(Asian Independent)
Open Joint Statement to the High Commissioner of India in London for the attention of the Prime Minister of India – 01 September 2022
1. We the undersigned organisations and our supporters demand immediate justice for the child – Master Indra Kumar Meghwal who died in an Ahmedabad hospital in August 2022 after he was severely beaten up by his upper-caste teacher, allegedly for drinking water from a pot that was meant for the teacher.
2. Indra Kumar Meghwal was beaten up by his teacher Chail Singh on July 20 2022 allegedly for touching a drinking water pot. He succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Ahmedabad on August 14.
3. Chail Singh, the teacher accused, was arrested the day the child died, with the FIR accusing him of beating up Indra and abusing him with casteist slurs after the boy drank from the drinking water pot.
4. It is clear that Indra Kumar Meghwal died of his injuries after the beating by his teacher because of his caste. Dalits face inhuman treatment in this region of India. Even today, they have to go several kilometres to find barbers who can cut their hair. Furthermore, the family of Indra have been living in fear for their safety since they registered the FIR.
5. This incident case raises many serious questions about the apathy of the Indian government, education system, teachers, and local authorities when it comes to caste discrimination within schools.
6. 75 years after independence and from 1950 when the Constitution of India legally abolished the practice of Untouchability and provided measures for affirmative action in both educational institutions and public services for Dalits. However, discrimination based around ritual purity associated with the caste system continues to take place across parts of India. It is clear that the Indian Government is failing Indians, especially Dalits, and is allowing caste discrimination to fester and grow.
7. A study released by the Steady Drumbeat of Institutional Casteism, released in September 2021 by civil society groups, stated casteism is prevalent in the Indian higher educational institutions, particularly in medicine and engineering. The report
noted that there is a need to treat caste-based discrimination and institutionalized caste-based discrimination as a violation of the constitutional rights of individual students, especially from marginalized castes, tribes and minority communities and not simply as ragging.
8, Indra Kumar Meghwal’s life cut short and death cannot be tolerated. India must change and provide protection to Dalits and marginalised groups who suffer caste discrimination within schools.
We demand the following:
1. Maximum compensation is paid immediatly to the family of Indra Kumar Meghwal. This family has not only lost a son, but also their financially security in later life.
2. The teacher – Chail Singh be charged under the SC/ST Atrocities Act. Enough is enough!
3. The Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot must resign, following the resignation of his MLA. Gehlot has ‘no moral right’ to stay in the government after this incident.
4. Conduct an open and transparent investigation under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Act, 2015 and prosecute those in Government and in the education sector who are found to have
neglected their duties and tried to cover up
5. Compulsorily train teachers, administrators, and support staff in state, private, and religiously affiliated schools and universities about caste-based discrimination / untouchability, and how to prevent it and deal with it when it occurs.
This Statement is supported by:
All Bhagwan Valmik Sabhas and associated Temples in the UK
Ambedkar Mission Society, Bedford
Anti Caste Discrimination Alliance
Anti Land Grab and Forced Displacement of People
Asian Rationalists Society, Britain
British Ravidassia Heritage Foundation
Buddha Dhamma Association, Southall
Dr Ambedkar Mission Society, Glasgow
Dr Ambedkar Buddhist Organisation, Birmingham
Dr Ambedkar Memorial Trust, London
Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organisations UK
Indian Scheduled Caste Welfare Association, UK
Indian Workers’ Association, Great Britain
International Asian Christian Front
Kanshi Radio Ltd
Kanshi TV
Punjab Buddhist Society, UK
Samaj Weekly
Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha UK(SGRS-UK), and all associated Temples in the UK
Shri Guru Ravidass Dharmik Sabha Wolverhampton
Shri Guru Ravidass Cultural Association Darlaston
For more information please contact: Santosh Dass 00447902806342 or
Ravi Kumar at infoacda@gmail.co
