Jauhar Prasad had lost his house to floods in 2003 and now even his tent has been torn by the constant rains. Since he happens to be a Dalit, villagers from the upper castes are preventing him from getting any relief.

Even after Mayawati came to power last year, life for the Dalits of Maamna village near Raath town of Hamirpur district has remained the same.

They are still not allowed to walk with their heads held high, take water from the handpump when the upper castes are around or have pucca houses. In case their houses are broken down due to any reason, they are not even allowed to construct new ones.

Prasad, who is a former village pradhan, said: “My hut was washed away by the floods, but the Yadavs are not letting me construct a new hut.”

“Whenever I tried to apply for relief through the gram pradhan for constructing a new hut, I was told to forget it,” he said.

Village pradhan of Maamna Sukhpal Yadav, however, denied Prasad’s charges. “We already have lots of applications waiting for relief. I have not stopped anyone from submitting any application.”

When asked about Prasad’s application, he said, “I’ll look for it and see what can be done.”

District Magistrate of Hamirpur Sameer Verma said he would get the matter checked.

“Let him send the application form to the district administration’s relief office. We will ensure all help to him,” he said.

Although this village has around 250 families of Dalits and barely 50 Brahmins and some 40-odd Yadav families, it is the Yadavs who rule the roost.