Press release

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Kanagarh, Punjab, 13 September: Over 100 Dalit villagers participating in a peaceful march were attacked this morning at Kanaharh village in Punjab. About 50 landlords came with lathis and pelted stones at the Dalit campaigners. Women running to save themselves were illegally detained by the landlords.

Ninety Dalits arrested during a peaceful march against bonded labour

New Delhi/Punjab, 12 September 2007 : Ninety Dalit campaigners, including 12 women and two children, have been put behind bars till 24 September, 2007.

The campaigners of Dalit Dasta Virodhi Abhiyan (DDVA) were arrested while leading a peaceful Padyatra (march) that started from Fatehgarh Sahib in Punjab on 14 August'07 to culminate into a huge rally on 6 December'07 at Ludhiana, Punjab after covering 2000 kilometres. The March aims to raise awareness against bonded labour.

The campaigners led by Jai Singh reached Gannaur village of Sangrur district in Punjab on 8 September 2007. Their entry was opposed by the upper caste landlords.

"The village landlords came armed with sticks and resorted to physical and verbal abuse to intimidate us," said a campaign supporter and an eye witness.

The campaigners and their supporters staged a demonstration outside the sub divisional magistrate's office. The detainees have been booked with the charges of disobeying government orders under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.

"The Police said they would let us go only if we did not go ahead with the Padyatra which was not acceptable any of us. And now the police have put all the campaigners behind bars in Central Jail in Sangrur," Jai Singh told another campaigner who visited him in jail.

Campaigners say that the struggle cannot be silenced with the high-handedness of the administration. When asked about the future strategy Jai Singh said:

"We may be in jail, but the padyatra will be carried forward by our fellow supporters. Kaafila (caravan) never stops".

Bonded labour has been abolished by law. Any violation of this law either by engaging or perpetuating bonded labour is illegal and unconstitutional. Caste-based discrimination is also a grave concern. Punjab Common Land Act 1961 provides that one-third of the village land should be given to scheduled castes.

"It is the agricultural worker and lower caste community who are subjected to bonded labour and exploitation by the upper caste landlords. Most of the village land is under the upper caste landlords," shared Jagjeevan a lawyer with DDVA.

About caste based discrimination Jagjeevan said:

"Lower caste members are not allowed access to the cremation ground which is used by the upper caste. Our struggle for equality does not end with our life, we experience denial even after death."

Babu Mathew, a law professor and director of anti-poverty agency ActionAid said:

"India has one of the world's best constitutions when it comes to protecting the rights of vulnerable groups what we need is the political will to make it a reality."

ActionAid condemns the arrest of 90 campaigners and demands that the case filed against them should be withdrawn immediately.

"By arresting the peaceful campaigners the administration is extending support to the landlords who are violating the law," said activist Swami Agnivesh.

ActionAid supports the campaigners in their demand for:

1. Immediate release of those arrested

2. Protection to people carrying out peaceful campaign

3. Those violating the Bonded Labour Act must be brought to book

4. The state must take urgent steps to identify and rehabilitate bonded labour and take stern action against erring landlords.

5. The state government and the Ministry of Home Affairs must take note of   the incident and intervene immediately.

Notes to the editor:

Dalit Dasta Virodhi Abhiyan (DDVA) is a local organization aimed at educating the Dalit other marginalised communities about the rule of law and the entitlements guaranteed to them as citizens by the Constitution of India. The organization also works towards the abolition of bonded labour in any form and restoration of constitutional rights.

ActionAid is an international anti-poverty agency working in over 40 countries, taking sides with poor people to end poverty and injustice together.

ENDS