About Mushahars

Though there is no specific figures of the numbers of Mushahars in Uttar-Pradesh yet social activists estimate their number at around five lakhs. •The major concentration of Mushahars is in Maharajganj, Deoria, Kushinagar, Mau, Jaunpur, Chandauli, Ghazipur, Siddharthnagar and Varanasi. •The main profession of Mushahars have been collecting forest leaves and make ‘Pattals’, piggery, and catching rats. •Even among the Dalits their number do not attract political leaders to come to their bustees (habitation) and seek vote. •Over 90% of the community remain illiterate and landless. •The community remain thoroughly apolitical and therefore victim of social and political marginalisation and also humiliated and exploited. •In the thick of unemployment and landlessness, many of them have APL (Above Poverty Line) cards. The quality of food grain provided to them is pathetic.