Awareness regarding practices of caste councils is necessary, says Avinash Patil executive president MANS

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), a voluntary organisation working for social upliftment of people through the exposition of false teachings and practices prevalent in society

Avinash Patil , a civil engineer by profession is the executive president of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), a voluntary organisation working for social upliftment of people through the exposition of false teachings and practices prevalent in society.

Avinash Patil executive president MANS (HT PHOTO)

MANS has 310 branches in rural and urban Maharashtra, Belgaum in Karnataka and in Goa.

Patil, who hails from Dhule in north Maharashtra, has been leading MANS in their fight against social evils, superstitions and communalism. In an interview with Nadeem Inamdar, Patil talks about the extra-judicial caste councils in existence today.

What are the problems being faced by victims of these caste councils ?

Caste councils have been flourishing like parallel judicial systems in contravention with the law of the land. It has been our experience that the Maharashtra Prohibition of Social Boycott Act (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal ), 2016 , is not being implemented in the true letter and spirit by the bureaucracy and the police. Rigorous and intensive training of the bureaucracy, police and government officials is needed to give social justice to the victims. It has come to our notice that the implementation of the act has been very poor in the state. The caste councils also known as Jat Panchayats continue to rule and operate as extra-judicial bodies which govern tribes or communities. Victims of these councils, do not get justice due to fear of social ostracism and lack of knowledge of laws and legal remedies to combat the caste excesses.

What is the challenge that activists like you face?

The bureaucracy is insensitive to this crucial issue and political interference has resulted in delayed justice. Justice delayed, is as good as justice denied. Our organisation has stopped operations of 15-17 caste councils during the past years, due to emancipatory and enlightenment oriented work towards creating a just society. However, with the corporation of the bureaucracy, the fight will be a step closer to won. Ours is a caste-based society riddled with various social ills like caste councils. We have a system which ensures that the victim is criminalised, prosecuted and convicted. We want to put an end to this evil practice of caste councils nd restore human rights of their victims.

What are the steps you suggest need to be taken to put an end to caste councils?

Creating mass awareness regarding the inhuman practices of the caste councils, is the need of the hour. Besides, sensitisation of the bureaucracy, police department and other relevant departments of the government, is highly necessary. The law has to be set in motion, and action has to be taken against practitioners of the caste councils, to restore the faith of the victims in the government machinery in order to get justice.