Caste Discrimination: Doctor Claims Rental Homes Denied Due to Caste in Vizag City

Interestingly, the doctor noted that the number of rejections based on caste has increased compared to four years ago, when he last searched for a house. This experience highlights the persistence of caste-based discrimination, even in big cities.

Geetha Sunil Pillai

Visakhapatnam- Despite widespread belief that caste discrimination is fading, especially in urban areas, a recent Reddit post by a doctor has highlighted the reality that even well-educated professionals continue to face caste-based prejudice.

In his post, the doctor recounted his frustrating experience while searching for a rental house near Aarilova Health City. He shared that while approaching potential landlords, many immediately asked about his caste during the first meeting. “When I mentioned SC, they said they won’t give [the house]. That’s OK. I’m used to this, and I’m glad they denied me right away. No time wasted,” he said, expressing how normalized this form of rejection has become for him.

One incident particularly stood out when, after two days of discussion and a verbal agreement, the landlord asked for his Aadhar card to formalize the agreement. Upon seeing the doctor’s surname, the landlord inquired about his caste and then refused to rent the house. “He too denied [me] as expected, but at the last moment… Waste of time and money,” the doctor lamented, explaining how they had already ordered furniture and a wooden Pooja place for the new house, all of which had to be canceled.

The doctor also noted that caste-based rejection has increased compared to his experience four years ago when he last searched for a rental property. “Interestingly, the number of people rejecting because of my caste has relatively increased,” he added, highlighting the ongoing challenges lower-caste individuals face, even in urban areas.

The doctor concluded his post by clarifying that not all landlords rejected him based on caste. Some properties were simply out of his budget. “I searched for houses from Maddilapalem to Yendada, Visalakshi Nagar too… 99% of the available houses are out of my budget,” he explained, adding that his budget is ?10,000 for a 2BHK and ?15,000 for a 3BHK.

Still, the issue of caste rejection remained a significant hurdle. The doctor sought advice on affordable housing options in Vizag, close to Arilova Health City, and questioned whether he should “mention [his] wife’s caste and hide [his] own” to secure a home. However, he voiced concern about the potential repercussions if the landlords later discovered the truth: “Will that cause any future problems if they ever find out that an SC guy lived in their house without them permitting?”

Courtesy : The Mooknayak

Note: This news is originally published in themooknayak.com and was used solely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes exclusively for Human Rights