the UN terminology for caste inequities.
In a side-event to the session on September 16, Nepalese minister Jeet Bahadur Darjee Gautam said his county welcomed the idea mooted by the UNHRC document to involve “regional and international mechanism, the UN and its organs” to complement national efforts to combat caste discrimination. This is radically different from India’s stated aversion to the internationalization of the caste problem.
Much to India’s embarrassment, Nepal’s statement evoked an immediate endorsement from the office of the UN high commissioner for human rights, Navanethem Pillay, a South African Tamil. Besides calling Nepal’s support “a significant step by a country grappling with this entrenched problem itself”, Pillay’s office said it would “like to encourage other states to follow this commendable example”.
The reference to India was unmistakable especially since Pillay had pressed the issue during her visit to New Delhi in March. Pillay not only asked India to address “its own challenges nationally, but show leadership in combating caste-based discrimination globally”. The granddaughter of an indentured labourer taken to South Africa from a village near Madurai, Pillay recalled that in 2006, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had compared untouchability to apartheid.
Adding to India’s discomfiture, Sweden, in its capacity as the president of the Europeon Union, said, “caste-based discrimination and other forms of discrimination based on work and descent is an important priority for EU”. If this issue continues to gather momentum, UNHRC may in a future session adopt the draft principles and guidelines and, to impart greater legal force, send them for adoption to the UN General Assembly.
The draft principles specifically cited caste as one of the grounds on which more than 200 million people in the world suffer discrimination. “This type of discrimination is typically associated with the notion of purity and pollution and practices of untouchability, and is deeply rooted in societies and cultures where this discrimination is practiced,” it said.
Though India succeeded in its efforts to keep caste out of the resolution adopted by the 2001 Durban conference on racism, the issue has since re-emerged in a different guise, without getting drawn into the debate over where caste and race are analogous.
UN’s caste declaration riles India
Source: Morung Express
DELHI – The United Nations Human Rights Council’s (UNHCR) recent decision to declare discrimination based on the caste system a “human-rights abuse” – thereby acknowledging centuries of bias against the world’s estimated 200 million Dalits (untouchables) – has evoked a sharp reaction from India. The UN decision came about despite robust opposition from the Indian government and its aggressive lobbying to get the council to delete the word “caste” from its draft. Instead, the UNHCR is now set to ratify draft principles that recognize persecution of Dalits worldwide. No other country has opposed the move as vehemently as India. This is because the UNHCR declaration has a special relevance to India and its 65 million Dalits – the largest for any single country.
This sizeable demographic is considered “unclean” in India by the upper castes who regard their presence, and sometimes even their shadow, as polluting. It is in this regard that the UN draft pledges to work for the “effective elimination of discrimination based on work and descent”. What most weakened India’s case in the UNHCR was Nepal’s acquiescence to the move. Wresting the opportunity, the council has now called on India to follow Nepal’s example even as New Delhi feels this amounts to “international interference” in a sensitive internal matter.
There’s no denying that the issue of Dalits – who occupy the lowest rung of India’s well-entrenched caste pyramid – is a virtual tinderbox in the country. Despite India’s increasing literacy levels, mounting economic wealth and growing geopolitical heft, the benefits of national prosperity haven’t quite percolated down to low-caste Indians, who are ostracized by mainstream society.
Despite over six decades of independence from British rule, Dalits are still discriminated against in all aspect of life in India despite laws specifically outlawing such acts. They are the victims of economic embargos, denied basic human rights such as access to clean drinking water, use of public facilities, education and access to places of worship. Even constitutional laws, modeled on those framed by the Confederate states in America during the reconstruction period after the Civil War to protect freed black American slaves, have never been enforced by the Indian judiciary and legislature, which are dominated by high castes.
This is indeed ironic as one of this century’s most recognizable global icons – Mahatma Gandhi – was an Indian who crusaded tirelessly against discrimination based on caste or gender. He ensured that the founding fathers of the Indian constitution made special provisions to grant India’s Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other Backward Castes special privileges like reservations (up to 33%) in jobs and educational institutes.
So why is there such a hue and cry in India over the UNHCR move? According to experts, the brouhaha has as much to do with politics as with economics and human rights. First, it is not in favor of vested political interests to eliminate the caste system in India as Dalits form a lucrative vote bank. In fact, in a country of a billion-plus population, it would be foolhardy to fritter away this attractive political constituency that dominates large swaths of India.
The prime example is India’s most populous state of Uttar Pradesh (population: 190 million) which has 403 electoral constituencies. Though there are no official figures available, it is estimated that the country’s largest number of Dalits – probably half – reside here. The results are clear; currently the state is ruled by the powerful Dalit-dominated Bahujan Samaj Party, helmed by its redoubtable chief minister Mayawati, who was ranked by Forbes magazine in 2008 at 59 on its world’s most powerful women list.
In 1995, at age 39, Mayawati was the youngest politician elected to the post of chief minister and was also the first Dalit to head a state government. She may well trail-blaze again as India’s first Dalit prime minister as she goes about building an alliance with India’s Brahmins, augmenting the Dalits’ pan-India footprint. (In June, Meira Kumar was elected the first Dalit woman ever as parliament speaker.)
Still, there’s no denying that Mayawati is more an aberration rather than the rule in India. So will the UNHCR move help get Indian Dalits’ global attention followed by aid from bodies like the European Union? Dr Udit Raj of the Dalit-based Indian Justice Party has welcomed the UN move and feels it will focus the international spotlight on the issue provided the “Indian government has the courage to accept there’s discrimination”.
It is unlikely that a single UN resolution will radically change the landscape of social realities in India. Perhaps even the UNHCR is aware of this fact. Can its declaration be a tool to harass India then? Is it a clever ploy to keep the ambitious country on a leash in view of its abysmal human-rights record? The idea could be to push India to be answerable for discrimination based on work, descent and gender.
Some good has already come out of the UNHCR exercise, albeit indirectly. Rahul Gandhi, the architect of the ruling Congress Party’s general election victory in May, has launched a recent drive to uplift Dalits. He is visiting Dalit homes across Uttar Pradesh and has ordered his party members to recalibrate their welfare programs in favor of Dalits. However, many see the Gandhi scion’s move as a larger political game plan to erode Mayawati’s base in Uttar Pradesh.
In other words, the UNHCR declaration is a sword that will cut both ways for India. While it will definitely focus international attention on the issue – and hopefully lead to increased government spending to improve opportunities for Dalits in the country – it has simultaneously underscored the country’s feudalistic and discriminatory ethos. It is this that India is most sensitive about as it tries to wrest center stage in the new global regime.
Neeta Lal is a widely published writer/commentator who contributes to many reputed national and international print and Internet publications.
Comments
Aks,USA,says:A step in the right direction and hope the Government of India has got the guts and political will to do away with the discrimination in all sections all over the country. It is a real shame that even today we get discriminated basing on our names, caste, religion and what not. We do not need these and the only way to weed out this is to empower all the villages and develop on war footing with proper infrastructure including schools (give free schooling), hospitals, roads, electricity and water as a bare minimum. The elected representative should be made accountable and those who do not deliver should be made to be recalled by the public after giving enough notice of show cause. But India (read politicians) would fight this tooth and nail as their political vote bank would be eroded and it applies equally to all the political parties and no bias on this. They do not want the people to be literate lest their vote bank politics would be shown
an early exit.
[28 Sep, 2009 1230hrs IST]
Ajay Meena,JAipur,says:it would be naive to assume that a UN resolution or UNHRC can change social realities in India. Will endup as a tool to harass India.
[28 Sep, 2009 1121hrs IST]
hortense vaughan,auSTRALIA,says: At last after 3 generations of an Independent India the UN has finally found the guts to face and call casteism a violation of human rights. The UN must be pretty dumb to take 62 years before condeming a system which was obviously a blatant abuse of human rights. The fact that India does not agree only highlights the perverted logic and bigotry that has allowed this caste system to flourish. I wonder what the world is thinking about the Indian move for a permanent seat on the UN security council when it can so easily oppose such an obvious righteous move on the part of the UN. Indians have lived with the abolishment of suttee and in time will abandon casteism and then maybe India should be considered for a permanent seat on the Security Council
[28 Sep, 2009 1114hrs IST]
Sam Paul,Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh,says:Thanks for pointing out this brave and pertinent act of NEPAL. As a participant in Durban Conference and in the Review conference in Geneva this year, it is a shame why the Govt. of India is dodging this issue and not taking a stand. Of course, it is not easy to break the age old hegemony on the lower castes be it Indian Government or UN (it took over 10 years to state the problem!!). Trust more will happen in this direction.
[28 Sep, 2009 1114hrs IST]
Afzal,Nanjing,says:This caste menace must be eradicated from the society. On one hand government has abolished Caste System, on the other people are still recognised by their caste, what a mokery of Government policy?
[28 Sep, 2009 1052hrs IST]
Shyamal Ganguly,Reading, PA, USA,says:If India agrees with the U.N. then about 50% of the bureaucrats (babus, IAS) will lose their jobs. These bureaucrats serve the interests of the CORRUPT POLITICIANS (LALLOO IN BIHAR, MAYAVATI in U.P.) who use caste base for electioneering. Indian bureaucrats will rather be kicked by China in the teeth than join forces to transcend caste based quota based system for rationing favors and collecting bribes in exchange.
[28 Sep, 2009 1015hrs IST]
Raj,Bangalore,says:It is indeed a disturbing news for India. The caste based discrimination has been in existence in India for thousands of years and it cannot be abolished in a single day. Though it is true that no civilized individual would want to have such discriminatiosn to exists in our society. Whatever may be the actions taken by the government and NG’s in this regard, it needs years of efforts before we could completely eliminate this problem from our society. But the move by the UNHRC is without taking the valid concerns express by India. Moreover, the latest move by the UNHRC could be a problem for India in many areas. The west and European countries, the self styled champions of human rights, may use these rules to tarnish India’s image in world forums and may even try to put restrictions on our country’s international engagements. It could well be used by our adversaris to scuttle India’s efforts to get a permanenet seat in th UN security
council.
[28 Sep, 2009 1006hrs IST]
David M. thangliana,Aizawl, Mizoram,says:Why should India be embarrassed to provide rights to its citizens? Low or high castes, aren’t we all human beings when everything is said and done after all? David
[28 Sep, 2009 1004hrs IST]
Nate Gupta,USA,says:Why would India be uncomfortable with this move by UN? Caste system should have been abolished long ago…
[28 Sep, 2009 0957hrs IST]
Raman Sharma,New Delhi,says:Indian Government will be the first one to violate the UN norms by providing the caste based incentives to its citizens. What the Indian government will do now?
[28 Sep, 2009 0949hrs IST]
Jayakrishnan,Singapore,says:
[28 Sep, 2009 0947hrs IST]Raj,Bangalore,says:Practically in our day to day life we do not have this religion, caste etc. But this is the backbone of our political system and our politicians can divide people by their religion, caste etc. They can’t divide them as poor or rich which is very easier to do. Instead they follow this path just for their political gain. No UN can change change these corrupt antinational politicians.
[28 Sep, 2009 0946hrs IST]
mentabolism,Kuwait,says:Our country will improve, only after its people stop seeing everything through the eyes of religion, caste, color and creed. Once we see ourselves as only Indians, and everything else is secondary, it will inspire us to improve our lot. Otherwise, we will be stuck in the well of our caste and religion… Implementing this requires strong political will, to see humans as they are and not just voter lists…
[28 Sep, 2009 0943hrs IST]
surinder singh sunner,ventura california,says:Brahamchari, pujaree, vparee and shikari turned into four varan and further into cast system according to their work. Now anyone can do anything than why we are still into cast system. Please come out of it we human are all the same. If India comes out of it our great country will achieve new hights.
[28 Sep, 2009 0942hrs IST]
lpaisley,Ft Lauderdale,says:INDIA!The most racist country in the world. About time the rest of the world knows the country’s dirty secret. Racism based on caste,community, religion and economic statue
[28 Sep, 2009 0941hrs IST]
tabsis,banglore,says:casteism comes as a gift from british rule, divide and rule , why follow it and support it when we as a country have moved on and looking towards moon
[28 Sep, 2009 0937hrs IST]
Victor Warrior,USA,says:It is high time India recognizes that it cannot be superpower unless its people practice democracy and social justice. 250 million people,100 million children, 40 million bonded labour cannot live in slavery for ever , based on caste.Every chain is strongest at its weakest link. This is its weakest link.Nation will not live in peace if it is a democracy of the few, by the few, and for the few. We must build a new fraternity through education, human rights and social justice. ALL CHILDREN SHOULD GROW WITH PRIDE AS INDIANS AND NOTHING ELSE! This will make India a stronger, and most powerful nation on earth! Follow Samrat Ashoka!
[28 Sep, 2009 0937hrs IST]
cmsingh,J,says:Definitely a step in the right direction. Kudos to Nepal and shame on India.
[28 Sep, 2009 0933hrs IST]
blindspot,Kolkata,says:UN should FORCE India to remove all these cast based facilities (e.g. 50% reservation for the SC ST OBC) with immediate effect!
[28 Sep, 2009 0931hrs IST]
knight,India,says:Guys – this is not good news. This is international politicking with no good intentions. this will be used as a stick to beat india in international fora and nothing else!! fact is india has taken affirmative action that is unparalleled and unprecedented. more than 70% of seats in educational institutions and colleges are reserved. india abolished caste discrimination in 47 while racial segregation was still legal in many US states till the 70s. Go figure!!!! If there is condemnation then it should be against religious apartheid that is practiced in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and some western countries as well…
[28 Sep, 2009 0923hrs IST]
Srinivas Aluru,Mumbai,says:It should not be embarrassing to India that caste based discrimination and marital arrangements are considered a form of human rights violation. What should be embarrassing is that we indulge in such discriminatory practices. Let us own up responsibility and agree with the world that it is evil; and let each one of us work to remove it from our lives. Nature can provide subtle lessons if only we care to listen. To come up with a scientific invention or an engineering or medical breakthrough, nature does not make it any easier for someone because they come from a particular caste or lineage. Unless we build a system based on merit and allow individuals to thrive on merit, we are not doing favors to anyone. Certainly if there are past discriminatory practices that need to be corrected, one may provide an extra push for a few generations. However, the eventual goal should be to encourage merit of every individual and if we make it
easy for any particular community, we are actually harming them in the long run by providing them incentives to forever be left behind.
[28 Sep, 2009 0921hrs IST]
Shaikh,NJ, USA,says:Its a welcome move, that has kept people at disadvantage since dark ages of India. I am still appalled to know that India opposes the move!! Which way you want to head india? Back to dark ages of ignorance, conjucture and human subjugation while worshipping animals?
[28 Sep, 2009 0921hrs IST]
Sunil Sharma,Kuwait,says:While Caste system is a degradation of humanity and contrary to the inherent equality of Man, nay of all living beings, as preached by Lord Krishna in the Gita yet India cannot be singled out as the only country where it is still prevalent and practised!! Everywhere, especially in the Middle East, it is far more apparent in the garb of “Tribal Culture” and “Religious Racism” than it is in India!! It is present in all western countries as “Racism” so why single out India? The word “Caste” was coined by the “British” to suite their occupation of India and to divide the locals by formentinmg acrimony amongst them but the actual literal translation of the word “Jaat” is “Class” while “Jaat” itself is the corrupted version of “Varna”…in the good old ancient days “Classes” in society, in order to protect their own turf, evolved the “Jaati” system with no religious sanction from either the Vedas or the Upanishads”, in order only to
guarantee their own perpetual survival. And forms of this “Jaati” system are prevalent in bigger measure in the entire world! So why single out India? India will do well, instead of being on the defensive, to proactively highlight the presence of “Caste” under different garbs in other parts of the world so that all become exposed to the hypocracy that is being manifested by the UN resolution that is specifically aimed against India!! I hope somebody in the Political circle in India takes note of my comment!
[28 Sep, 2009 0914hrs IST]
Sonia,USA,says:There are various kinds of discriminations based on class, gender, educational qualification, age, etc. All discriminations are bad, but do not necessarily come under the definition of “human right violation.” This development clearly shows that Nepal is now firmly in the Chinese sphere of influence. No one would support caste discrimination, but putting this into UN as a “human rights” issue is only a Chinese ploy to divert world’s attention from its own genocides and real human right violations, and getting a foothold into India’s internal matters and politics.
[28 Sep, 2009 0914hrs IST]
Dharmaraj,chennai,says:Ideal Quota for the down trodden people The purpose of introducing quota system was to facilitate the underprivileged and destitute of society but the present mode of quota system does not help the real needy people. Instead It enrich the creamy layer. It is deplorable to note that even after sixty years of free India more than one third of our population live below the poverty line. The economic condition and standard of life has not improved for the majority of the poor in rural. Though we implement the quota system. It has not benefited the poor and the rural as it was expected. The poor and rural first generation from each community are unaware of the priorities as its lion share of benefits are being enjoyed by the creamy layer of its own community our vote bank politician would not allow to remove the creamy layer . In the present scenario It is not possible to remove the creamy layer but it is possible to make the quota
benefits to reach the poor without removing the creamy layer. In each and every quota category there should be two sects , one is BPL and other is general within the community. In each and every quota category there should be BPL quota within the community . The percentage for the BPL should be fixed in proportion to percentage of people live under BPL in the community concerned. Then only these BPL can taste the benefits which are meant for them. If there is no eligible candidate from BPL in the same community, second generation or well off from the same community may be allowed to enjoy without leaving it to other community. If more than 70% of SC live below poverty line, 70% of SC Quota should be reserved for BPL SC. IF 60 % of OBC live below poverty line , 60% of OBC Quota should be reserved for BPL OBC , remaining may be allowed to General SC and OBC respectively. The tough competitor for the BPL is the rich from the same community because these
people enjoy the great share of the quota without leaving it to the poor in the community. Only if there is two quota categories proportionately in each community , the main purpose of quota will reach the poor in each community. Otherwise quota will be enjoyed by the rich or second generation in each community and the poor in each community will remain unaffected by any kind of quota benefits and the caste system in indial can not be eliminated.
[28 Sep, 2009 0913hrs IST]
Borun Chowdhury,Jaipur, In,says:Its not really clear from the article on what grounds India is opposing such a move. Caste based discrimination is clearly a human rights violation case and one would have to be extremely imaginative in order to paint it otherwise.
[28 Sep, 2009 0912hrs IST]
log51,china,says:we don’t put caste in cv/resume knowing the consequences,then why we need caste for school admission/quota/marriage etc…religion did its best in dividing people ..pls eradicate this virus from society.hope our h’able pm can do this.
[28 Sep, 2009 0910hrs IST]
Pankaj,Delhi,says:Can we have this from today 
he he.. India has been divided on caste for ages.. let us recognize we are humans oops sorry atleast let us be human beings and nothing else on color caste or creed.. Bury the hatchet guys
[28 Sep, 2009 0910hrs IST]
Sunil Sharma,Kuwait,says:While Caste system is a degradation of humanity and contrary to the inherent equality of Man, nay of all living beings, as preached by Lord Krishna in the Gita yet India cannot be singled out as the only country where it is still prevalent and practised!! Everywhere, especially in the Middle East, it is far more apparent in the garb of “Tribal Culture” and “Religious Racism” than it is in India!! It is present in all western countries as “Racism” so why single out India? The word “Caste” was coined by the “British” to suite their occupation of India and to divide the locals by formentinmg acrimony amongst them but the actual literal translation of the word “Jaat” is “Class” while “Jaat” itself is the corrupted version of “Varna”…in the good old ancient days “Classes” in society, in order to protect their own turf, evolved the “Jaati” system with no religious sanction from either the Vedas or the Upanishads”, in order only to
guarantee their own perpetual survival. And forms of this “Jaati” system are prevalent in bigger measure in the entire world! So why single out India? India will do well, instead of being on the defensive, to proactively highlight the presence of “Caste” under different garbs in other parts of the world so that all become exposed to the hypocracy that is being manifested by the UN resolution that is specifically aimed against India!! I hope somebody in the Political circle in India takes note of my comment!
[28 Sep, 2009 0910hrs IST]
Varun,Navi Mumbai,says:This evil is not only practiced by politicians, but is widespread in the country due to lack of literacy and a firmer education policy. Though the government is trying to spread education to the remotest parts of the country, age-old superstitions and traditions practiced by elders include caste as a valid issue. Along with child-marriages, female foeticide, casteism is a sensitive issue that can only be tackled through education. Why only rural areas, even in urban areas caste is an issue, you can see that in the matrimonial sites. The UN is right to treat caste as a human rights violation. We should follow the example of Nepal and embrace this cause. By opposing this act, we as a country are only showing our backward thinking and accepting our inability to curb this evil.
[28 Sep, 2009 0907hrs IST]
Readers’ Opinions
Comment
UN set to treat caste as human rights violation
radhika,balasundrum,says:Not only there is caste discrimination, there is also age discrmination to apply for various jobs in India. You have to be within certain age group to apply for certain jobs which is ridiculous (eg A person over 35 years of age can’t be a Govt teacher his BED, MED goes wasted even though he is human being and have full qualification including years of experience) and outdated prampara and will take thousand years for Indian leadership to understand that (just like caste discrimination).
[28 Sep, 2009 0856hrs IST]
satvista,chennai,says:Finally it has come up! Yes its high time we leave these Caste systems behind! But this can’t be done in a single day, we need a few years though!!!Gradually we need to merge different communities and finally there will only one!!!!
[28 Sep, 2009 0854hrs IST]
shailendram,Bangalore,says:Awesome news, and most welcome. Will India reciprocate wholeheartedly and take off all caste based discrimination in education and jobs now? Brahmins, Kshatriyas and Vaishyas are facing extreme harassment in India from the hands of majority (Christians, Muslims, SCs, STs and OBCs) which must be removed – minorities must be provided due protection against oppression by majority on the grounds of caste and religion. We are all born equal and must enjoy equal rights.
[28 Sep, 2009 0852hrs IST]
SV,Bangalore,says:Caste based discrimination is a basic violation of human right.Indian politicians kept justifying caste-based-reservation for the advantage of vote bank . In states like tamilnadu where 69% of seats are “reserved”, candidates competing in general category face the brunt of this idiotic practice.
[28 Sep, 2009 0850hrs IST]
Nishit,USA,says:It would be gr8 but I don’t see it happening in India as more than 50% of population (politicians) are dependent on some kind of reservations due to this caste discrimination. But if it happens India would emerge as one of the strong powers and it also changes the mindset of people in India.
[28 Sep, 2009 0841hrs IST]
shakuntala prasad,fiji,says:Yes, we have had enough of caste related discrimination and violence.Just eradicate the whole practice and such beliefs where we identify individuals based on purity of one particular group and untouchability of others.just mix us all; intermarriages between diverse groups will help us break the barriers between human beings.
[28 Sep, 2009 0840hrs IST]
Prasanna Jena,USA,says:Looks like the Catholic Missionaries have been very active in India lately. This is a desperate attempt by the evngelists to pressurize the Hindus.
[28 Sep, 2009 0836hrs IST]
Witan,New Delhi,says:If “caste-based discrimination and other forms of discrimination based on work and descent” is a form of racism, then the undoubted corollary is that “reverse discrimination” is also racism. It means that the 22.5 per cent reservation for SC/ST is racism, and so is the reservation for the so-called OBCs, because such reservations discriminate against the so-called upper castes.
[28 Sep, 2009 0835hrs IST]
Dr.(Prof)Vijay Kumar(Retired)R.U.,Ratu,Ranchi,Jharkhand,says:UN set to treat caste as human right violation and our Law Minister Moily writes to PM for caste-based census.I have already expressed and dispatched my bitter comments on Moily’s demand of caste based census to his PM. Some how till today my comments have been ignored as it could not appear under the head “Moily writes to PM for caste based census”.
[28 Sep, 2009 0832hrs IST]
Sharad,Ballia,says:This is a good step. But humans by nature will keep dividing themselves into castes, region, religion etc. Even the west is not classless and it has never been classless. Bollywood being one of the biggest propagandists of casteless and secular soceity so much foster casteism of their own type where they promote their own kith and kin and any outsider has to struggle to get in, if left at their hands for a couple hundred years they wont let outsider get in. But no doubt the caste based system in India was doing more bad than any good. This is a welcome step, and though humans will never be classless, I wish we have a soceity where everyone has the freedom to “pursue” what he/she wants to be and do and his/her birth or way of living or faith causes him/her to face any discriminiation or special treatment.
[28 Sep, 2009 0831hrs IST]
Raj,-,says:The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is an attribute of the strong.
[28 Sep, 2009 0830hrs IST]
Sri,California,says:Super! We Indians are making so much of a noise when some of our country men are getting beaten up in Australia saying that it is racism. Casteism is a even bigger crime. it is even bigger than Racism. it has been coming in our country for so many years and so many people undergo so much pain everyday in our country because of this. it is time for other countries to take note of this and make it an international issue and force India to take even more serious actions.
[28 Sep, 2009 0827hrs IST]
? Shah,Chicago,says:Are they ready to accept discrimination based on skin color as human rights violation?
[28 Sep, 2009 0827hrs IST]
Indian,USA,says:During the last presidential election, Republican contenders including John McCain said that ONLY A CHRISTIAN should and can become the President of US. How different is this from caste system and why is America preaching to the rest of world when they do not practice what they preach! We Indians blindly accept and follow what America says but never bother to check if they do as they say!
[28 Sep, 2009 0825hrs IST]
Vikas Chawla,Boston, US,says:i absolutely love this. Political elite class in India would like to use the caste to its advantage. I can’t believe Indian government can publicly state that they are against tackling the menace of casteism.
[28 Sep, 2009 0820hrs IST]
Sumeet,USA,says:Very welcome move. The caste based discrimination in Indian govt and education is finally being recognized by the world. Shame on India for opposing it. And India calls itself a democracy!
[28 Sep, 2009 0819hrs IST]
Kaushal,USA,says:This is very good move of UN – first time ever considering Indians a human being. At the same time, it is very disgusting to see Indian government opposing it. Caste, the way it was practiced in past few hundreds of years, and the way it is practiced today to discriminate and select candidates based on caste & religion; is absolutely a human right issue.
[28 Sep, 2009 0815hrs IST]
==??vibhav,india,says:this piece of news is really great but in today’s india upper caste children people feel discriminated. there are whole lot of subsidies and reservations for lower caste so in any case a welcomed news…and hope this will force the indian politicians to remove casteism as a whole…..
[28 Sep, 2009 0812hrs IST]
Dr.(Prof)Vijay Kumar(Retired)R.U.,Ratu,Ranchi,Jharkhand,says:UN Human Rights Council in Geneva may recognise “CASTE BASED DISCRIMINATION AS A HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATION” on the first instance it appears to be CORRECT but issue of Nepal’s breaking on culturally sensitive matter/point must get the specific attentions of the world as such cases are being interpreted in their own terms by many contries.
[28 Sep, 2009 0811hrs IST]
Shekhar,Bangalore,says:If only this leads to abolition of all the “reservations” we have in place… *sigh*
[28 Sep, 2009 0801hrs IST]
?RS,Manila,says:Caste should be dropped. Affirmative action as regards Educations and Employment should be based on “economically backward” only — it’s a shame that India from the inception of its Reservation Policy took into consideration Religion-Caste, saying that only Hinduism acknowledges caste and so, only Hindus are entitled to affirmative-action benefits.
[28 Sep, 2009 0800hrs IST]
?Nikhilesh,Vietnam,says:Yes; it time for India to part ways from caste system. Such system was created to increase efficiency in the society but it turned out to be a weapon to dominate poor by the handful few. We shuold stop quoting caste in official certificates in schools/marriages, ban caste based advertisements, jail leaders if they ask vote in the name of caste. It is going to take another 100 years to bring a concrete change but we have to start somewhere to eleminate this old system.
[28 Sep, 2009 0758hrs IST]
Selvam,India,says:Great Stuff!
[28 Sep, 2009 0757hrs IST]
Shyam,Noida,says:This is just a childish thought by the UN. Nobody can remove discrimination from the world, it may be called “caste” or “birth” or “wealth” or “nationality”. The world is a place of suffering and everybody here is bound to suffer one way or the other. We are born as per our previous karma, although caste must be decided by the traits in one’s character. As per Vedic scriptures , nobody is born a brahmin, especially in Kaliyuga. Rather everyone is born a sudra. However, one who exhibits a saintly character is to be honored and regarded as a “Knower of God” or “Brahman”. Nobody can deny that different categories of human beings exist on the earth. Of course, from “ahaar-nidra-bhaya-maithunam” point of view they all seem equal. However they differ due to their degrees of spiritual consciousness. The UN as a body of atheistic persons cannot understand all this. They cannot change anything either!
[28 Sep, 2009 0747hrs IST]
sai ,chicago,says:This is awesome – caste system had destroyed the lives of innocent millions. Though it is propagated by the politicians, it has been adopted by the people who like the convenience of it. It’s sad that during my college days, I went to a good school with 98% score and the guy sitting next to me 53% – why caste system and by the way, he was richer than I was so it wasn’t the money. Why does he need to relinquish the comforts it provides? So this is should be treated as a pandemic and nothing less – caste system destroyed the lives of innocent millions back in the days (for the so called backward castes) and it continues to destroy the lives of millions today (of the so called forward castes) – we can either wait for the cycle to reverse or move and cure this infection now. I support the UN resolution whole heartedly and I hope EU and others put enough pressure on India to change this – unfortunately EU needs trade relations more than
curing this infection so we’ll just have to wait and see.
[28 Sep, 2009 0747hrs IST]
Chithra KarunaKaran Ethical Democracy,NYC,says:India has nothing to hide on the caste issue. We have far to go on caste-based discriminatory practices in our ancient, vast, complex social structure. Let the evidence speak. Transparency is needed. India can be proud of the progress we have made. But that does not mean we don’t have much more to do. But if the UNHRC insists, India must insist that Racism, Ethnocentrism, sexism, Patriarchalism, Zionism, Tribalism and other categories which are significant bases for discrimination be simultaneously included.
[28 Sep, 2009 0742hrs IST]
Amin,Chennai,says:Inida should fix a timeline for ending caste based reservation system, never ending rigid reservation policy and quotas would do no good for the society and should revise its education system so that it encourages practical way of teaching and examination.
[28 Sep, 2009 0742hrs IST]
aravind,reddy,says:I have never commented before but this is very tempting. Now you know that Indian political leaders favour caste based discrimination in college admissions and government jobs for their personal and political gains. This is screwing up India and life of meritorious aspirants. If UNHRC passes this resolution it would be a victory for humanity. Hats of to UNHRC….
[28 Sep, 2009 0736hrs IST]
divya,new york,says:how about UN treating income discrimination based on gender, ethnicity and race in the US as a human rights issue?
[28 Sep, 2009 0736hrs IST]
Anejat Shyam,Allahabad,says:Finally World has woken up to plight of millions. Unless we Hindus banish this discrimination based on caste, we are nothing but doomed. Jajo Bharat, jago!!
[28 Sep, 2009 0735hrs IST]
Readers’ Opinions
Comment
UN set to treat caste as human rights violation
SK,USA,says:This is good news. This will ensure that the politicians will not be able to garner votes based on caste. Striding towards a caste free India will ensure all round progress.
[28 Sep, 2009 0733hrs IST]
Naik,U.K.,says:India has to eventually give in for UN proposals and rightly so. Caste system is so discriminatory then we have language, skin colour, north vs south to add on top of that. Even the so called modern youth select their match using caste based data from matrimonial websites. Sooner we realise how outdated our system the better.
[28 Sep, 2009 0728hrs IST]
Rohan,London,says:Why does India oppose this? Is it the Indian govt influencing this or the upper caste bureaucrats in the govt The main reason we are undeveloped is the caste system, which is worse than racism. It is time we eradicate that
[28 Sep, 2009 0728hrs IST]
Bijesh,Singapore,says:Thats a great news. Hope at least with this movement, the evil of caste system gets eradicated from our country…
[28 Sep, 2009 0725hrs IST]
kumarasamy,chennai,says: In India the cast system has been penetrated everywhere.in Metro this is covered or not felt just because everone is busy on their work.Govt can not completely eliminate this but they hide and manipulate the figures. even Political leaders have problem created based on caste . Ms.Karat was recently facing stiff resistance to reveal the actual facts..she could not visit a place in Madurai/TN till Govt officials set things changed/hidden.even now two glass system is adopted in rural areas and one group of people still can not ride cycle in that of another group. some time even walking with out cheppal is not permitted.. those lower caste people will never wish to cross the street of upper caste people to save their own life.. still atrocity persists..
[28 Sep, 2009 0721hrs IST]
vij,usa,says:Better late than never. If India has to progress, it must get rid of this accepted practice of casteism.
[28 Sep, 2009 0717hrs IST]
Sharath,Sydney,says:And why is India opposed to this in anyway? However, I would like to state that the definition of caste based discrimination should be broad and wide. It should not merely include high castes discriminating against low castes, but the other way round as well. And also, low castes discriminating against other low castes and high castes discriminating against other high castes. I use the term High and Low caste as only a formal label as used by the government and public in general. I do not in any way mean to imply that someone is inferior or superior to someone else based on caste.
[28 Sep, 2009 0708hrs IST]
Mel,Narre Warren Australia,says:India with its disgraceful caste system has the impertinance to brand Australians as racist.
[28 Sep, 2009 0705hrs IST]
s thakur,pune,says:Finally, someone sees what caste system has become for real. It is invention of olden times which needs to be demolished as it has no relevance in today’s progressing world. For politicians it has become the rally call whether to drum up support or divide the people. This is an evil system with no value addition to society and like many other systems present in olden times in other parts of world, this also needs to be dismantled.
[28 Sep, 2009 0704hrs IST]
Chintan Dave,Sydney,says:Finally, UN is wise enough to do this…….. India is discriminating its own people based on the laws that were created in the ages of dinosaurs from which we need to come out if we want to be recognised and respect as one of the strongest nations on the planet. Shining India needs to set an example and come out from this caste based system where everyone hates everyone just because they are of different caste or religion or sub-caste or whatever pathetic name they have given to it. ……………………. When these so-called opposition goes abroad and to other states within India they complain and cry that they are racially abused and attacked or whatever they call it because they are of different color, who are we to decide that certain caste is only allowed to do certain work. India needs be mature enough at least in this 21st century where even the western world is coming out of its white extremism faster than expected
just look at South Africa, no wonder we have so many civil wars going on within our homeland…………….. Jai Hind
[28 Sep, 2009 0656hrs IST]
Ashok,CT, USA,says:Awesome, i do agree with US. No one in India wants Casteism. This is political leaders want to keep alive for their political benefit.
[28 Sep, 2009 0650hrs IST]
Umesh,USA,says:Indian politicians purosely practice caste politics for votes. Indian government discriminates students applying for medical and engineering colleages based on caste which is very wrong and dangerous – a bad doctor is a dad doctor irrespective of his/her caste. In government offices, people with certain caste are discriminated. India should abolish is discrimination and make selection/promotion merit based. India is such a “third rate” country – not just poverty but morally bancrupt.
[28 Sep, 2009 0627hrs IST]
singh,usa,says:excellent, now practice this damn thing so that this evil could be curbed!
[28 Sep, 2009 0616hrs IST]
mazhar,mumbai,says:Even puny states like Israel and Taiwan dont care for UN. India will be denied a Security Council Membership forevery anyways. So there is no need to loose any sleep over this matter.
[28 Sep, 2009 0602hrs IST]
Ponnuswamy,Chennai,says:It’s ridiculus on part of Indian Administration opposition to UN effort to treat caste as human rights violation. The Indian Goverment opposition to the resolution shows the bonless tonque of Indian rulers who use Gandhi & Ambedkar for vote.
[28 Sep, 2009 0450hrs IST]
??Amit,USA,says:I suppose it is a good move. India’s quota based policies for lower caste people can then be challenged and reversed under law. It is unlikely that Indian polity will ever find a way to drop their quota culture. Further, Indian-origin people may be able to claim refugee status in other nations due to the discrimination and threat to life they face in India.
[28 Sep, 2009 0348hrs IST]
Police Officer said
As a result, BC/SC/ST communities can now
* Approach UNHRC and seek refuge in First World Nations.
* Seek USA Green Card via Diversity Immigrant Visa Lottery Program
Cheers,
Police Officer said
Tell your American friends,
“If you meet anybody from India ask him for his Caste to let him know that America is concerned about Racism in India.”
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/may/03touch.htm (US Congress Resolution)
http://news.rediff.com/report/2009/sep/29/un-says-indias-caste-system-a-human-rights-abuse.htm (UNHRC Resolution))
http://www.hrw.org/legacy/english/docs/2007/02/13/india15303.htm (Prime Minister of India)