Bharat Bandh: Dalit, Adivasi Strike
BIG NEWS: On August 21, 2024 by Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti called a Bharat Bandh in the country That strike had been called in protest against the alleged dilution of SC/ST reservation by a Supreme Court ruling that has caused much outrage and misgiving across India.
Background and Reasons
In a landmark judgment delivered on August 1,2024, the Supreme Court made far-reaching suggestions to overhaul the reservation regime, including exempting SC/ST (excluding “creamy layer”) from reservations and allowing states to create sub-categories within SC/STs. This created fears of division among the SC/ST communities and diminishment in reservation benefits. The Reservation Bachao Sangharsh Samiti on this basis had called for Bharat Bandh seeking the annulment of the order.
Support and Participation
The bandh gathered support from a number of social and political organizations, besides leaders such as BSP chief Mayawati and Bhim Army Chief Chandrashekhar Azad. The protest was a national campaign which saw strong response from places like Rajasthan and Western UP.
Impact on Daily Life
In many parts of the country, scheduled life was paralyzed by this Bharat Bandh. Public transport was significantly affected while a large number of private offices stayed shut. Yet, ambulance services and hospitals as well as chemists remained unaffected. In places where the bandh was observed strictly, schools and government offices experienced attendance crunch while banks remained closed.
Authorities’ Response
A bandh is a strike or protest where all usually, and commonly had to be carefully enforced in sensitive regions by the authorities to maintain peace. Police were on high alert, and separate meetings with organization committee members of protest programs distributed for the day to make them peaceful without any law or order problem.
Conclusion
The Bharat Bandh of August 21,2024 brought the furore about Supreme Court ruling on SC/ST reservations to its peak It was a very important form of dissent for those on the fringes, even if it came with significant disruption. The bandh may or may not be a requirement, but it certainly magnified the voices of those who felt endangered by the court verdict. Finally, like they always do KreativanSays: Only time will tell the true impact of Bharat Bandh if it initiates a genuine conversation and re-policies in the SC/ST domain.