NDTV
Lucknow, Jun 1: The caste conflict in India doesn't quite end in the education sector there is also a mad scramble for jobs as upper caste Brahmins go for sweeper jobs.
Brahmins known as the dominant class in Hindu society for centuries together is today ironically seeking jobs as sweepers at the Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
And this has certainly invited the wrath of low-caste candidates who applied for these jobs as they allege that the Brahmins are incapable of working as sweepers.
Lower caste workers are angry that Brahmins were stealing their jobs.
"Brahmins get enrolled but they never do the menial jobs. They cannot do it. We are protesting against the Corporation, as it will mar our employment opportunities, which has been our job for ages. What will we do if they take away our jobs?" asked Shyam Lal Valmiki, President, Sweepers' Association.
No other choice
But the Brahmins who've applied say they had no other choice.
The corporation received over 6,000 applications for sweeper posts, of which 1,607 applications were from Brahmins.
"We need jobs. There is so much unemployment in the country that people want jobs irrespective of the fact whether they should or should not do as per the caste system," said Rajendra Shukla, an upper caste candidate.
The Commissioner of Lucknow Municipal Corporation said there were cases where Brahmins were applying for jobs in the reserved category too.
"Even in the reserved category there are certain norms which have to be followed. We have come to know that there are Brahmins who have applied for the post. We will look into the matter," said V P Singh, Commissioner, Lucknow Municipal Corporation.
Although no job is reserved for any category of the society, some of the lower level jobs in state-run organisations are kept for socially underprivileged.
Although caste discrimination is banned in India, the ancient Hindu social system remains a cause of tension and even violence in rural areas.
Hindu scriptures separate people into four broad categories - Brahmin, warriors, traders and labourers, while rest fall outside the framework of caste system.
Dalits sit at the bottom of the 3,000-year-old caste system.