Increasing Attacks on Dalits - A sociological study based on Haryana

THE attack on the Dalits at Mirchpur (Hisar) and its repercussions require a deeper probe because these are a part of a larger socio-economic phenomenon.
These have to be first ascribed to the paradox of economic development and social regression that has emerged in Haryana during the past six decades due to continued emphasis on economic development and neglect of social development by successive political dispensations with the singular exception of the present government that had come to power in 2005. This has resulted in creating a cultural lag which, in turn, led to a social degeneration as reflected in the sporadic instances of conflict between the Jats and the Dalits at Mirchpur.
Secondly, they are the logical outcome of the impact of modernisation on the rural society of Haryana as a result of improved infrastructure, increased means of communication, growth of educational and technical institutions and the quantum jump in the number of telephones, mobiles, radios, transistors, TVs, VCDs and DVDs on the one hand and fabulous increase in the number of transport vehicles like scootys, scooters, motorcycles, jeeps and cars on the other. Consequently, while the educated Dalit youths have begun to question the authority of the traditional leadership from this peasant caste, the Jat youths have started to reassert their authority.
Thirdly, these should be seen as a result of the frustration among the jobless educated Jat youth. They do not perceive their unemployment as the cumulative effect of the diminishing number of government jobs due to liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation.
They also do not realise that it is the natural result of their non-employability on account of their lack of command in English, Information Technology and professional qualifications. They wrongly attribute it to reservation for the Scheduled Castes in government jobs. Their frustration finds expression in the clashes with vulnerable sections.
Fourthly, these trends may also be ascribed to the pauperisation of the peasantry in which the Jats constitute the largest group. This is attributed to the crises in agriculture due to large-scale creation of small and marginal landholdings due to rising population and breakdown of the joint family system. The problem has been aggravated owing to adverse terms of trade, untimely rains and drought.
As a result, farming has ceased to be a viable vocation. It has led to fears that sooner or later they will join the ranks of the landless agricultural and non-agricultural labourers from the Dalit community and shall lose their identity as zamindars or the land owners. This crisis of identity at times makes them to resort to aggression.
Finally, one should consider the neo-feudal and conservative culture of Haryana’s rural society. This has made a section of the Jats and other peasant castes difficult to tolerate the Dalits' attempts to have a share in the power structure of the state by taking advantage of the one-fifth quota given to them in the membership and chairpersonship of the Panchayati Raj institutions.
This leads us to the question: What can be done to check this menace? 
First, the liberal elements among the Haryanvi intellectuals, the media and progressive forces among the political parties should unitedly try to bring about a change in the mindset of the peasants and the Dalits.
Secondly, the government should sensitise the police force, democratise and decentralise the district administration to ensure an effective delivery of services for the development of the Scheduled Castes.
Thirdly, the focus of the Panchayati Raj institutions should be on preparing and implementing the plans of economic development and social justice as mandated under the 73rd Constitution Amendment Act (1992).
In fine, the Haryana government should take concrete steps to resolve the agrarian crises and create self-employment opportunities for the unemployed educated youth from the peasant castes. Let us hope that the government's recent steps in this direction will make a difference. These measures will have to be implemented effectively. Otherwise, the frustration and the identity crises among them will continue to reflect itself in the form of conflicts with Dalits and the agitations like the one at Jind.