Low-caste Hindus face strict discrimination

KARACHI - Low-caste Hindus are unofficially declared untouchable people within the country as they face discrimination in every walk of life from provision of basic facilities to employment opportunities. Even in some areas they are socially marginalised due to their low-caste.

This was revealed in a research study on caste based discrimination in Pakistan titled: “Long Behind Schedule� a study on the plight of scheduled caste Hindus in Pakistan,� by Zulfiqar Shah which was launched here on Friday at Karachi Press Club.

The study has been conducted on behalf of International Solidarity Network (ISN) and Indian Institute of Dalit Studies (IIDS) in collaboration with Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (PILER) and Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP).

The research, conducted in Tharparkar, Umerkot, Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalpur districts, is based on a survey conducted on 750 households in Sindh and Punjab provinces as well as available secondary data.

The survey reveals startling facts. It divulged that schedule caste minorities in Pakistan are facing the worst kind of discrimination in every aspect of life including at the government level.

An overwhelming majority â€" 79 per cent of the scheduled caste population - said in reply to survey’s questionnaire that they face discriminatory treatment of one or another kind. The situation is the worst in southern Punjab where the percentage of those who say they face discrimination treatment was as high as 86.5 per cent. They have also identified groups who they consider perpetuators of discriminatory treatment against them. These groups include Muslims, landlords/elite, upper caste Hindus, and restaurant/shop owners.