Manashimaya
In a significant move to bring attention to the issues faced by marginalised communities, Dalit and Adivasi groups have called for a nationwide strike under the banner of Bharat Bandh. The strike, organised by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), seeks to address concerns over reservation rights, representation in jobs and education, and the protection of constitutional guarantees. This strike reflects the growing discontent among these communities regarding recent judicial and governmental actions.
The Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus highlights the ongoing struggle for social justice. The groups are particularly concerned about a recent Supreme Court ruling that allows states to sub-categorise Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs) for reservations. NACDAOR argues that this ruling undermines the landmark Indira Sawhney case, which established the current reservation framework. The Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus also calls for the government to enact a new central act that would be protected from judicial review, ensuring that the SC ruling does not erode the rights of these communities.
One of the central demands of the strike is the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC employees in government services. The Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus emphasises the importance of this data to ensure accurate representation and to identify areas where these communities are underrepresented. NACDAOR believes that transparency in this data will help address the backlog of vacancies in central and state government departments and public sector undertakings. Additionally, the organisation urges the private sector, especially companies benefiting from government subsidies or investments, to adopt affirmative action policies to ensure fair representation of marginalised communities.
Another major issue at the heart of the Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus is the controversy surrounding lateral entry into central civil services. Recently, the Minister for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) requested the withdrawal of advertisements for lateral entry into 45 posts at the joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary levels. This move has been criticised by the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, who claimed it was an attack on the reservation rights of OBCs and SC/ST communities. The strike seeks to address this concern, calling for the protection of reservation rights in all aspects of government employment.
The Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus has garnered support from several political parties, including the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal. Left parties have also backed the call for a strike, highlighting the widespread concern over the issues raised by NACDAOR. While emergency services such as hospitals and ambulances are expected to remain functional, public services in states ruled by these parties may experience disruptions.
The Nationwide Strike by Dalit and Adivasi Groups: Key Demands in Focus is a peaceful protest aimed at drawing attention to the urgent need for equitable representation and the protection of constitutional rights for marginalised communities. NACDAOR has called on all OBC and SC/ST groups to participate in large numbers, ensuring that the voices of these communities are heard loud and clear. As the nation observes this strike, the government and judiciary will be closely watched for their response to the demands put forth by these groups.
