1. List two Fundamental Rights in the Constitution that Dalits can draw upon
to insist that they be
treated with dignity and as equals. Re-read the Fundamental Rights listed on
page 14 to help you answer this question.
Answer
Two Fundamental Rights that Dalits can draw upon to insist that they be treated
with dignity and as equals are: Right to Equality and the Right to Freedom.
2. Re-read the story on Rathnam as well as the provisions of the 1989
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Now list
one reason why you think he used this law to file a complaint.
Answer
The 1989 Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
was formed in response to the demands made by Dalits and others that the
Government take seriously to protect them against the ill-treatment and
humiliation faced by Dalits and tribal groups in their everyday life. Rathnam’s
hut was burnt and he was forced to leave the village along with his mother and
other members of his family as they continued to be ostracized by the powerful
castes in the village. So Rathnam used the above law to file a complaint to
protest against the domination and violence of the powerful castes in his
village.
3. Why do Adivasi activists, including C.K. Janu, believe that Adivasis can
also use this 1989 Act to
fight against dispossession? Is there anything specific in the provisions of
the Act that allows her to believe this?
Answer
The Adivasi activists including C.K. Janu believe that Adivasis can also use
this 1989 Act to fight against dispossession because this Act guarantees the
tribals not to be dispossessed from the land resources forcibly. They pointed
specifically that this Act merely confirms what has already been promised to the
tribal people in the Constitution - that their land can not be sold to or bought
by non-tribal people. In cases where this has happened, the constitution also
guarantees that the right of the tribal people to repossess their land.