NB Explains | California State Senate passes caste discrimination bill, Know about what bill says

Taking a historic move against caste discrimination, the California State Senate on Thursday passed a legislation that would ban caste-based discrimination in the State. The bill – SB 403, would make California the first US state to add caste as a protected category in its anti-discrimination laws.

 

 

SB 403, sponsored by Senator Aisha Wahab, passed through the Senate with a vote of 34-1. This landmark bill comes just weeks after the California Senate Judiciary Committee unanimously passed SB403 in April.

 

Introduced by California Senator Aisha Wahab, SB 403 adds caste as a protected category to an existing law, the Unruh Civil Rights Act, which provides that all people in the state of California are entitled to the full and equal accommodations, advantages, facilities, privileges, or services in all business establishments.

 

 

 

SB 403 provides explicit protections to those who have been systemically harmed due to caste bias and prejudice. It also provides firm legal consequences for those seeking to avoid responsibility or ramifications for permitting or participating in caste discrimination and caste-based violence.

 

This is a historic moment for the Dalit community, which has been fighting against caste-based discrimination for generations.The bill will provide much-needed protection to Dalits and others who face discrimination based on their caste.

 

Also Read| Seattle becomes first U.S. city to outlaw caste discrimination 

 

It also follows the Seattle City Council’s historic legislation banning caste discrimination earlier this year, as well as resolutions to designate caste as a protected category passed by the California Democratic Party, the California State University system, the Alphabet Workers Union, tech giants like Apple and Cisco, and others.

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