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This was conducted in 1977 and covered a sample of 396 respondents (of which 196 were formerly untouchable) from six villages (Venkateswarlu 1990).

The temples were still barred to most of the untouchables and they were also not allowed to enter the houses of caste Hindus. Marriage procession through the public village road by untouchables is prohibited on one pretext or another. There is no access to public drinking water source. The well or tap is located in the high-caste locality and attempts by the former untouchables invites objection and physical obstruction. The majority of the untouchable respondents reported being beaten by the upper castes, ranging from frequently to rarely. Raids on untouchable hamlets or houses, sometimes followed by looting, were reported. Violence was also perpetrated in the form of kidnapping, insults, rape, physical torture and threat or attempt to murder.

Many untouchable respondents were prevented from voting in elections. In some cases they were also prevented from participating in political activities like organizing meetings in the village or taking an independent position on political issues, or contesting elections.

Sukhadev Thorat
October - November 2002

Sukhadev Thorat is Professor, Center for the Study of Regional Development, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi.

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