Memorandum submitted by Kailash Kaler
We would like to bring to your notice that the
theme of Caste based discrimination has not been reflected in
the themes of the Single Equality Bill unveiled by the Government
on 26 June 2008. Even though representations were made during
the Equalities Review in 2005 and during the consultation
processes the theme of Caste based discrimination has escaped
the concerns of the Government and also not being reflected in
any of the documents, statements or draft of the Government thus
the Single Equality Bill would not be able to address the hidden
inequalities. Hence the incorporation of a provisions in the Single
Equality Bill against Caste based discrimination will address
the hidden inequalities among the Asian communities.
The Caste System being practiced in South East
Asia has come along with Asians who migrated to Britain and vehemently
practiced there and this you could find that Asian's in Britain
primarily relate with each other on Caste basis hence limiting
each others contact, forming boundaries, Caste groups and Caste
Status. This has a huge negative impact in the development of
the Asian community and undermines the Government's effort to
annihilate any hidden inequalities in the society.
In the UK the practice of Caste discrimination
could be found in lives of the Asian communities such as people
only marry in their own Caste and have social relationship only
with their Caste members. If anyone tends to marry out of their
caste that will lead to society abandoning the couple and the
couples are faced with hatred and violence and they are ostracised.
The portrayal of Caste could also be seen in the matrimonial sections
of the Asian newspaper columns and marriage bureaus. You could
also find that the places of worship are based on Caste and each
different temple depicts one's Case eg Ramgarhia, Valmik Temples,
Ravidasia temple and other Asian temples. There are also organisation
on caste supremacy such as All India Brahmin Association (UK),
Bardai Brahmin Samaj and so on. Caste is also propagated through
media and could be found in Jat Caste songs is an example of such
instances. Caste prejudices could be found even in Asian work
places and other Asian social places. Asians are more Caste conscious
and hence destroy the element of community cohesion.
Caste is taught in the religious educational
curriculum but an analytical thinking of the nature of the Caste
and its repercussion in the society is not given to the students.
On account of which children develop Caste awareness leading to
caste bullying, caste names and hence unknowingly sowing the seed
of Caste hatred in the young age leading to a divided society.
Caste based discrimination is detrimental for
the development of the Asian community and the Nation. It is a
barrier for the community cohesion leaving Britain with divided
societies and nullifying the effort of the Government to bring
community cohesion. Go because of it's hidden nature we request
the Government to undertake a special review on Caste based discrimination
and incorporate in the Single Equality Bill the provision to annihilate
Caste based discrimination to experience a fairer cohesive community.
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