From Hunger Deaths to Healthy Living: A Case Study of Dalits in Varanasi District, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

Caste system, still widely prevalent in various spheres of Indian social life, perpetuates social, economic and educational deprivation amongst Dalits, leading to their marginalization and social exclusion. The article is based on an intervention to address caste-based discrimination that was resulting in abject poverty, malnutrition and hunger deaths among Dalits in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh. Health care staff such as ANMs and Anganwadi workers practice untouchability by not touching Dalits and consequently they could not access health care services and other general civic and pro-poor schemes and programmes. Adhering to Freire’s conscientization model People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a Civil Society Organization (CSO), carried out interventions by mobilizing Dalits, using media and administrative advocacy, collaborating with national and international human rights organizations, and creating pressure on the government to respond. With consistent collaborative efforts and social action, rural Dalits could ensure healthy living as their access to food security services improved. The success story presented in the article provides insight to learn and theorize working models of Dalit empowerment and checking caste-based discrimination.