JETPARDA (WANKANER): People particularly in Saurashtra rejoice after the second spell of the long awaited rain. But this fresh water can't quench thirst of the Dalits in the Jetparda village of Wankaner taluka in Rajkot district. Caste discrimination still haunts Dalits in this village, where many a time they have to go thirsty as they are left with no option.
"We have drinking water pipelines in our village and most of the villagers fetch water from the water tapes. But for Dalits there is a separate water tap, which is being blocked many time. Also we are allowed to take water only when others have got enough to quench their thirst,'' says Damaji Parmar, a Dalit and a member of the Gram Panchayat . "Just a month ago, during my daughter's marriage I had to purchase water from a private supplier as I did not get sufficient water from village,'' adds Parmar . "Villagers have to rely only on government for their drinking water needs as ground water is extremely saline here.
But we often prefer drinking the saline water or have to go at least 2 km to fetch drinking water. Also if there is water in a well, Dalits have to wait for other villagers as we can't touch their wells," says Mina Parmar, who is one of the 2,000 odd villagers of Jetparda.
According to Parmar, many Dalit families are suffering from water related disease as they end up drinking contaminated water. Dalits from the village say that they have even given applications to the concerned government authority over the discrimination done to them but still no action has been taken so far. When contacted, said work assistant, Gujarat Water Supply and Sewerage Board (Wankaner ) P N Chikaliya, "The drinking water problem of Dalits in Jetparda will be solved shortly. We have already mooted a proposal so that Dalits get a proper water supply.''
Source: TOI
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