Begusarai: It has been more than one hundred and fifty years since the Indian rebellion of 1857, but its wounds are still alive in Cheriya Bariyarpur of Begusarai district of Bihar. It is not us but the population of thousands who are asking, what is our caste, tell the government? Their voice was neither shown in the local media nor did any politician do politics for them. These people used their voting rights many times to elect the government but no one was elected to solve their problems. Today in the ground report of Local 18, the story is about Cheriya Bariyarpur block, about 30 km from Begusarai district headquarters.
Population of 5,000 resides
People of this community told that our population is more than 5 thousand. At that time i.e. in 1857, many families who had fled from different states of the country had settled in this area. Times changed, generations changed, but what did not change was only their identity. Even today this minor community with a population of about 5,000 is asking the same question to the government. What is our caste?
Living here since 1857, but caste is not formed
In the ground report of Local 18, Prakash Kumar Gaun, resident of Cheriya Bariyarpur, says, our ancestors had come here during the rebellion of 1857. We have been living here since that day. But till date our caste certificate has not been made from the block. In school, college, everywhere you are asked what is your caste? If the government doesn’t tell, then what should we say? Prakash further says, we have done our education also, but nowadays children do not get admission even in the first class, caste has to be filled in the form, and we do not have that.
Government, tell me what is our caste?
Kanchan Devi’s pain also came to light in the ground report. She says, we vote, we vote in every election. But caste is not formed. Benefits of schemes are not available in block police station. Everywhere people ask about caste. In which category should we come? Gudiya Kumari told that we have completed 9th standard. Now for further studies it is asked, tell me your caste? We are not able to fill any further forms. We do not even know what our caste is. Even in school you are asked what is your caste? What to answer?
Didn’t even get admission in 10th
The story of Bandana Kumari is more difficult. She says, “I have passed 9th. But I did not get admission in 10th… I could not fill the form because I did not know the caste. Have we left studies?”
Are we born only to vote?
Neelu Kumari of this community says, our population is not only here but also in many nearby parts. We are people of secondary community. But the government does not give us any identity. Many women say – Are we born just to vote?
On the question of Local 18, the MLA said – the question will also be raised in the Assembly.
When Local 18 spoke to local MLA Abhishek Anand on this issue, he said, we also got this information through you. I myself will talk about this matter so that the caste certificate of these people is made soon. If necessary, the question will be raised in the Assembly also. This ground report of Local 18 is not just a report but a campaign to give these people a caste identity. Government should tell… what is our caste?
