A powerful demonstration of nearly 500 women, including single mothers and women from the devadasi community, alongside men from gravedigger families, shook Freedom Park in Bengaluru on Saturday. Organized by the Dalitha Hakkugala Samiti, the protest centered on urgent demands for enhanced social security and housing support, highlighting systemic failures in existing welfare schemes.
Voices from the Margins: Inadequate Aid and Broken Promises
The protesters, many of whom had travelled from distant districts like Ballari and Kalaburagi, arrived a day prior, underscoring the seriousness of their plight. They unanimously declared that current government assistance is woefully insufficient to guarantee a life of basic dignity. Their primary demands are clear: a monthly pension of Rs 10,000 for single mothers, devadasis, and gravedigger families, coupled with government-backed loans to construct permanent homes.
"We have lived in poverty all our lives and struggle to support our children," shared two women from Ballari. They revealed the grim reality that even the meager Rs 500 pension often fails to reach beneficiaries, and local panchayats provide no guidance on accessing entitled benefits.
While the Karnataka state government officially provides Rs 2,000 per month to devadasis, the protestors testified that these payments are highly irregular and patently inadequate. Kashi Bai from Kalaburagi recounted being forced into the devadasi system due to extreme poverty. "The Rs 2,000 aid comes once every three or four months. Increasing it to Rs 10,000 and providing housing support would help us live with dignity," she pleaded.
Gravediggers Highlight Generational Discrimination
The gravediggers, representing families from several districts, brought to light chronic underpayment and social ostracization. "This is a generational occupation, but we are rarely paid except for small amounts from families," explained Malinga and Dodenappa from Ballari. They emphasized their complete lack of support from panchayats and being routinely denied other forms of employment, raising a desperate question about their children's futures.
Police Intervention Amid Political Rally
The protest gained a political backdrop as a Congress rally was held nearby, where Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was addressing a crowd. Police intervened and asked the women protesters to stop using their microphone. Although they initially complied, their resolve remained unbroken. They soon resumed chanting slogans, continuing their peaceful demonstration throughout the political speech, ensuring their demands were heard.
The protest at Freedom Park stands as a stark reminder of the gaps in social welfare for some of Karnataka's most marginalized communities. It underscores the urgent need for the government to review and reliably implement support systems that ensure a life of dignity for all.
