Kozhikode: Educated state fails, Kerala school struggles to break caste barriers


By Athira G R

Kozhikode, Oct 10: Kerala has the highest literacy rate among the states of India, but like the rest of India it has not been able to break caste barrier. A school in the northern district of Kozhikode is a caste point.

The Government Welfare Lower Primary School in Perambra village has become a Dalits-only school, because other communities in the village have stopped sending their children there. Nothing seems to have changed for the Government Welfare L P School. Even after starting the LKG section and providing best amenities, including pedagogy park and smart classrooms, the school remains ‘untouchable' for the civil society.



Thirty scheduled caste Sambava (Paraya) live in the Chermala colony situated near the school, but there are upper caste Nair and Nambiar and Thiyya (OBC) families residing near the school. Most of the residents of the colony are daily wage workers who earn around Rs 500 a day. No non-Dalit student has studied in the school during the last 15 years. A teacher of the government welfare school said, “The upper caste parents told us that they did not want their kid to sit with Parayas (Sambavas).

Headmaster Raghudas Tettiyil said, “The school has a very good infrastructure. Despite that, people do not wish to send their children here." He also said that there were only 15 students in the school, all of who belong to the SC community. "No upper caste child had studied here in the last 15 years even though we tried out best to increase the strength,” he said.

"The discrimination seen in the school is merely an extension of the ostracisation practised in other aspects of village social life," said the school teacher. "The Paraya colony itself is being ostracised. None of the other caste neighbours invite them for weddings or other functions. These people are not included in any of the social activities in the locality," a teacher says.

Children from the colony are quoted saying they are insulted because of their caste. Kerala had a very unpleasant past where we frantic caste and religion baseddiscrimination and untouchability were practiced. But even now these problems continue. Ninety-nine percent of Sambavas said they were insulted by others who called them by their caste name, Paraya. Despite whatever changes happen, castes remains. "Upper caste members insult calling by caste name, they discriminate on the basis of one's skin colour and accent of the language," said a resident of Chermala colony.

Students from the Chermala Sambava colony are untidy. They have a lot of diseases since they live in an unhygienic environment. This is also the reason why parents are hesitant about sending their children there. Recognising the manner in which poverty causes Paraya children to give up their studies, headmaster of Government Welfare LP School, Perambra Raghudas Thettiyil and others worked hard over the last ten years to ensure that the children stayed put in the course.

The concept of social justice remains a myth to oppressed castes and groups. In the absence of equal national integration, the country can never be healthy. Article 46 of the constitution of India provides special care to the educational and economic interest of weaker sections. But these constitutional provisions also have not been able to bridge the gap between the upper castes and scheduled castes, scheduled tribes, and the general population.

 

  

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Comment on this article

  • k b r, Mangala Uru

    Wed, Oct 11 2017

    Devils' own state

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vivek B, Kaup

    Wed, Oct 11 2017

    Why are Christians & Muslims not sending their kids to this school? They do not have caste system and they are 50% of Kerala's population.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vinod, MANGALURU

    Wed, Oct 11 2017

    Very good point.
    Caste in one big issue which cannot be uprooted even from the minds of educated.
    Apart from caste, hygiene is a bigger issue I feel.
    "Students from the Chermala Sambava colony are untidy. They have a lot of diseases since they live in an unhygienic environment."
    Being poor is fine. But being clean is important.
    Which God defined castes and differentiation based on nature of work ?
    Upper caste/lower caste.. all finally have to face same funeral pyre.

    DisAgree Agree Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Oct 11 2017

    why only in kerala?It exists even in North.May be Gandhiji should comeback and take birth in kerala ?How sad.Those who say higher classes have not the wish to improve their state?such as big MLAs?India will remain as before still after 70years of independence.No wonder other countrys call us still as third world nation.

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Nelly, Karla

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    Are they not Hindus??!?!!!! Million Dollar question..... What say BJPeee upper caste??????

    DisAgree Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Honnappa, Byadagi

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    In highly educated Kerala many things are rotten like high number of suicides, alcoholism and many. These are not highlighted by media.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Suresh, Moodbidri

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    Somalian Mentality.......

    DisAgree [6] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    Kerala too has become a Feku State ...

    DisAgree [13] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rathan, Mangalore

    Wed, Oct 11 2017

    Jossy
    So this fekugiri started in "GODS OWN STATE" And that too 25 years back
    so now we know where this fekugiri started in India and by whom

    DisAgree [2] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • Flavian, Mangalore/Kuwait

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    Only Yeddurappa has the capacity and will power to solve such descriminations.
    Send them to Yeddurappas native place. (if possible before next assembly elections)

    DisAgree [15] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • sri_elder, Karkala

    Tue, Oct 10 2017

    If all the children are going to some school then no issues...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Kozhikode: Educated state fails, Kerala school struggles to break caste barriers



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