"Dalit Women Speak Out" released.

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“Dalit  Women  Speak Out” a   book in two volumes dealing with the  nature  and  extent of  atrocities  committed  against Dalit  women population in  India , was  released  by Brinda Karat ,  Rajyasabha MP and  CPI (M ) polit bureau  member  by handing  over the copies  to  Nirmala Despande    veteran  leader on   18 th Oct at WSSF hall ,New Delhi.
The book  was jointly authored by Alosyius Irudayam,Jayasree P Mangubhai and Joel G.Lee and could well be considered as the  first comprehensive  and  authentic document  in  to the plight of   millions of  Dalit   women  who were sufferers of violence and atrocities through out their lives.
The core members of All India  Dalit Adhikar  Mach (AIDMAM ) who played a crucial role behind the study  were  also  present at  the occasion .They  also  shared their  experience in  working  among Dalit women .
While addressing the audience   Brinda Karat conveyed her solidarity to the Dalit women issue in the country. She also promised to bring  the  problems of converted  Christians before the parliament .She  also admitted to the argument of Dalit  women  leaders that the existing laws failed to safe guard the  rights of   Dalit women and most of the cases  against  dalit women  were  not  even  filed under proper sessions or in accordance with the SC/ ST Prevention of  Atrocities Act .
While talking on the occasion  the Dalit women leaders expressed their  discontent with the  way the  SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities  Act  was  handled by eth criminal  justice  system.They  also  demanded an  amendment  to the  Act to  be  inclusive  of  provisions to safeguard the  rights of   women .As of now the  Act has paid only little attention to the issues  of Dalit women ,they argued.
Nirmala Deshpande said that the  whole issue should not be  seen as an issue of  castes but it should be seen as a campaign  for justice and equality .

The  book is a testimony to  the resilience and courage the  women survivors upheld  in  an  other  wise precarious life  and  their ability to face the  society  as they themselves know that the revealing of their  personal lives  would annoy and  violate the taboos set by the society .As once they  decided to violate  the rule of  silence casted  over their  sufferings they  in turn set a new path of awakening and  justice to millions of their  sisters

 The study was initiated in 2004, to examine the forms, manifestations and  frequency of atrocities against  Dalit women/ caste and social status of perpetrators, causes, effects and responses to violence. A total of 500 Dalit women were selected, based on information supplied by knowledgeable persons or organizations working with the Dalit community. The  study  covers  32 panchayats union/mandals/blocks in  17 districts in four states - Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Tamil Nadu / Pondicherry, and Uttar Pradesh. The wide-ranging experience shared by Dalit women in this study when analyzed, reveal the multiple layers of violence that pervade their lives. Dalit women endure violence in the general community and in  family, from state and non-state actors of different genders, castes and socio-economic groupings. 

Anuradha  Gharti , National Coordinator , AIDMAM gave away the  welcome  speech, Vimal  Thorat  convener AIDMAM presided over the meeting, Manjula Pradip Director  Navsarjan, presented  an over view of the book. She  also demanded to include such studies in the   academic syllabus .Annie Namala , programme  coordinator Indian  Institute of  Dalit  studies gave away  the  vote of thanks.