ARTICLE 17: “Untouchability in its Worst Form”

Sanitation workers make a demand for basic safety equipment as they enter stagnant pools of waste. The caste system in India prescribes that all menial and filthy jobs be done by the ‘lowest’ caste. In continuation of this ‘tradition’, sanitation workers around the country are almost always Dalits. This we believe is a continuation of untouchability practices.

This is unacceptable. Sign the Petition.

ARTICLE 17

A Campaign to End Untouchability

ARTICLE 17 is a campaign launched by Video Volunteers on April 14^th, 2012, to urge the National Commission for Schedule Castes, (the government body that is constitutionally appointed to direct and implement the safeguards against untouchability), to prosecute cases of untouchability. Community Correspondents across the country are documenting video testimonies of different forms of untouchability. The first 22 videos are featured here and more will be added as the campaign continues.

We want to give viewers the responsibility, as witnesses, to end this age-old oppression once and for all.

Sign the petition being sent to the National Commission on Scheduled Castes.

Margaret Joeji
I come from Trichi, in Tamil Nadu. I am a dalit woman. My community is discriminated, and we face a lot of violence from “upper-caste”. The women are often victims of rape, and other forms of physical violence. Most of the people have converted to christianity, but we are still treated as untouchables. We are now labelled as dalit christians. I am a human right activist and a feminist, so I have lots of stories to tell. I face violence every day, and I now want to find a space to speak about it and advocate for changes. Community media is the right place to do it, since it gives voice to the underprivileged. In Tamil Nadu, the media is under the control of political parties. No one covers caste violence and human rights violations. I want to speak about women's feelings, their struggles and sufferings. Being in India Unheard would be a way to report independently and to talk about the common people's problems.

Margaret Joeji has produced 9 stories for us.

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