On 18 December 2016, on the occasion of Vinod Mishra Memorial Day, Dalits held a Self-Dignity Convention in Bangalore. Workers engaged in sanitation work and employed in government organisations, public and private sector in Bangalore participated in the convention. A large number of these were women. They expressed protest against atrocities against Dalits in Karnataka and in India as well as the systematic oppression of Dalits which is embedded in labour practices in India.
They demanded an end to atrocities on Dalits and the practice of manual scavenging and untouchability. They demanded that the practice of getting manholes cleaned manually – a practice that demeans, endangers and claims the lives of Dalit workers all over India – be stopped. They called to ‘Throw away brooms, reject the practice of carrying carcasses.’ They spoke of their struggles for higher wages as well as free education, health and housing for all Dalits, sanitation workers and contract workers of all industries.
