Scheduled Caste Hindus Excluded from District Committees under Upper-Caste Monopoly
Sukkur, Sindh
Elected representatives of the Meghwar Panchayats from Sukkur, Ghotki, and Khairpur—Mukhi Dadan Arshi, Mukhi Daryano Mal, District Councilor Ameet Kumar, and Mukhi Heera Nand—have expressed their disagreement with the notification of District Committees established to address the issues of the Hindu community of Sindh.
The formation of district committees to address the issues of the Hindu community in Sukkur, Khairpur, and Ghotki has been fundamentally flawed due to the undue influence of Mukhi Eshwar Lal, an upper-caste Hindu leader. Instead of ensuring fair representation for all Hindu sub-communities, the authorities have allowed him to monopolize the process, sidelining Scheduled Caste Hindus, including Meghwar, Bheel, Bagri, Harijan, Valmiki, and others. This exclusion is a grave injustice, as these communities constitute the majority of Sindh’s Hindu population, yet their voices have been deliberately ignored.
Despite the directives from the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police to form inclusive committees at the district level, Eshwar Lal has manipulated the process to benefit his own caste, depriving lower-caste Hindus of their rightful participation in decision-making. The systematic disregard for elected Meghwar Panchayats and the exclusion of key community representatives have further deepened this discrimination. While minority rights committees exist within SSP offices, their effectiveness is undermined by the fact that they serve the interests of a privileged few rather than addressing the real concerns of the broader Hindu community.
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The state’s ongoing favoritism toward upper-caste Hindus, despite the overwhelming majority of Scheduled Castes, reflects a deep-rooted bias that perpetuates inequality. As a result, issues such as illegal land grabs, forced conversions, and legal challenges surrounding marriage and inheritance remain unresolved for lower-caste Hindus. Token representation and social media activism cannot substitute meaningful engagement. It is imperative that the government revisits its approach, ensures the rightful inclusion of Scheduled Caste Hindus in these district committees, and rectifies this long-standing injustice. Only through equitable representation can the Hindu community as a whole address its challenges and secure its rightful place in society.
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