From Dirt to Glamor: Dalit Women and Their Time to Shine

I put a lot of academic and personal focus on India and I always keep my eyes open for uplifting stories of Indian Women. There was a rather intriguing article in BBC yesterday speaking about Dalit (aka Untouchables) scavenger women who gather and clear human excrement. In a somewhat rags to riches demeanor the article notes how the women went from the bottom of the social strata to being considered a little more than sub-human. They joined others this week in New York for Mission Sanitation and even participated in a fashion show presenting some work of the women.

The head of the Indian NGO noted:
"In India scavengers have been looked down upon for centuries. But those who have abandoned that work are... being treated with respect which they deserve. I am over the moon with happiness."

Under no circumstance would I demean what these women have achieved but them moving out of scavenger work does not now equate to them deserving respect....they deserved it before. The Indian government banned manual scavenging in 1993, but like many other 'social laws' it is not widely implemented.

In a land often emphasizing its peace, harmony, Democratic and Gandhian principles I am often dumbfounded by the absolute disregard for those deemed different or 'unclean'. India has been so focused on its economic boom that it forgets that economic progress does not equal social progress; trickle down theory will not change centuries old social, religious mores. Until a concerted effort outside of a technicality eliminating 'caste system' and promoting affirmative action is actively pursued, I cannot see any changes soon. After all sex-selective abortions in urban upper class families are on the rise....proof that a strong economy will not serve as a panacea for an adherence to tradition and an age old preference for males.

The efforts of the NGO should be applauded. I see a grassroots movement in India as more potentially effective than its bureaucratic government.