http://www.ndtv.com/convergence/ndtv/story.aspx?id=NEWEN20070015684
Jharkhand dalits' noble way of protest Vishwesh Arya Saturday, June 16, 2007 (Dumka, Jharkhand) Faced with discrimination on the basis of caste, a group of dalits in Dumka district of Jharkhand has decided to open school meant for the dalit students. The enterprising lot has now decided to sculpt their own future and build their own school. The groups' mode of protest was unique as it chose conviction rather than violence as its weapon. Earlier, the 53 students who study at the school used to go to the nearby government school. But there they say, they were judged by their caste and not by academic performance and often ill-treated. Even water from the hand pump used by upper caste students was out of bounds. ''They do not even let us drink water from the hand pump, once we did and were beaten,'' said Saron Kumar, student. ''Teachers discriminate with the SC students. They do not allow us to drink water in glasses, but upper caste children are allowed everything,'' said Diwakar Mohli, parent. They complained but when no one heard, as a result they decided to do something about it themselves and they found the answer in the makeshift school. ''Our children are given all sorts of names,'' said Sorun Kumar, teacher, Harijan School. When NDTV approached the Dumka education officer whose job is to look at such complaints, he first denied such school existed but on further questioning he said action will be taken. ''We will probe the matter,'' said Shiv Narayan Shah, District Education Officer. With answers like these, no wonder the people did not sit back for the government to act. Perhaps constructing a school for their children was a better alternative.
