Untouchability is a blot on humanity: PM

Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh has urged the people to stop social discrimination based on casteism, drawing attention to the unique problems faced by Dalits.

Inaugurating the Dalit–Minority International Conference in New Delhi on December 27, 2006, Dr. Singh said, "Dalits have faced a unique discrimination in our society that is fundamentally different from the problems of minority groups in general. Untouchability is not just social discrimination. It is a blot on humanity," Manmohan Singh said.

The Prime Minister pointed out that even after 60 years of Constitutional and legal protection and State support, Dalits still continued to face social discrimination.

Urging the people to unite in ending social stigmatisation, Dr. Singh said that the government machinery would take all necessary steps to help in the social, educational and economic empowerment of Dalits.

"Our Government has taken several steps in the past two years to empower the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes both through affirmative action and by reinforcing our Constitutional commitment to reservation and empowerment through education. The principle that explicit measures should be taken to protect the interests of minorities is an idea embedded in our political discourse and in our Constitutional provisions,” the Prime Minister said.