LoP Mallikarjun Kharge flags workplace caste bias, cites Odisha anganwadi boycott

Senior Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, on Thursday raised concerns over caste discrimination at workplaces, citing a recent incident in Odisha where members of a particular community refused to let their children eat food cooked by a Dalit anganwadi worker. Raising the issue during Zero Hour in the Upper House, Kharge said, ''In the 21st century, when we talk about social development, social reform, and the unity of Hindus, people of a particular community are refusing to let their children eat food cooked by a Dalit woman who is a helper-cum-cook in an anganwadi centre in Odisha. That anganwadi centre has been boycotted for the last three months.'' The LoP said the anganwadi centre is the foundation of children's physical and cognitive development. ''But if there is such racial discrimination, it will naturally affect children's growth,'' he said, adding that such incidents directly affect the right to education provided under Article 21A of the Constitution. Kharge said workplace caste discrimination is being reported from different parts of the country. ''Had investigations been done timely, future incidents would have been averted,'' he said. Citing instances from other states, Kharge recalled an incident in Madhya Pradesh a few years ago wherein a person had urinated on an Adivasi person. Last year in Gujarat, he said, a government Dalit officer committed suicide due to caste discrimination. ''These incidents show that caste discrimination is not confined to social and political life but is prevalent at workplaces also. This affects the dignity, career progress and personal safety (of people),'' he said. Kharge said such caste discrimination against any officer is a violation of Articles 14, 15 and 17 of the Constitution. He urged the government to take the matter seriously and investigate such incidents in a timely manner.