'Ensure shelter for Dalits'

Government should take immediate measures to ensure that the Dalit community in the city is not deprived of shelter --a basic human right, said the speakers at a press conference yesterday.
Bangladesh Harijan Oikya Parishad in association with Oxfam, a non-government organisation and Self help Association for Rural People through Education and Entrepreneurship (SHAREE) organised the programme at the Jatiya Press Club in the city.
While presenting the keynote paper, Parishad Secretary General Nirmal Chandra Das said, Dalits have been subjected to social stigma of 'untouchables' for many years. They are the most neglected segment of the society as they belong to the lowest of all castes and do the most demeaning jobs. They are highly discriminated against and cannot obtain the basic human rights such as shelter, education, health services etc, he added.
Previously all governments have shown reluctance regarding their accommodation in residential areas, said Das. They were never accepted as tenants and never provided with any land by the government to stay, he added.
Though they work as cleaners, the Dalits themselves live in most unhygienic conditions in the 27 overcrowded Sweeper Colonies in the capital, he added further.
Parishad made a number of recommendations to the government in order to improve the lives of this deprived community.
The government should provide Dalits Khas land and include them in government's housing programme of Gucchha Gram, Adarsha Gram and Ashrayan, they said.
Multistoried buildings can be built in their existing colonies to solve the accommodation problems. They can be permanently allotted homes on payment in instalments.
Laws and policies can be formulated and implemented on eradication of racism and discrimination on the basis of profession, they mentioned in their recommendations.