If that was not degradation and humiliation enough, the people who serve food almost throw it to them to avoid contact. The Dalit children, in fact, are treated no better than animals.

"It is India’s shame. The higher authorities refuse to take responsibility whenever the media reports such cases. I think we are living in a failed state. Where is progress of this country? ” asked Jamuna Narang, who works for the welfare of Dalit children.

All the 20 odd Dalit children in the school came from nearby Gahal Harijan Basti, where life isn’t much better. Their parents are helpless when the children complain about the discrimination and humiliation they face in school as filing cases against upper caste people is all but impossible. If someone ever manages to lodge a complaint, the upper caste people punish all Dalits, or worse still, throw them out of the village.

“What is the government doing for Dalits and tribals? Why we are facing such discrimination? How can we make our small children understand what’s upper caste and what’s lower caste?” asked the mother of one of the children.

The school, however, denied Dalit students are discriminated against. On the other hand, the Madhya Pradesh Principal Secretary said she would take action against the school if she gets a formal complaint. The district education officer of Harda too assured to put an end to discrimination against the children.

But Narang is unimpressed. “Everybody knows the issue will remain on paper only and these innocent children will continue to suffer. When they are unable to bear all these humiliations, they are forced to leave the school,” she said.