Cops reach out to Dafer community in Vijapur

AHMEDABAD: In a move to rehabilitate and remove the stigma attached to them, top police officials on Wednesday visited Vijapur to meet members of Dafer community. Dafers along with other de-notified tribes have been leading a nomadic life facing problems of permanent housing, education and employment.
Director general of police (DGP) P C Thakur has formed a committee to ensure that these tribes, often labeled as criminals, lead a respectable life.The effort is being made under Suraksha Setu initiative.
"Inspector general of Police (IGP) of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes Cell Vinod Mall has been appointed the nodal officer and entrusted the responsibility to communicate with the members of such communities," Thakur said.
A team led by deputy inspector general (DIG) K G Bhati went to Vijapur and met the members of Dafer community. Community members pointed that in absence of permanent housing, their children are deprived of education and cannot get good jobs.
They sought that the police change their attitude towards Dafer youths. "We urge the police not to implicate our youths," a community member said.
Mall said 10 districts have been identified where de-notified communities have a sizeable population, including Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Porbander and Junagadh.
"Such communities are less involved in crime these days. Dafer youths work as security men in many companies. The main issues are housing and education. We are chalking out a plan to address these issues," Mall said.
Mittal Patel, co-ordinator of Vicharta Vimukta Samuday Samarthan Manch (VVSSM), a non-governmental organization working for nomadic and de-notified tribes, said, "Society in general and police in particular see Dafer community as criminals and have alienated them further from joining the mainstream society. We welcome that police have initiated action in this regard.'' There are around 20,000 Dafer community members in the state.
"Villagers do not want Dafers in their village. We have requested government to provide housing facility for Dafers in towns and cities where community discrimination is less and they would join some jobs,'' she added.
The police will meet members of other communities and with their help start a welfare activity for the Dafer community. "In Vijapur we have made efforts to get land from the state government to provide Dafer community a decent housing," Mall added.