Memorandum submitted by the Bhagwan Valmiki
Trust
In view of the forthcoming Single Equality Bill
unveiled by the Government of the UK on 26 June 2008, we
would like to bring your attention on caste based discriminations
that is gradually establishing roots amongst the Asian communities
in the UK.
We understand that a number of representations
were made during the Equalities Review Consultation process and
calls to evidence during 2005 but this matter has not been
addressed at the drafting stage.
We are very much concerned that since caste
plays a vital part in regulating every day social life of the
Asian Communities in the UK and based on Caste injustices are
being perpetuated in the name of multiculturalism among the Asians
living in Britain.
Caste Discrimination engenders group closure
where certain Caste Groups maintain boundaries separating themselves
from others. These groups deploy exclusion devices limiting and
prohibiting inter-marriages or restrictions on social contacts;
where social contact is possible when the individual is reminded
of the Caste group and Caste status and its position in the Hierarchy
of Castes.
In Britain, Caste operates at a much more subtle
and sophisticated level. This is the reason why Caste discrimination
has escaped the attention of the authorities and the public in
the UK so far. Unfortunately there are cases of Caste discriminations
on employments, marriages, inter-dinning, worshipping places etc.
It's about time that this serious Human Rights violation issue
receives the deserving attention of the Authorities, the Government
of the UK, Parliamentarians and other International Human Rights
Agencies.
For example, Inter Caste marriages are frowned
upon, if not forbidden. Couples have faced hatred and violence
when such marriages are contemplated. Matrimonial sections of
the Asian newspapers and Asian Marriage Bureau run Caste based
matrimonial advertisements.
Religious places of worship are divided along
Caste lines. For example there are Valmiki Temples, Ravidasia
Temples, whole range of Hindu temples named after myriads of gods/goddesses
and whole variety of Sikh temples eg Ramgarhia Bibi Nanaki, Dashmesh
temple, Guru Nanak etc. All of these have Caste overtones. Many
Hindu based organisations openly display their castes eg All India
Association (UK), Bardai Brahmin Samaj etc.
Caste masquerades as entertainment in Punjabi
Bhangra Music. This kind of music is regularly broadcast on Radio
and Television where the Jat Caste songs are broadcast. (Jats
are a predominant agricultural Caste in the Punjab), Caste is
also manifest on the factory floor, in pubs and clubs usually
through chauvinism and sometimes direct discrimination can result
in hatred and violence. Inter-Caste marriages lead to the couple
being shunned by so-called higher Caste parents. Caste based name
calling in schools that lead to Caste awareness being created
leading to bullying and violence.
In schools, Caste is taught in the religious
educational curriculum as a religiously sanctioned hierarchy without
an opportunity being provided to challenge the premises upon which
it is based.
In the interest to promote Social Cohesion,
we urge the Government to initiate an effective investigation
and survey of Caste based discrimination and take cognisance of
the blighting affects the most pernicious form of discrimination
on the affected Asian communities in the UK.
Hence, I ask you to take necessary action so
as to include "Caste" based Discrimination in the Single
Equality Bill to do justice to the millions of the downtroddens
in the UK.
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