A common battle

Despite legal entitlement, Dalit communities in Punjab are locked in a constant struggle to exercise their rights over village common land

- BHAGIRATH

IN PUNJAB'S Tarn Taran district, an air of anger and anguish hangs over a patch of 8 hectares (ha). Every day for the past year, members of the 40-odd Dalit families in Koharka village have been taking turns to stage a sit-in protest on this patch, which the state government classifies as shamlat or village common land. Their demand is to implement the September 2021 state government order and allot each needy Dalit family 5 marla (or 0.012 ha) of shamlat land for housing. "But on October 29, 2022, the unthinkable happened," recalls Pinder Kaur, a resident. "I and 15 other women were sitting in protest. Following an announcement on the gurudwara speaker, several residents rushed to the site. Some poured petrol around the protest site and set it on fire. We all fled for our lives," says Pinder, adding that those who attacked the protestors were from upper-caste households.

Residents Down To Earth (DTE) spoke with allege that the police have not taken action against the culprits despite complaints. On November 9, 2022, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes sought explanation from Tarn Taran district deputy commissioner and senior superintendent of police. It is not known whether they have responded. The incident, however, has not deterred the Dalit families from continuing with their protest.