PETITION AGAINST CASTE DISCRIMINATION INCIDENTS IN TRDP (THARDEEP)

A gang of upper caste employees of Thardeep Rural Development Programme (TRDP) has started conspiring against its Dalit (Meghwal) Chief Executive Dr Sono Khangharani. It had always been a uneasy feeling for ordinary literate employees in both the government and private sector employment if their head is a former untouchable. In this land of Islam and purity, the Dalits or Scheduled Castesas identified by the Constitution of Pakistancontinue to be subjected to many forms and manifestation of untouchability and caste discrimination. The Law of Manu continues to apply, though selectively, in the desert of Tharparker where Thardeep was born and is still regarded as the most effective player in non-profit org sector. It was under Dr. Sono Khangharani that Pakistans one of top NGOTRDPearned international recognition and laurels. Its major partners range from NOVIB to UNICEF and PPAF in between. The main motto of the TRDP is said to be Enlarging the choices of people with equality and justice as per its printed material is concerned. TRDP is popularly known as Thardeep.

Dr Sono is said to have made great mistake in life when he accepted and supported the Scheduled Castes Federation of Pakistans slogan UNTOUCHABILITY & CASTE DISCRIMINATION: Own It or End It in the end of 2005. This slogan was targeted at the state authority, which seems to have been infiltrated by the very people who practice the two un-Islamic practices of untouchability and caste discrimination. This analysis could be made wrong if the state authority takes corrective measures including the legislation to declare any form or manifestation of above un-Islamic practices illegal and liable to punishment by the state laws.

The upper caste gang of employees at the TRDP has started targeting its Meghwar stake-holders specifically and made them to believe that August 14, 1947 Independence doesnt mean that we have left inhuman practices of untouchability and caste discrimination behind in the history. These practices have only developed into some sophisticated forms and manifestations. The Brahmin Manu is made to stand proud by this upper caste gang of TRDP employees without any difference of green of saffron colours.

We present two specific cases involving TRDPs staff attached with its programme Capacity Building, Micro-Credit and Community Physical Infrastructure sponsored by Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (TRDP spelling Alliviation!). Many of such incidents go unreported as people are coerced into silence.

The basic aim of this TRDP-PPAF Micro-Credit programme is capacity building. Some of the financial wizards at TRDP dreamt that any poverty-stricken man or woman of the desertwhere distribution of natural resources is shared between tiny and powerful fraction of the societywill double a paltry of Rs10,000 in one year and return the same with interests. Several thousand women from poverty-hit castes, the same ill-fated castes ordained by Manu Samriti to remain poor and untouchables, were doled out millions of rupees micro credits. The total amount could still be tip of iceberg before billions of rupees which the state authority has transferred into the pockets of a dozen upper caste government contractors of roads and buildings in Thar Desert alone through a jugglery of paperwork in last four years. The story doesnt end here. The jugglery of paperwork and computers is at work at both points. The only difference is that it favours upper castes and disfavours Dalits in both ways. Thus the Meghwal stake-holders of TRDP have ended up selling their last belongings to return the last installments of micro credits for their women are being threatened by TRDP-PPAF Upper Caste Staff of abductions in case of default. No other community in Thar has got such threats from TRDP in same situations. This is being done under the nose of very Meghwal Sono Khangharani. He seems hapless because he is paid handsomely by TRDP. For him it may be in the interests of his personal or family future to keep silence on such issues. But for the educated Dalit, especially Meghwal youth, it is a historic responsibility to fight against untouchability and caste discrimination. The word equality is not and would never be writing on publicity material while committing inequality.

1. Dewan Meghwal, resident of village Golio, near Islamkot was manhandled, disrespected, discriminated against for his caste, and asked how a lower caste person can dare to default for few hundred rupees when his last belonginggoatis still possessed by him. A case was lodged against him. The man was targeted purely for his caste. TRDP has made no else caste borrower to sell or keep as mortgage with VIAJ KHOR Mafia his/her leftover Silver jewellery and return them micro credit installment. The Meghwal stake-holders have been made to take out loans from this Mafia on heavy interestsas much as 20\% per monthto pay last installments.
2. Chetan Meghwal and Teekam Das head three TDCs in Kaloi, Tehsil Diplo comprising of many dozens of men and women of Meghwal caste. They had returned 10 out of 12 installments. Some of these TDCs women member mortgaged their Boli and Puhlri (Nose ornaments) to return the second last installment of TRDP micro credit. However, some unfortunates had already done it thus left with no belonging except their physical body. The TRDP Staffers belonging to upper castes namely Ukhaldar and Shahnawaz even threatened to kidnap the poverty-stricken women on September 15, 2006. Upon these threats the poor women sent SOS to their parents, who again mortgaged their jewellery or sold cattle to pay the 11th Installment. The vicious circle of ViajKhors smiles at the way the TRDP-PPAF plan to alleviate poverty and Enlarging the choices of people with equality and justice.


Thus, we place demand before all those international and national organizations dealing with TRDP in Tharparker to ensure that their funding should be directed at creating equality and capacity building in practical terms supported by ground realities. They should form a committee of Dalit communities including Dalit employees of TRDP to check the infiltration of untouchability and caste discrimination in TRDP operations.

We also demand from TRDP Board of Directors and Management to remove any of its employees, including those involved in the two incidents above of caste discriminations. The signatories of this petition are also requested to put their questions to TRDP if any. This petition is being launched as an sincere effort being part of SCFPs long-term struggle for elimination of untouchability and caste discrimination from Pakistan.