"When other people use our quotas to get jobs, we are deprived of our rights. But we are the ones who remain untouchable," Ghuglu Babu Banshfor, a young member of the Harijan community said with great difficulty.

"Meanwhile, we're not allowed to sit at tea shops; barbers refuse to cut our hair, and we're not allowed to sit in chairs," he added. "We keep the town clean. We keep its offices clean, but nothing is done for our development."

He said this at a session titled "The Existing Problems and Possible Development Initiatives to Facilitate the Civil Rights of Dalit Community", organised by Network of Non-Mainstream Marginalized Communities (NNMC) at the Lalmonirhat Deputy Commissioner's office on Wednesday.

According to a recent NNMC survey, there are 513 people in 109 families in two Harijan colonies in Lalmonirhat town. They do not have their own housing, don't own any land, and most of their residences do not have tube wells and other toilet facilities. Only 18 of them work in different government and non-government offices.

Speaking at the session, DC Abu Jafor said he will take steps to ensure the Dalit community get their rights.

Municipal mayor Rezaul Karim, officials from various government departments, and others also attended the session.