The first report of the Scheduled Caste & Tribes Commission headed by Bola Paswan Shastri says: “Untouchability is a byproduct of the Hindu caste system”. It also calls for “determined and consistent onslaught on the basic evil: i.e. the caste system”. But the commission, whose first report (total pages 230) is yet to be accepted by the Government of India though it was submitted over a year ago (Feb. 8, 1980), does not indicate how caste system can be destroyed. Some suggestions made by it to fight caste system are akin to Gandhian prescriptions, all of which have been tried but failed to cure the patient.
Shastri, a highly respected former Chief Minister of Bihar and himself an untouchable, makes an important point when he says that caste riots are spreading from rural to urban centres. This is a new development in the history of India. Visiting (12-8-78) Villupuram (Tamil Nadu) where largescale atrocities broke out resulting in the death of several untouchables, he says (Page 113): A new phenomenon, is developing ……. The clash between the caste Hindus and the Harijans has so far confined to the rural areas only. I have no knowledge of any clash between caste Hindus and Harijans in the urban area in the recent past. Villupuram is the first urban area”. This is an eye-opener. Just as ‘caste riots’ (Hindu-Dalit) are spreading to urban areas, communal riots (Hindu- Muslim) so far confined to urban areas are spreading to rural areas. The over-fed Hindu communalists are out for the blood of the untouchables, tribes and minorities. Therefore, the persecuted minorities should be more vigilant. This is the message in the Shastri Commission report.
The Commission has regretted that no State Government has conducted a survey of the working of the PCR, Act nor set up any special court for trial. It is foolish to expect the government to undertake such a work because if any Government makes such an attempt the government will be toppled by the ruling class. The high castes who control every Government do not want to enforce the PCR Act. This is the simple truth.
As regards the root causes of atrocities (page 86) the Commission cites social causes. The social cause lies in the practice of untouchability which is a byproduct of the Hindu caste system pushing the SCs down to the lowest rung of the social ladder in the caste hierarchy. How can we remove untouchability without disturbing the caste scaffolding? Will not the Hindu religion shake if the caste system – its very foundation – is sought to be destroyed? Who is prepared to make such a sacrifice? If caste goes all the property and privileges enjoyed by the high castes of India will also go. Therefore, we can safely conclude that as long as the ruling class of India is allowed to continue, the caste system will also continue. Hence the need to destroys the ruling class becomes all the more urgent. We thank Bola Paswan Shastri for boldly hinting at the need to destroy caste.
We also appreciate the commission’s recommendation for a special police force comprising 50% SC constables to be posted particularly in sensitive areas. We would go a step forward and recommend that the other half the special force should be Muslims. In that case, the jurisdiction of such a force can be extended to areas prone to Hindu-Muslim riots as well. Such a force should be airlifted within four hours of the violence breaking out. But why confine the recruitment of the special police force only to the level of constables? Even officers manning it should be SCs, STs and Muslims – 50:50.
The Commission has passed strictures on the work of the Central and State Governments for not fulfilling the job quota to SCs. The SCs will not come to the desired level even after the next 10 years, it says.
The percentage of reservation was raised by the Government of India vide resolution No. 27/25/68 – ESTT (S.C.T) dt. 25th March 1979 in proportion to the population of these communities as shown in the 1961 census. The report mentions that the 15% reservation to SCs is to be enforced through direct recruitment on all-India basis: – a) by open competition b) posts to be filled by promotions c) and on the basis of seniority. But, the commission, observes that “the actual percentage of SCs are nowhere near the prescribed one”. In annexure I, it has given the data to prove the failure of the Government. However, in Class IV posts, reservations have exceeded the quota fixed because these positions of sweepers, scavengers etc. are permanently reserved for the untouchables, as there are none else to take up these jobs. The real position of SCs, in RBI, nationalised banks, public industries different Government departments are all furnished. A very valuable document.
