Bihar Elections: What Do Dalits Want in Bihar? NACDAOR Report Highlights Key Demands

New Delhi- The voters of Bihar will cast their votes for the members of the Bihar Legislative Assembly on 6th and 11th November. However, for nearly 1.5 crore Dalit voters in Bihar, elections are a bitter experience. Dalits constitute 20% of Bihar's total electorate.

 In the run-up to the crucial Bihar Assembly elections, a significant report has been released, highlighting the concerns and demands of the state's 15 million Dalit voters. Titled "Bihar: What Dalits Want," the report by the National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) is set to be unveiled at a press conference on Wednesday, October 8, at the Press Club of India in New Delhi.

According to the report's background note, despite constituting 20% of the state's electorate, elections remain a "bitter experience" for Dalit voters. NACDAOR has demanded that all political parties include "clear, concrete, and accountable promises" for the Dalit community in their election manifestos.

Key Issues Highlighted in the Report

1. The Shadow of Violence and Discrimination: The report states that Dalits continue to face persistent violence, threats, and humiliation, aimed at keeping them socially suppressed. It expresses deep concern over the continuous rise in these violent trends, often instigated by dominant castes.

2. The Urgent Need for Land Reforms: Land reform is identified as a critical issue. Out of Bihar's 6.45 million hectares of agricultural land, Dalits own a mere 0.57 million hectares. The prevalence of the sharecropping system (Bataidari) means that the actual Dalit cultivators have neither land rights nor receive a fair share of their produce, despite bearing all the risks of cultivation.

3. Educational Backwardness and Inequality: The literacy rate among Dalits in Bihar is nearly 10% lower than the national average of 66.6%. As per the 2011 census, it stood at 55.9%. The dropout rate among Dalit students is high, and their participation in higher education is significantly below the state and national averages.

4. Lack of Equitable Budget Share: The report points out a stark disconnect between the loud promises made by political parties for Dalit welfare and the actual financial allocations in budgets, which often do not match the rhetoric.

The report argues that as long as discrimination and the denial of rightful opportunities to Dalits persist, the dream of making India a developed nation by 2047- the 'Amrit Kaal', will remain incomplete.

Through this report, NACDAOR aims to bring the ground reality of Bihar's Dalits to the forefront of public and policy discourse. The organization's Chairman, Ashok Bharti, will address the press conference. This report is poised to become a significant document in the electoral landscape, clearly outlining the priorities of the Dalit electorate.