Monday, January 24, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Getting water still a struggle for backward groups in Gujarat

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_getting-water-still-a-struggle-for-backward-groups-in-gujarat_1498525

Getting water still a struggle for backward groups in Gujarat

Published: Monday, Jan 24, 2011, 15:47 IST
By Charul Shah | Place: Ahmedabad | Agency: DNA

We will soon celebrate our 62nd Republic Day. However, there are some
villages in the state where members of backward communities have still
to struggle for basic amenities like water. In about five villages of
Chotila taluka in Surendranagar district, people of backward
communities are still facing discrimination and are denied access to
potable water.

Kirit Rathod, programme director of Navsarjan trust, an organisation
working for the upliftment of the weaker sections of society, has sent
a letter on behalf of the villagers to various departments of the
state government and to the chief minister complaining about the
discrimination. The affected villagers have also registered their
grievances in this regard to the SC/ST cell of the government.

In the complaint, the organisation has stated that members of the
backward community, especially the women in Kalasar, Nani Moldi,
Pajawadi, Dhoklva and Kherana villages of Chotila taluka have been
victims of caste based discrimination.

The trust has alleged that when these women go to fetch water from
public sources, they are harassed by anti-social elements in the
villages. Moreover, the women from the backward communities have to
wait to let others fill their pots and by the time their turn comes,
there is little water left. In such circumstances, they are forced to
use water meant for cattle or have to go far away and buy drinkable
water.

The complaint further states that wells in the vicinity of backward
class neighbourhoods are unhygienic but these poor people have to
compromise. As a result, members of these communities have been facing
serious health problems.

The trust, in their letter written to various authorities and also to
the SC/ST cell, has urged the state government to take necessary steps
to ensure people of these communities get access to clean drinkable
water.

"Such a kind of discrimination is unconstitutional and it should stop.
We have urged the government to take action against those who indulge
in such practice. These are just a few villages but this kind of
problem is faced by many others also," Rathod told DNA.

However, RM Rawal, vigilance officer, Ahmedabad zone, said that they
have taken serious note of the complaint and have already instructed
the district level authorities to take necessary steps to make sure
that people get access to water and the problem is being sorted out.

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