The Harijan community living in sub-human conditions in the city has demanded basic civic human rights and a special quota for employment and education.
It is learnt that six Harijan Pallis (residential corners) in Barisal are home to these people socially considered “untouchables”.
The Pallis are located in Marok Khola or Dom Patty, Kawnia Janoki Sen Road, Nazir Mahalla, Chamar Patty, Katpatty and Amir Kutir – all densely populated commercial and residential areas of the city.
More than 5,000 members of 1,000 Harijan families reside in these Pallis that are locally called Dom Patty (Methor Patty) or Chamar Patty. However, they have no access to permanent housing, hygiene, sanitation, sewerage, water, electric supply and education. What’s more, the Pallis belong to the city corporation and Harijans have no ownership rights.  
The community is mainly engaged in cleaning and sweeping, trading in skin and hide, and shoe repair works in both the public and private sector. Members of the community staying in Dom Patty, Kawnia Janoki Sen Road and Amir Kutir are engaged in domestic pig rearing and business and some are even involved in illegal manufacture and sale of country liquor.
The literacy rate among Harijans is less than 20 per cent, with only two persons from the community having reached post-graduate level, six having reached graduate level and 12 HSC and SSC levels.
There is just one primary school for the community at Amir Kutir and admission of Harijan children to other schools is discouraged.
Leaders and members of the community said they are the most neglected and underprivileged section of society. They pointed out that many Harijans participated in the Liberation War of 1971 but society continues to look down upon them as “Methor”, “Muchi”, “Chamar”, “Jharudar” and so on (untouchables). Public representatives visit the colonies only when begging for votes. Community leaders informed that only 240 out of 640 city corporation posts are occupied by Harijans, that too, on a temporary, daily-wage basis. They demanded an 80 per cent quota for Harijans as sweepers in government and non-government offices.
Sources said many Harijans working in clinics and hospitals in the city have no permanent job security.
According to Secretary of Barisal Harijan Oikkya Parishad, Joyanta Kumar Das, about one-third of the community comprises men whose mortality rate is higher than that of the remaining two-third of the community which is constituted by women.
Joyanta claimed that the Barisal Sher-e-Bangla medical college hospital authority recently appointed 20 members of the Harijan community as against the fixed government quota of 52. In the bargain, the remaining 32 posts went to non-Harijans.
Community leaders said that social interaction with other communities, same status and basic civic-human rights such as permanent employment, residence, health, sanitation and education are urgently needed.
Meanwhile, Mayor of Barisal City Corporation, Ahsan Habib Kamal, said that the BCC has asked for Tk. 22 crore for improving the living standards of the Harijan community and will start work as soon as funds are allocated.