Role of Women in Nation Development (Book of Conference Proceedings of NIT Jamshedpur 2020) ISBN- 978-81-948050-4-5

Authors: Priyanka Kumari, Maninder Kapoor

Abstract: The Chinese virus has triggered a social, economic and health crisis of global dimensions. This paper talks of how the novel covid-19 has affected Dalit women in India. Everybody is equally at risk as the pandemic does not discriminate on the basis of caste, religion and gender even if society does. Discrimination and atrocities against women have increased, and unsurprisingly Dalit and Adivasi women are the worst sufferers. The practice of untouchability has revived. Instead of physical distancing people have started following social distancing with people of marginalized groups. The necessary implementation of lockdown to combat the disease has led to rise in caste and gender violence. According to the data collected by the National Dalit Movement for Justice, the practice of untouchability seems to have escalated. Episodes of domestic violence, sexual assault, hunger deaths, murder, trafficking, death in shramik special trains, students dropping out, unavailability of PPE kits and, witch branding are making the life of Dalit women difficult. The National Dalit Movement for Justice has manifested its solidarity with ‘Black lives Matter.’ Considering the violence in the present time, it is the need of the hour to insist that ‘Dalit women’s lives matter.’ Dalit women are even a more vulnerable group at this moment. They need to be identified, and proper measures must be taken to protect their human rights.

Keywords: Atrocities; Dalit; human rights; pandemic