With the advent of neo-liberal policies, the condition of dalits has worsened. The practice of untouchability and different forms of violence against Scheduled Caste communities continue, the conviction rate of people accused in such cases continues to be low

     COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA (MARXIST)
21st Congress
Samar Mukherjee Nagar
Visakhapatnam, April 14-19, 2015


Resolution

On the Occasion of 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
For a Special Session of Parliament

On the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the
21st Congress of the CPI(M) demands that the Government hold a special
session of Parliament to discuss issues connected with the status of
Scheduled Caste communities in India.

With the advent of neo-liberal policies,  the condition of  dalits has
worsened.  The practice of untouchability and different forms of violence
against Scheduled Caste communities continue, the conviction rate of
people accused in such cases continues to be low. Laws such as The
Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act
need to be strengthened and fully implemented. The Manual Scavengers Act
is also yet to be implemented. Large sections of Dalits in rural India are
landless workers without assets. There is a huge backlog in filling up
reserved posts. Development schemes lie unimplemented. Dalit Christians
and Muslims have been denied recognition as Scheduled Castes, and are
consequently excluded from benefits to which Scheduled Castes are
entitled, in addition to existing quotas. These and other issues need
separate discussion and resolution by Parliament. A special session would
ensure that the attention of the entire country is focused on this
shameful scourge of Indian society -- inequality on the basis of birth and
descent -- and on the urgent need to take comprehensive and strong
measures to eliminate it.

The 21st Party Congress calls upon the entire Party to integrate struggles
against social and caste based discrimination and for the rights of Dalits
with the class struggle, to fight against atrocities against Dalits, to
fight for the elimination of untouchability and the caste system, to
encourage inter-caste marriage, and to counter the efforts of those who
seek to keep Dalits away from democratic mobilisation and movements.

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