A Bharat Bandh is being observed on Wednesday with participation from various Adivasi-Dalit organizations in Kerala. The protest is in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding the sub-categorization of reservations for Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs), which the organizations believe seeks to create divisions within these groups by introducing a ‘creamy layer.’ Wayanad district, recently affected by natural disasters, is exempted from the bandh.
The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM), Congress, and Rashtriya Janata Dal have declared their support for the strike, with Left parties also endorsing it. The National Confederation of Dalit and Adivasi Organisations (NACDAOR) has outlined several demands, including justice and equity for SCs, STs, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs). NACDAOR argues that the recent Supreme Court decision undermines the principles established in the landmark Indira Sawhney case.
The organization is pushing for a new Act of Parliament to protect reservation rights for SCs, STs, and OBCs by including it in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, thereby shielding it from judicial challenges. Other demands include the release of caste-based data on government employees, the establishment of an Indian Judicial Service with 50% representation from marginalized communities, and the filling of all backlog vacancies in government sectors. NACDAOR also calls for affirmative action policies in private sector companies benefiting from government incentives. The organization urges peaceful participation in the bandh by Dalits, Adivasis, and OBCs.
