dehradun in a firstofitskind move uttarakhands state commission for scheduled castes scsc has asked all 13 district administrations to compile a list of temples and other religious places where dalits are still not allowedthis comes a week after a 22yearold dalit man was allegedly attacked with burning logs at a temple in uttarkashis mori area when he tried to enter it on january 9 on january 11 the mans father lodged a police complaint against five uppercaste men who were arrested subsequentlyscsc chairman mukesh kumar told toi we dont have a list yet but decided to get one after the shocking uttarkashi incident based on the list the local administration will first try to reason with those discriminating against dalits if they dont relent theyll be booked under relevant laws as of now the commission takes cognisance after getting to know about such incidents through news reports and social media posts he added that the dms and sps of the districts have been directed to take strictest possible action against the accused in such illegal actsif the prohibition applies to all devotees due to certain traditions at a temple that is acceptable but if it applies only to dalits or lowercaste devotees that is absolutely unacceptable and we will take action to stop it kumar said another scsc official told toi so far we have identified at least three districts where caste discrimination is rampant uttarkashi almora and champawat this exercise will help us gauge the extent of the problemwhile some members of the dalit community welcomed the decision others werent convinced if it would be effectivea resident of uttarkashi who didnt want to be identified and introduced himself only by his last name nautiyal said a list of areas where caste discrimination is practiced should help however it must be followed by action to stop such behaviour another resident added i dont think the move will make a difference discrimination has existed for ages it has become a part of society stopping dalits from entering temples is a common practice in uttarakhand especially in rural and hilly areas its usually justified as an ageold tradition thats best left aloneamong the recent incidents of castebased discrimination a 45yearold dalit man was beaten to death for eating with uppercaste guests at a wedding in champawat in september last year in the same month that year a local dalit political leader in almoras salt area was found dead within two weeks of marrying an uppercaste woman allegedly killed by his inlaws a dalit groom was asked to get off his horse during a procession if he didnt want to be burnt alive along with other members of the procession in almora last year for over a year uppercaste students have refused to touch midday meals cooked by a dalit bhojanmata cook at a champawat school