ARTICLE 17 : “Untouchability Because The Goddess Said So”

"Upper" castes believe that the oppression of the caste system is ordained by the gods and goddesses themselves. They force Dalit workers who work in their farms to bring their own glasses from home for drinking water. Their children are allowed to play with Dalit children but once they return from the playground, the "upper" caste children sprinkle water on themselves as a 'purifying' ritual. ARTICLE 17 A Campaign to End Untouchability ARTICLE 17 is a campaign launched by Video Volunteers on April 14th, 2012, to urge the National Commission for Schedule Castes, (the government body that is constitutionally appointed to direct and implement the safeguards against untouchability), to prosecute cases of untouchability. Community Correspondents across the country are documenting video testimonies of different forms of untouchability. The first 22 videos are featured here and more will be added as the campaign continues. We want to give viewers the responsibility, as witnesses, to end this age-old oppression once and for all. Sign the petition being sent to the National Commission on Scheduled Castes.

“Video Volunteers gave me a platform to go the extra mile for people”

 
/ March 20, 2023

Avijit Adhikary is a journalist with nearly 8000 days of field experience till date. In the past two decades, he has witnessed the ebb and flow of the media industry in India, with ripples felt in his region too. This includes the rise of digital media, the decline of print...

Impact Story

Paving a way for good education

 
/ February 14, 2023

The Primary School in Deegam, Shopian, is 5 kilometres away from the district headquarters. That school lacked the required  teaching staff, with 30 students, they had only one teacher. The Community Correspondent Basharat Amin highlighted the issue with the Education Department officials. The  parents of children emphasised that there should...

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