| In this video the correspondent profiles his own community -- the Valmikis, perhaps the most oppressed community in India. Amit Kumar lives in Ladwa -- an urban village in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, along with -1200 of his Valmiki Dalit community members. The Valmikis are among India's most vulnerable people who are regularly tortured, ostracized and discriminated against by people of higher caste. As a Valmiki, Amit has shared most of what his community experiences everyday -- untouchability and discrimination. As a school student he faced discriminatory treatment from 'upper' caste teachers. Even today, he is barred from entering the temple in his village, and his 'upper caste' neighbours don't allow him to enter their homes or touch them. Although 'untouchability' was declared illegal in 1950 it continues to haunt millions of Dalit men, women and children. Most of them are also trapped in a cycle of poverty and illiteracy. It is estimated that over 50% of India's 150 million Dalits still do not have proper housing, medical care, education and employment prospects. In Amit's Valmiki community only 10% people are literate. 90% of them, including Amit's own family, live below the poverty line (earning less than 7 USD a month). Valmikis are considered the 'lowest of the low', at the very bottom of the hierarchical caste ladder. When it comes to livelihood, most in the community continue their caste assigned menial and filthy jobs such as skinning of animal, cleaning ... |
