THE AGE OLD TRADITION PUT TO AN END

THE AGE OLD TRADITION PUT TO AN END 23/11/2011

ODISHA UPDATE:-


It is a matter of days before the state government formally declares at least 17 persons freed from 'hereditary bonded labor', a social justice possibly never done before in the country. The Puri district administration is currently preparing 'certificates' to be handed over to these men of caste from Bramhagiri area, who were bound by the age-old practice of what is locally called 'Bartan'.


The age old practice was a disgraceful practice where the men belonging to Barber caste have to wash the feet of guests during social gatherings and functions in villages. The district administration in Puri said that it was a learning process because they hadn’t handled such cases earlier.


According to the legal point of view, each Bartan victim will be given Rs 1000, along with a certificate and later on the government will provide an additional amount i.e. Rs 19,000 towards their rehabilitation. “The rehabilitation amount given to the victims is not sufficient and significant and needs to be raised”, uttered by a Human Right activist, Mr Baghambar Pattanaik.


Mr Pattanaik is actually the man behind this great cause a decade ago and he was put behind the bars for the reason best known. Actually Pattanaik battle against this draconian tradition began in 2002, when some barbers denied washing the feet of guests in a function, which lead to a uproar in the Bramhagiri area. The Barbers were physically assaulted and denied entry into their own village.


Mr Pattanaik fought for the cause at every level from District level to National Human Right Commission. In 2005 during a protest Rally, the state government arrested Mr Pattanaik in Bhubaneswar and jailed him for Three months.


Finally, the National Human Right Commission in 2008 interfered into the matter and declared “Bartan” a manifestation of bonded labor and asked the State government to take initiative. But somehow the State government delayed taking proper action. It was on January of 2011, when the National Human Right Commission visited the State and put pressure on the government to go forward. The Official notification finally came on 17th February, 2011.


Such retrograde practice in present day is not called for. It is a superfluous practice at present not viewed as dignified. There is always a silver lining in dark clouds.


SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
BUREAU CHIEF,
THESE DAYS,
ODISHA