A 'dalit' not eligible for Govt. benefits because of brahmin surname


Background:

For the last 23 yrs (since 1986), Jagdish Sharma had been earning Rs 20 (about 40 cents) per month working as a temporary peon in a government school in Rajasthan, where his duties included cleaning the class rooms and furniture, washing dirty utensils, providing water to students and staff members, ringing the school bell at regular intervals, and so on.

Jagdish has been running around for a pay hike for 23 years, but no one listened. He was recently terminated from his school job after 23 years of temporary service, without getting any extra money, back pay or pension benefits.

According to the information in NDTV video (referenced below) it seems that Jagdish in his spare time has been working as a potter (pottery maker or kumhaar) to supplement his income from his job in school to make ends meet.

Ref.: "He was paid Rs 20 for 23 years" – NDTV video, India, Oct. 26, 2009, http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1169692


Discussion:

The above incident shows as to why many people, like Jagdish, still have difficulty in getting employment and education etc. in spite of government (Govt.) programs and quotas to help destitute people in education and jobs on the basis of caste or class. Note that Jagdish is practically a dalit (meaning impoverished and disadvantaged). In reality, even though a Brahmin in name (Sharma), he is more dalit than some official category "dalits" who are not impoverished and disadvantaged.

Jagdish is quite poor and earns his living by working as a cleaner and a potter. Govt. puts these vocations (cleaning and pottery making), reflecting certain castes, under the category SC (Scheduled Castes) to help people in those castes through quotas and reservations in education and jobs. Unfortunately for Jagdish, in spite of being a real dalit economically (barely able to earn enough to survive) and vocationally (cleaning and pottery making are parts of SC categories), he cannot benefit in getting Govt. help in job etc. because of his status as a brahmin (Sharma).

Similarly the creamy layer consideration -- allowing quotas and reservations in jobs and education to SC or Scheduled Castes, ST or Scheduled Tribes, and OBC or Other Backward Castes (farmers, blacksmiths and other categories / castes representing manual vocations) while having a family income up to Rs 4.5 lakh annually (Rs. 37500 per month) -- would be of no use to Jagdish because of his caste as a brahmin, even though he had been earning a very small salary from his temporary job in a school which paid him only Rs. 20 per month.

Perhaps the duality related to castes or vocational surnames is at the root of these misgivings. In any case, having a certain caste label or family name (surname) is no indication as to what a person does in real life or how rich or poor he is. Historically too, since Vedic times, people have pursued different types of tasks (priesthood, farming and service etc.) while hailing from one family or the same caste. Thus a boy could choose a vocation different from his father's when he grew up or several brothers in the same family might go different routes each following a different occupation. Religion and society would generally not restrict people in this regard and the choice and adherence to a certain occupation would be mainly from economic considerations (including work availability etc.) and according to the wishes of an individual and his immediate family. Thus it should not come as a surprise that castes and sub-castes in the past have undergone many transformations and adjustments as people would relocate or pursue different vocations. It is therefore suffice to say that 'Vedic vocations (Hindu castes) were not related to heredity (birth)' and that the caste label cannot be the rule or yardstick as to what a person does in his life to make his living: http://seva.sulekha.com/blog/post/2008/03/hindu-caste-system-hinduism-vedic-vocations-hindu.htm

Thus, what Jagdish does in real life to earn his living (working as a cleaner and a potter in spite of brahmin surname or "priestly" caste) expresses no contradiction to the long time tradition: people engaging in different occupations irrespective of their caste or family vocation. Moreover, it should be noted, irrespective of Jagdish Sharma's impoverished condition, that having the surname Sharma or belonging to brahmin caste is not an indication about one's economic situation (rich or poor).

Unfortunately, the way Govt. deals with this thing is quite strange and unacceptable. For example, someone might be very poor and do cleaning and make pottery to earn his living, yet he will miss on Govt. assistance in getting a good and permanent job because his family name or caste is not on the list for such benefits. This indicates that this policy is ill-conceived and unfair, and it seems to help people on the basis of their nametags (societal castes) rather than merit or economic condition. Moreover, by such actions and policies Govt. appears to be deliberately discriminating against the deserving and impoverished people of certain castes by denying them the help and privileges in education and jobs. This is not a good thing for image-conscious democratic Govt. which wants to be seen as "secular" and impartial.

Furthermore, as the authorities are seen to attach more importance (weight) to a person's family name (societal caste) than what he actually does or how poor he is, there is also the perception of infringement on person's individual rights, responsibilities and privileges by Govt. In addition, Govt. appears to be doing little for the elimination of caste divisions, casteism and caste based discrimination. For example, by denying help to poor and deserving people of certain non-SC and non-OBC castes even when they are engaged in SC and OBC type vocations, there is the implication and perception that not everyone’s work and effort would be recognized equally and appreciated. Thus when a Brahmin, Jagdish for example, carries out non-brahminical (non-priestly) type duties, his effort and contribution to society as a cleaner and a potter seem not to be recognized officially. Moreover, being a brahmin according to his caste, he is ignored for rewards and benefits which he would have easily got from Govt. if he had belonged to SC and OBC categories, either as a cleaner or a potter. Thus by not recognizing and giving due credit to people (like Jagdish, a brahmin by caste) for their non-traditional type undertakings (cleaning and pottery making etc.), Govt. seems to be unintentionally discouraging them from looking beyond their castes and trying other types of cross-caste vocations. This makes Govt. look as if it is trying to stratify the caste for these people by keeping them in it, and there is no encouragement or incentive to them from Govt. to break the caste barrier.

Perhaps Jagdish's employment situation would not be so bad if he had not been a brahmin by caste; and if he were officially a SC or OBC he might have even been confirmed as a permanent employee in school long ago or found another good job elsewhere under the Govt. quota system. Needless to say, it is time for Govt. to get rid of any consideration with respect to caste, class or occupation of people while offering help in education and jobs and instead only consider their impoverished economic condition.


by: Dr. Subhash C. Sharma