Bureaucratic Loopholes Obstruct a Dream
Channel: VideoVolunteers
Date: 2014-05-01

Meet Kalyani Pawar, a young woman with big dreams to start a new business. Now, all that stands between her and her hope for a secure future is a legal document, a caste-certificate, that will make her eligible for a loan. Today you can help her by sharing this video and starting a discussion. Community Correspondent Alka Mate reports her story from Gardapar village in Nagpur Disctrict in Maharashtra.

The Indian Government has made available many schemes like access to education, subsidies, jobs and loans for the socio-economic benefits of Scheduled Tribes like the Pardhis, to which Kalyani belongs. To get access to these, people need to have a caste certificate. To get this caste certificate a proof of residence has to be provided stating that the individual has lived at a residence for the past 50 years. Here comes the challenge. 

Given that many from the Pardhi community have lived nomadic lives on the fringe of mainstream acceptance, getting this proof of residence is difficult. Take for instance, Kalyani's family. As far as she can remember her father was the first person to have a stayed in a single place unlike their ancestors. Kalyani, despite having successfully completed her schooling is finds herself stuck as she is looking for an opportunity to start her own business. She explains:

"Right now we have a liquor business and we have no alternative but to continue with it. We want to start a new business but can't get a loan... If we can get the loan we can improve our lives and that's why I feel we need a caste certificate." 

The issue for Kalyani's community is much wider than just getting caste-certificates and access to schemes. The issue comes with a historical baggage of discrimination of the worst kinds.

In 1871 the Colonial Government of India introduced the Criminal Tribes Act that declared around 150 tribes, which had resisted colonial rule, as illegal. The Act was repealed in 1952 but till date many communities like the Pardhi Tribe face the ramifications of the social stigma that became attached to them. Further, their essentially nomadic way of life continues to stand in the way of the community's socio-economic development. 

This next generation has the chance to start afresh, free from the stigmas of being called drunks or thieves. All they have to do is find a way to jump a bureaucratic loophole. Alka Mate is going to use this video to start the mobilisation efforts in the community, you can help by sharing this video.