EU-India Strategic Partnership: A Call for Action Against Caste Discrimination

08-03-2024

Shahad Ghannam

East Asia Human Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence

In a significant step towards addressing human rights concerns within the EU-India strategic partnership, the European Parliament, on 17 January 2024, adopted a comprehensive report outlining a detailed strategy to combat caste-based discrimination in India. The report, authored by MEP Alviina Alametsa, the standing rapporteur on India, is a follow-up to previous efforts and aims to embed human rights considerations, particularly those related to caste and Adivasi communities, within the broader framework of EU-India relations.

Caste-based discrimination in India is a deeply entrenched societal issue, with roots extending back over 2000 years. Historically, the caste system, or Hindu varna vyavastha, categorised society into four main varnas (classes) based on perceived inherent qualities and occupations (karma) and duties (dharma), leading to a rigid hierarchical structure. This evolved into a more complex caste system (Jati) where certain groups, particularly the Dalits (historically known as “untouchables”) and tribal communities (the Adivasis), faced systemic discrimination. Dalits were assigned occupations considered “impure” and “polluting” by the higher castes, such as fishermen and sweepers, a designation that enforced their social and spatial exclusion. On the other hand, Adivasis faced marginalisation largely due to their distinct ethnic and cultural identities, exacerbated by economic exploitation and displacement from their resource-rich lands.

Despite the prohibition of caste discrimination by the Indian Constitution in 1950, these practices persist in various forms, impacting millions of people's access to education, employment, and social mobility. Educational barriers manifest through discrimination and segregation in schools, leading to higher dropout rates among these “lower-caste” communities. In the employment sector, despite affirmative action policies, systemic bias results in their underrepresentation in formal jobs and overrepresentation in informal, low-paying jobs. Social mobility is further constrained by persisting social segregation and economic disparities, as highlighted by the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies and the International Labour Organization. Other legal instruments including the Protection of Civil Rights Act and the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, aim to combat these injustices, yet enforcement is uneven, and caste-based crimes are often underreported. 

The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) has repeatedly expressed concerns over the enduring caste-based segregation and violence, emphasizing its significance as a human rights issue. Reports by Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have documented widespread violence, social exclusion, and discrimination against Dalits and lower-caste individuals, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive reforms to address this inequality. The persistence of caste-based violence and discrimination not only undermines basic human rights but also impedes India's economic and social progress, making it a critical issue for international human rights advocacy and policy intervention. 

This landmark EU-India report not only underscores the systemic issue of caste discrimination in India but also provides actionable recommendations for both the EU and India to undertake. Among these, the call for the EU to adopt a country-specific strategy to fight caste-based discrimination and to mainstream caste-related perspectives into its partnership with India stands out as a critical step forward. Furthermore, it emphasizes the importance of supporting human rights defenders, ending the application of repressive laws, and releasing political prisoners.

It also proposes the establishment of an EU-India Civil Society Platform and an EU-India Youth Summit, highlighting the role of civil society and the youth in driving positive change. The report's adoption marks a pivotal moment in EU-India relations, signifying a mutual commitment to addressing social justice issues and reinforcing the need for a strategic, concerted effort to eradicate caste discrimination. 

As India continues to assert its global and regional significance, the integration of human rights and democratic values into its strategic partnership with the EU is imperative. The adoption of this report by the European Parliament reflects a shared vision for a partnership that not only advances economic and strategic interests but also champions the fundamental values of freedom, democracy, and human rights.

Sources and further readings:

[1]  European Parliament, 'EU-India relations' (European Parliament, 17 January 2024) https://www.europarl.europa.eu/doceo/document/TA-9-2024-0033_EN.html accessed 23 February 2024.

[2]  International Dalit Solidarity Network, 'EU-India report calls for an EU strategy on addressing caste discrimination' (IDSN, 2024) https://idsn.org/eu-india-report-calls-for-an-eu-strategy-on-addressing-caste-discrimination/ accessed 23 February 2024.

[3]Constitution of India 1950 (26 January 1950) <https://www.refworld.org/legal/legislation/natlegbod/1950/en/91718> accessed 13 March 2024.

[4]Human Rights Watch, 'They Say We’re Dirty': Denying Education to India’s Marginalized (22 April 2014) https://www.hrw.org/report/2014/04/22/they-say-were-dirty/denying-education-indias-marginalized accessed 13 March 2024.

[5]Ellis-Petersen, H., & Chaurasia, M. (2020, April 15). India's lower castes suffer most as coronavirus spreads. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/15/asia/india-coronavirus-lower-castes-hnk-intl/index.html accessed 13 March 2024

[6] BBC News, 'Why India's Dalit students are taking their lives' (BBC News, 24 February 2016) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-35650616 accessed 13 March 2024.

[7] Minority Rights Group International, 'Adivasis' https://minorityrights.org/communities/adivasis-2/ accessed 13 March 2024.