All Work is important at some time

Under the Hindu caste system, also in place in Nepal and other areas where Hinduism predominates, people who do “dirty” jobs are called untouchables or Dalits. But even among the Dalits who are the poorest caste, are the Dumes. This group picks dead animals or the street or sell fire and other objects for cremations and thus have an association with death. They are considered untouchable even among the untouchables.

They face horrendous discrimination and poverty because of the work they do. But think about it: Aren’t cleaning the streets and disposing of dead animals important jobs for the well-being of the community?  What about the respectful dispatch of human remains?

Al-Jazeera recently ran a story about a man from the Dume subcaste trying to end the discrimination, even within the Dalit caste. He runs into opposition from other Dumes because they are paid 200 rupees (about $3.75 USD) when they pick up a dead dog. They do not want to forego the income to engage in a boycott protesting their treatment. But what they get for their money is that their community shuns them. Literally, others will not touch them and they have to get higher caste people to go to the well to fill their buckets with water.

They endure the harshest forms of discrimination to make a pittance. If they did not need money, they could afford to fight the discrimination against them for doing socially necessary albeit dirty or death-related labor.

From: endmoney.infoBy: Kéllia Ramares-Watson