Monday, July 17, 2017

India votes to elect its next President

India's elected representatives have voted to elect the country's next President. Counting of votes will take place on July 20th. 


And irrespective of who wins, a Dalit will become India's new President as both the government and the Opposition have fielded Dalit candidates for election. 


The Dalit Community was formerly branded 'untouchable' in the Hindu caste system and two thirds of all India Dalits qualify as the poorest of the poor. But do Dalits believe the presidency will bring a change in their fortunes?

 

Neha Poonia reports from New Delhi.

The next resident of India's Presidential estate and the country's 14th President will be a Dalit. But barely 4 kilometers away - is a colony of 500 Dalit families. 

 

In this slum, there's little optimism about having one of their own occupy the most important constitutional position in the country. 

 

44 year old Vinod Kumar- works as an auto rickshaw driver. He claims caste bias and poverty won't end even if a Dalit becomes India's next President. 

<<Bite: Vinod Kumar, Autorickshaw driver>>

"No one in the country is working for the upliftment of Dalits. Despite labouring to educate our children, we are still so poor we have to live in slums.


VO: 


Vinod Kumar's 22 year old son- Lalit dreams of working in a multinational company. He expresses similar cynicism.

<<Bite: Lalit Kumar>>
"Political parties are only looking for votes. They think they can fool us by nominating someone from our community. They don't care about the poor."

 

VO: 


The word dalit- which means oppressed- signifies the lowest rung of India's caste system. 

 

Until 70 years ago, this community lived ostracized lives as untouchables. 

 


For the 2000 people living in this colony- the biggest problem is lack of water and poor sanitation. There's just one community bathroom for the entire area, no running water in any house and locals say that often children are forced to relieve themselves in open drains. 

 

VO: 

Prime Minister Modi's critics have often accused his party- the BJP- of being anti-Dalit. 

 

Since four Dalits were publicly flogged for skinning a dead cow last year, there have been a series of attacks against Dalits by right wing Hindu groups- leading to pan-India protests against the BJP. 

 

It's against this backdrop that the BJP has picked a member from India's 200 million strong Dalit community with general elections just two years away. Sudha Pai who is an expert on Dalit politics has this to say. 

 

<<Bite: Sudha Pai, Analyst, Dalit Politics //English >>

"As soon as they (BJP) announced a Dalit candidate- the opposition found it difficult to say no. The Opposition then went ahead and put a Dalit candidate. So they divided the Opposition."

 

 

VO: 

 

The BJP's GVL Rao claims there is no politics behind picking a Ram Nath Kovind as the party's candidate. 

 

<<Bite: GVL Narsimha Rao, BJP Spokesperson>>

"As a political party- we are committed to ensure that sections of the society that have been deprived of their due- should be given higher designations- it's a message to the entire country."


VO: 

 

The Congress' Shehzad Poonawalla claims Meira Kumar being a Dalit is a mere coincidence. 


<<Bite: Shehzad Poonawalla, Congress Leader>>

"The congress party did not choose her because of her caste, but for her credentials as a foreign officer, a minister, a House Speaker and an MP."


VO: 

But for many Dalit families- who live in poverty across the country- the elections may as well not be happening. 

 

Sign off. 

 


Posted by at