6,000 Harijans in Barisal city denied basic rights

This shanty, typical of the dwellings of some 6000 Harijans living in Barisal city, shows the appalling living condition of the neglected community.Photo: STAR

Deprived of basic rights to education, employment and housing, members of the Harijan community, widely termed as 'the untouchables', are living in appalling condition in Barisal city.
About 6,000 members of 1,000 families are residing at the densely populated commercial and residential areas of the city without any permanent housing, sanitation, sewerage, drinking water, electric supply and education facilities.
“We do not have any land for permanent residence,” said Harijon leader Joyanta Kumar Das, secretary of the Barisal Harijan Oikkya Parishad, adding that the places where they live now belong to Barisal City Corporation.
This neglected community basically keeps the divisional town clean. They work to keep the sewerage lines clear and the drains flowing. Many of the Harijans are involved in hide trading while others survive as cobblers and shoe shiners. Traditionally Harijans also brew their own liquor for consumption.
The rate of literacy among Harijans of the city was less than twenty percent, Laxman Lal, president of Harijan Oikkya Parishad, said.
At least twenty people including four females of the community got higher education like two in post graduation, six in graduation and 12 in HSC and SSC levels, said Laxman Lal.
Meanwhile, District Higher Secondary Education Officer Ashok Purokayesto, said “There is no specific data about their education status.”
There is only primary school for the Harijan community at Amir Kutir and admission of the Harijan children in other schools is often discouraged, added Laxman Lal.
“We are the most neglected and unprivileged section in the society,” said Shibu Dom, a leader of Barishal Zila Dom Samaj.
We also pointed out that many belonging to the community took part in the country's War of Liberation in 1971, but still we are treated as 'untouchables', said Uttam Vakta, a Harijans' leader of Bangladesh Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM).
Public representatives visit the colonies only on the occasion of general election, he added.
Jharna Lal, a former leader of Harijans, said only 240 members of Harijan out of 640 posts are temporarily employed in Barisal City Corporation on daily-wage basis.
“Harijan members are working in hospitals and clinics in the city without any permanent job security,” she added.
“We protest appointment of non-Harijan persons as sweeper,” said Jharna, adding that they demanded at least 80 percent quota for the appointment of underprivileged Harijan against the posts of sweeper in different government and non-government offices.
Anil Chandra, district civil surgeon, said, “ We do not have any specific data on Harijans and there is no separate programme for their health service.”
Laxman Lal, president of Harijan Oikkya Parishad, said we want same status, civic rights, permanent employment, permanent residence, sanitation, health services and education facilities like other citizens of the country.
Six Harijan Pallis (residential localities) in the divisional town are spread over Nazir Mahalla, Falpatty or Chamar Patty, Katpatty, Marok Khola or Dompatty, Kawnia Janoki Sen Road and Amir Kutir.