Nationwide strike called by Dalit and Adivasi groups: Key demands explained

Dalit and Adivasi organizations have announced a ‘Bharat Bandh’ on Wednesday, aiming to peacefully press their demands for broader representation in education and employment for marginalised communities. The strike also seeks to safeguard their constitutional rights amidst ongoing concerns about recent judicial decisions.

Backdrop: Supreme Court Ruling and Lateral Entry Controversy

The call for the Bharat Bandh follows a recent Supreme Court verdict concerning the sub-categorization of quotas for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). Additionally, there has been widespread debate over the lateral entry into central civil services, adding to the unrest.

On August 1, a seven-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India, DY Chandrachud, ruled by a 6:1 majority in favor of allowing states to further sub-classify SCs and STs to ensure quotas for more backward castes within these groups. This ruling has sparked significant concern among various communities.

Further intensifying the situation, on August 20, the Minister for the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), Jitendra Singh, requested the withdrawal of advertisements for lateral entry into 45 posts at the joint secretary, director, and deputy secretary levels. Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, criticized this move, alleging it was an attack on the reservation rights of Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and SC/ST communities.

Key Demands and Political Support

1. The Bharat Bandh has been organized by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR), which opposes the Supreme Court verdict, arguing that it undermines previous rulings like the Indira Sawhney case that established reservation frameworks.
2. NACDAOR has issued a set of demands, including the rejection of the SC judgment and the enactment of a new central law protected from judicial review under the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
3. They have also called for the immediate release of caste-based data on SC/ST/OBC representation in government jobs to ensure accuracy and fairness.
4. The organization demands that all backlog vacancies in central and state government departments, as well as public sector undertakings, be filled. Additionally, it has urged companies benefiting from government subsidies to implement affirmative action policies.
5. Political parties such as the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and the Rashtriya Janata Dal have voiced their support for the Bharat Bandh, with leftist parties also backing the strike.

Impact and Public Services

While there has been no official announcement, public services in states governed by these supporting parties are likely to be affected. However, essential services like hospitals and ambulances will continue to operate. No closures have been officially declared for banks, government offices, or educational institutions.

NACDAOR has called on OBC and SC/ST groups to participate peacefully in large numbers, stressing the importance of a unified voice in the pursuit of social justice.