This is II part of the testimony given by me as Chairman, All-India Samata Sainik Dal & Ambedkar Mission Society, Delhi, on behalf of World Conference on Religion & Peace, on Aug. 19, 1983 at the 36th session of the United Nations Sub-Commission on Human Rights (on prevention of discrimination & protection of human rights) at Geneva :- I am grateful to the chairman of the sub-commission for granting me an opportunity to present the case of the Untouchables of India & the neighbouring countries coming under the influence of the Hindu religion and culture. This testimony is on behalf of the Secretary; General, Dr. Homer A. Jack, of the World Conference on Religion and Peace.
I also speak on behalf of various Untouchable and Buddhist organisations of India: All-India Samata Sainik Dal, Indian Buddhist Council, Ambedkar Mission Society (India), Ambedkar Mission Inc ., Canada, & Dr. Ambedkar Mission, Bedford (U.K.) etc. The Il part of the testimony: Accordingly provisions were incorporated in the Constitution abolishing untouchability and certain ameliorative provisions such as “reservation” in legislature, ser- vices of Central Govt. and States, education institutions etc ., were introduced. Untouchables were subjected to inhuman laws like forced labour in rural areas. A provision to abolish such a slavery was made in the Constitution but the law was enacted only in 1976. Millions of rupees were provided for the economic upliftment of the Untouchables in the Five-Year Plans.
In spite of these laws the Untouchables suffer from numerous disabilities especially in India’s smaller towns and villages. Untouchables do not have wells in thousands of villages and Hindus do not allow them to dig wells. Untouchables have to beg for water from a distance lest their shadow should pollute the Hindus. Sometime the water-pipes are laid and stopped a few yards short of the Untouchable locality. This writer struggled for 7 years to get a public tap fixed in a village of Himachal Pradesh while every Minister , and even the Chief Minister announced that water had been provided. If the Untouchables demand higher wages in villages, the Hindus pour filth or kerosene into the wells so as to starve them of water.
