Deep-rooted caste discrimination continues to plague Bundelkhand, as villagers from the Dalit Bansakar community in Hiranagar village of Tikamgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, lodged a police complaint against local barbers who refused to serve them.
For generations, barbers in the village have denied haircuts and shaves to Dalit residents, forcing them to travel 10 km to Tikamgarh town for basic grooming services. Frustrated by the ongoing discrimination, villagers decided to seek police intervention.
“This has been happening for years,” said a woman from the village. “Even during weddings and death rituals, no barber comes to serve us. We have no choice but to go to the district headquarters.”
A local barber, Saurabh Sen, admitted to the discriminatory practice, saying, “Our forefathers never served the Bansakar community, so how can we? This has been our tradition since ancient times.”
Following the complaint, SDPO Rahul Katre assured an investigation. “A police team will visit the village to speak with all concerned and resolve the issue,” he said.
Despite legal protections, caste-based discrimination remains prevalent in various parts of India. In recent years, incidents of segregation in mid-day meals, violent attacks over access to public resources, and social boycotts have been reported across states like Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Karnataka.
