3 hrs ago
Uttar Pradesh Caste Groups Press Demands Ahead of Assembly Polls
Several caste communities in Uttar Pradesh are asking the government to address their concerns before the state election.
Some groups want changes to reservation rules or their official caste category.
The Gihar community wants to be recognized as a Scheduled Tribe again.
Pasi members want a statue and public place named after Bijli Pasi.
Kahar and Gond groups want to be included among Scheduled Castes.
The Baniya community is asking for more political representation.
Mallah community members want help replacing boats damaged by floods.
The government has not responded to every demand in the report.
However, a local official said a survey would begin to assess the Mallah community’s losses.
Several caste groups in Uttar Pradesh are organizing protests and meetings before next year’s Assembly elections.
Sawarn Samaj is demanding a review of reservation policies and withdrawal of proposed University Grants Commission rules.
The Gihar community wants Scheduled Tribe status restored and official recognition as Gihars rather than Kanjars.
Pasi, Kahar, Gond and Baniya groups are seeking recognition, memorials, political representation or changes in caste classification.
Mallah leaders want compensation for boats destroyed in floods, while officials say a damage survey is being initiated.
- Who
- Caste groups including Sawarn Samaj, Gihar, Pasi, Kahar, Gond, Mallah, Baniya and Raikwar community members.
- What
- The groups are holding protests, meetings and rallies to seek reservation changes, recognition, representation, memorials and flood compensation.
- Where
- Across Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Greater Noida, Moradabad, Gorakhpur, Chitrakoot, Deoria and locations between Allahabad and Chitrakoot.
- When
- Ahead of next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections; demonstrations and meetings were reported over the preceding several weeks.
- Why
- The groups want the government to address caste-status, reservation, political-representation, cultural-recognition and flood-loss concerns before seeking their votes.
Caste Groups’ Demands
Government and Institutional Responses
Reservation and caste classification
Caste Groups’ Demands
The protesting groups seek changes to reservation policy or official caste categories, including restoration of Gihar Scheduled Tribe status and Scheduled Caste listing for Kahar and Gond communities.
Government and Institutional Responses
The article does not report a final government decision on these demands. It says the University Grants Commission proposal was stayed by the Supreme Court.
Political engagement
Caste Groups’ Demands
Community leaders say their support should not be assumed and that they may decide how to vote based on whether their demands are addressed.
Government and Institutional Responses
The report says no political party had approached the Sawarn Samaj protesters, while the government’s broader response to the groups’ demands was not detailed.
Flood compensation
Caste Groups’ Demands
Mallah leaders say the government failed to help after floods destroyed their boats and that no damage survey had been conducted.
Government and Institutional Responses
A Chitrakoot sub-divisional magistrate said officials were beginning a survey to assess losses and provide compensation.
Key facts
- Political context
- The mobilization is taking place before next year’s Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections.
- Reservation demand
- Sawarn Samaj wants a review of reservation policy and withdrawal of proposed University Grants Commission rules concerning caste- and identity-based discrimination.
- Gihar demand
- The Gihar community wants its Scheduled Tribe status restored and wants official documents to identify members as Gihars.
- Pasi demand
- The Pasi community wants a statue of Bijli Pasi in Khorabar and a bypass chowk named after him.
- Kahar and Gond demand
- The Akhil Bharatiya Kahar Mahasabha and Abhik Bharatiya Gond Mahasabha want their communities listed as Scheduled Castes.
- Mallah grievance
- Mallah leaders say boats were destroyed in recent floods and that compensation was not provided after a survey was conducted.
- Official response
- Chitrakoot’s sub-divisional magistrate said officials were starting a survey to assess losses and provide compensation.
Quotes
Shiv Kumar Gihar
A leader of the Gihar community
“The Akhilesh Yadav government (2012-2017) used to give us caste certificates where we were officially identified as ‘Kanjar’ but the Yogi Adityanath government has discontinued the grant of the document. Kanjar is an abusive word locally. We want the government to again recognise us as Gihars.”
telegraphindia.com
“We want the government to withdraw the recent changes in the rules of the University Grants Commission to protect the rights of the reserved classes. There is no doubt in our minds that such rules will be misused against the upper castes. We also want a review of the reservation policy.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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