Amid a push for womencentred schemes like 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao' and 'Selfie With Daughters' by the NDA government at the Centre, the alleged rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Rajasthan has come as a setback.
Student organisations are protesting the rape and brutal murder of 17 year-old Dalit girl Delta Meghwal, who was pursuing a teacher-training course.
"Justice must be ensured as early as possible and urgent intervention at highest level is required, but it seems that there is big difference between what they profess and what they do," said Minakshi Singh, chairperson of Samarpan Trust, an NGO working for women's empowerment.
Dalit girls of DU, particularly those from rural background, said they are easy prey in backward and remote rural areas.But even the metropolis doesn't grant them safety. They said a sense of fear exists even in Delhi and is more prominent in backward pockets in and around Delhi where an orthodox mindset prevails.
"The condition is worst in villages but it's also not too good in Delhi, at places like Burari and Nangloi. Even women from upper castes raise objections over Dalit girls wearing jeans and western attire. Moreover, the men from upper castes spare no opportunity to pass lewd comments on school or college going girls of Dalit community," said Komal Rajak, a Dalit Ph.D scholar from DU.
Dalit rights activist are pitting the Delta Meghwal case as another 'institutional' murder were students belonging to Dalit community are allegedly targeted. "They have started a series and this one follows 'Rohith Vemula', as they cannot tolerate any Dalit boy or girl standing parallel to them by making education his/her tool for upliftment. They have a government both at Centre and state and they will use every means at their disposal to supress this matter," said Surendra Singh, president, Youth for Social Justice.
