Jay Ram Hirajan, a member of dalit community, waiting in front of a local police station seeking protection and justice. He was threatened of eviction (also black coal painting on his face) from Rupendehi by locals who alleged him of de-purifying utensils belonging to a non-dalit community. Hirajan's pet pig entered houses owned by two locals and touched cooking utensils, which was handed to Hirajan by the locals and ordered him to pay the cost of replacing new ones. He was warned of forced face painting with coal powder and eviction if he did not comply with the local's demand. In the picture, he is seen with the utensils in front of a local police station seeking protection and justice. (Source: Kantipur daily, July 30, 2008)
Social discrimination based on caste system is one of the constraints to mainstreaming marginalized groups into the national economy. These groups have been marginalized for centuries, resulting in a highly unequal social setting where the most poorest and discriminated ones never rises above a certain level, irrespective of the level of economic progress in the country. Somebody tell people to shed off useless conservatism and embrace socially progressive ideas!
