Democracy and Caste System Cannot Go Hand in Hand: Meira Kumar

Bangalore: On the special sitting gathered to discuss Sixty Years Journey of the Indian Parliament, Speaker Meira Kumar called for efforts from the Lok Sabha members to eradicate caste system from the society. Meira Kumar is the first dalit women to hold the position of a Lok Sabha Speaker.

She said, "It is an irrefutable truth that democracy and caste system cannot go hand in hand. Democracy is based on equality while caste system on the differences between the socially superior and inferior. One of the two systems has to die. Today, when we are collectively glorifying democracy with full zeal, we should also root out caste system with all the might at our command, “as reported by TOI.

The social inequalities that are created by caste system have been a topic of discussion for so many decades now. Even after the social realization of its threat, caste system still continues to dominate many parts of India, especially rural areas. The caste conscious has created a stratification based on superior and inferior feeling and this has led to serious discriminations in the society. Many poor and dalits are neglected and denied opportunities in many areas of society.

Meira Kumar address opened a discussion in the house to the issue of uplifting the SCs and STs in society. Many leaders supported speaker’s stand and expressed their views on the issue.

JD (U) leader Sharad Yadav’s view is that caste system is the “biggest” malady even worse than the population increase. He said “No big change in the country could be seen so far, because it is divided into castes.”

Referring to the often discussed demand to end reservation Yadav said, “You will have caste and not give any type of facility, how can that happen?"He also pointed that domination of people from stronger social groups can be seen in congress ‘face of the ministry’ itself.