•You have three children?

Yes

•Do they go to school?

Yes, one of them does. They also beat up our children in the school.

•Who beats them?

Gujjars

•So do they beat only Dalit children?

Yes

•Do teachers come regularly?

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't

•Do they get food in school?

Yes, sometimes they get rice or chapatis. But it is not good food

•Haven't you complained?

We did once and our men were then beaten up. After which they left the village. Once the children were served rotten food and when the mother went to complain, the village head beat her up badly. After which she also ran away from here.

•Do you all study?

We used to. Now we don't.

•Why?

We were not allowed to study by villagers. They threatened to beat us if we went to school.

•Who were these people?

The village head

•But you wanted to study further?

Yes.

•So what did they say?

They said why do you need to study.

There are a lot of criminals in and around the school so its no longer safe for girls to go there.

•Were you told that people from your caste cannot attend school?

Yes

•But have things changed since Mayawati came to power?

Yes it has changed a bit for the better

... contd.