Friday, September 24, 2010

[ZESTCaste] NGOs slam Dalit ‘bias’ in relief distribution

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100922/jsp/bihar/story_12964915.jsp

NGOs slam Dalit 'bias' in relief distribution
OUR CORRESPONDENT

Speakers at the meet. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh
Patna, Sept. 21: A five-member team of NGOs Dalit Watch, and Bachpan
Bachao Andolan visited the flood-affected areas in Gopalganj district.

Addressing a press meet in the city today, Dalit Watch said the
situation of Dalits in flood-hit areas is very grim. Even during
relief distribution, the Dalits are facing discrimination, claimed the
NGO. "Relief and rehabilitation process in the wake of flood is also
caste-based. Dalits are being neglected in the region. Their
population has been affected the most compared to others," said, Sudha
Varghese, Dalit Watch convener.

"A large number of Dalits are moving out of the district due to
unavailability of food and shelters. In the name of relief camp, which
is set up in schools and panchayat bhavan, only two meals a day are
served and that too is mostly kichdi. The food is not enough to
survive. The worst part is horrible, veterinary doctors are giving
treatment to Dalits in health camps," said Verghese.

Bachpan Bachao Andolan state convenor Mukhtarul Haque said: "State
government's preparation to face flood situation was not adequate.
There was no proper planning. Situation of children is unbearable.
Pregnant women are not getting proper treatment. A child was born in
Rupanchap relief camp without any medical assistance. This is height
of negligence and ignorance towards Dalits community."


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[ZESTCaste] Nepal: Landlord forces Dalit girl to leave home

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/rssReference.php?headline=Landlord+forces+Dalit+girl+to+leave+home&NewsID=258332

Landlord forces Dalit girl to leave home

Added At: 2010-09-19 1:34 PM
Last Updated At: 2010-09-19 1:34 PM
The Himalayan Times - Saved Articles(s)

THT Online

HETAUNDA: A rights watchdog has raised concern over the caste-based
discrimination that led to the eviction of a Dalit girl from her
rented house here in Makawanpur district.

Manav Adhikar Tatha Jateeya Bhedbhav Sarokar Kendra, Makawanpur said
that Deuti Pariyar of Sarikhet VDC in the district was misbehaved by
her landlords at Buddhapath in Hetaunda and forced to leave the house
after learning her identity on Thursday midnight.

Along with her friends she was staying at Shyam Bartaula's house oas a
tenant to pursue further studies.

Kendra's chairman Kamal Kumar Bishwokarma condemned the act and
demanded action against the perpetrator.

The Kendra is preparing to file a complaint against Bartaula today.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit becomes ‘scapegoat' in feud over land

http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/23/stories/2010092359950300.htm

Karnataka

Dalit becomes 'scapegoat' in feud over land

Sudipto Mondal

'He was attacked to send a message to rival faction'

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Koragappa wants nothing to do with either of the warring families

Dalit leaders want case be filed against his employer
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

GUTHIGAR (SULLIA TALUK): A 21-year-old feud in Guthigar, 120 km from
Mangalore, between two dominant 'caste' Hindu families over a piece of
government land has resulted in an attack on an unsuspecting victim –
a 40-year-old Dalit landless labourer, according to police sources.

Used as a pawn to gain the upper hand by one family, he was attacked
by a gang supported by the rival family on September 14, they said.

Koragappa, the victim, sustained injuries in his lower abdomen area
and backbone. He was discharged from hospital on Monday and wants
nothing to do with either of the warring families.

Long-standing dispute

The families of Devidas Gowda and Mundappa Gowda have been having
clashes since 1989 over a 3.5-acre plot belonging to the Government,
said Guthigar Gram Panchayat president Parasaurama Chilthadka.

"Both Devidas Gowda and Mundappa Gowda are now dead and the feud is
being continued by their sons Kiran Buddlegutthu (29) and K. Ananda
Gowda (40)," he said.

Unable to make headway, Mr. Buddlegutthu, the eldest son of Devidas
Gowda, forced Mr. Koragappa, an employee of 25 years, to put up a tent
on the disputed land, police sources said.

Mr. Koragappa told The Hindu that he had been requesting his employer
for some land to build a house for several years. "Recently, he
ordered me to build a tent on the disputed site," he said.

"Supporters of Ananda Gowda's family tore down the tent and attacked
Mr. Koragappa to send a message to their rivals," said Sarwaswati, a
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader.

A case has been registered under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocity)
Act. However, Dalit leaders are demanding that a case be filed against
the victim's employer as well.

During a visit to the disputed land recently, persons with influence
in the village, including an elected representative, tried to prevent
this correspondent from entering the land.

The elected representative, himself a Dalit, said over the phone, "We
will not tolerate any interference (from the media) in this matter…."
He later requested anonymity.

"This case is just a pointer. There are several such ongoing feuds
between landowners who belong to dominant castes where Dalits are
being used as foot-soldiers to settle scores," said Superintendent of
Police A.S Rao.

Unable to continue with his former employer, Mr. Koragappa, is now
trying to secure a piece of government land to build a house.

Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj said that a team of revenue officials
would investigate the merits of Mr. Koragappa's petition for land.


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[ZESTCaste] Bench seeks status report in Dalit assault case

http://www.hindu.com/2010/09/23/stories/2010092362890600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Bench seeks status report in Dalit assault case

Staff Reporter

VCK cadre had allegedly attacked a lawyer's companion

MADURAI: The Madras High Court Bench here has directed the Y.
Othakadai police here to file a status report on the investigation
conducted following a complaint lodged by a Dalit activist against
some members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) for allegedly
assaulting him outside the court premises on September 1.

Justice G. Rajasuria gave the direction pursuant to a petition filed
by P. Rathinam (63), an advocate and social activist, who was
reportedly present along with the victim at the time of the alleged
assault.

The judge sought for the report by September 24 and adjourned the
matter thereafter.

The petitioner said that he and V. Murugan, a member of the Puthirai
Vannar Welfare Board, wanted to write graffiti on the walls of a bus
stop near the main gates of the High Court Bench relating to the
acquittal of 22 caste Hindus in the murder case of two Dalits in
Chennagarampatti near here in 1992.

Hence, on the day of the incident, they were whitewashing the walls
which already contained portraits of VCK leader Thol. Thirumavalavan.

Irked, a group of VCK men assaulted Murugan and lodged a complaint
with the police alleging that the advocate abused them by referring to
their caste names.

Stating that he and his friends have been working for years for the
welfare of Dalits, Mr. Rathinam said: "Our activities are strictly
within the framework of the law and we are fully aware that there is a
vast scope for uplifting the economic and social status of the members
of the weaker section in a legitimate manner and hence there is no
necessity for violating laws for achieving social justice for the
oppressed."

The VCK cadre complaint was totally false. "This is how people like
Nallathambi (complainant) are indulging in invoking the provisions of
Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act,
1989 only to threaten the innocents and to get gain out of it," he
said and sought for a direction to the police to register a case on
the basis of the complaint lodged by Mr. Murugan.


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[ZESTCaste] `Give status equal to Raj Ghat'

 

http://www.centralchronicle.com/viewnews.asp?articleID=48039

`Give status equal to Raj Ghat'

Category » Nation Posted On Thursday, September 23, 2010
United News of India
New Delhi, Sept 23:
Dr Ambedkar Parinirvan Bhoomi Samman Karyakram Samiti has demanded the
status equivalent to Raj Ghat for Dalit leader late Bhimrao Ambedkar's
memorial at Delhi opposite Vidhan Sabha.
Alleging negligence of Dr Ambedkar's memorial, the Samiti has decided
to hold the biggest Dalit congregation and rally on his death
anniversary on December 6.
Besides, demonstrations will also be carried by the Samiti from
October 1 to November 30 in state capitals and district headquarters.
Demanding the status for Ambedkar's parninirvan bhoomi at par with Raj
Ghat, Indresh Gajbhiye, National President, Dr Ambedkar Parinirvan
Bhoomi Samman Karyakram Samiti, said Baba Saheb's memorial is lying in
a very bad shape for the last seven years even though it is under the
Central government's control.
The other leaders of the Samiti alleged that 'samadhis' and memorials
of other national leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv
Gandhi among others are very well maintained and have been developed
as tourist spots but great discrimination is being shown to Dr
Ambedkar's Parinirvan bhoomi.
National advisor of the Samiti Udit Raj said there is an anguish among
Dalits due to the Centre's step-motherly treatment to Babasaheb's
memorial place.
He said last year on Dr Ambedkar's death anniversary, a huge meeting
was organised at his parinirvan bhoomi and a memorandum was also
submitted to Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik, but it's
unfortunate that no step has been taken in this regard.
He charged that it appears as if the government wants to wipe off the
memories of the great leader, Buddhist activist, philosopher and most
importantly architect of the Indian Constitution.

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[ZESTCaste] Obama should pay homage to Ambedkar

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/99086/obama-should-pay-homage-ambedkar.html

Obama should pay homage to Ambedkar
By Kancha Ilaiah and Joseph D'Souza

We need to learn a few things from the US. There are also things that
Americans should learn from us.


When President Barack Obama visits India in November, he is sure to
visit Raj Ghat to pay homage to Mahatma Gandhi whom he often cites as
his inspiration. But the Bahujan communities and minorities would be
happy if he also pays homage to Dr B R Ambedkar. This will make his
visit a historic event. As such, they are looking forward to Obama's
visit as he symbolises the hope of freedom for oppressed people across
the world.

As Obama emerged out of the historic struggles of the blacks in the
US, his visit could also inspire the movement for the abolition of
caste, the Indian variety of slavery.

Ambedkar is the best historical link between the Indian oppressed
communities and also the blacks of America.

As mentioned above, Obama refers to Mahatma Gandhi more than any other
US president. But one is not aware whether he knows much about
Ambedkar who is generally compared with Martin Luther King Jr, to
whose civil rights movement Obama owes his political birth and growth.
This nation considers Ambedkar not only as the father of the
constitution but also as the liberator of all oppressed people. Though
the ruling classes do see the similarities between Dalit-Bahujan
struggles and the black struggles the masses can make out that
historical linkages.

Multi-cultural tradition

There are other facets too. The religious minorities also look up to
Ambedkar as as he was a Buddhist. Obama, while being a Christian,
shares the blood of a Muslim father. If he pays homage to a Buddhist
Ambedkar, apart from Mahatma Gandhi, he will be respecting the
multi-cultural tradition of India. This will also attract global
attention to Ambedkar's life and thought.

Ambedkar, who took out a civil rights struggle for abolishing caste
and untouchability, made the new India possible. Imagine an India that
has no dalit/adivasi or minority participation in the administrative,
bureaucratic and knowledge structures. Imagine no dalit participation
in the higher echelons of the nation in this century. They constitute
16.5 per cent of our population and Obama, as a first black president
to visit India, should ideally take note of this.

Let us not forget the fact that Obama's educational emergence could be
traced back to the affirmative action that blacks were given in the
context of the civil rights movement of America. Likewise, thanks to
the reservation system that Ambedkar worked to put in place, dalits
are now visible in every sphere of life. Jagajjivan Ram could become a
deputy prime minister and K R Narayanan the President of India.

Obviously, there are things that we need to learn from the US and
there are things that Americans should learn from us. As we know about
Abraham Lincoln and Martin King, Americans should also know about both
Gandhi and Ambedkar. Obama has done a lot to popularise Gandhi, and he
could also do the same for Ambedkar if he visits Nagapur
Deekshabhoomi or other sites linked to Ambedkar.

The Deekshabhoomi does not represent just Ambedkar's idea of India but
also the secular Buddhist tradition of the nation. It is a known fact
that Rajghat does not merely represent Mahatma Gandhi alone but the
whole range of secular Hindu tradition that he stood for.

India as a nation must also own the Buddhist cultural tradition as
Buddha was born, grew up and built his spiritual and social Sangha
system here. No other icon than Ambedkar can represent that cultural
heritage in the modern period.

Will our ruling class ensure that Obama at least lays a garland on the
statue of Ambedkar in parliament premises? Such a deviation from
protocol will respond to the changing needs of the nation and will be
positive and desirable.

Obama was keen to learn about the plight of the untouchables during
his student years. And interestingly, both he and Ambedkar were
educated at Columbia University. It could also turn out to be an
occasion for the country to come to terms with the caste and
untouchability problem in the international arena. The stance of
denial taken by the Indian government in the United Nations had done
some damage.

But things are changing. Manmohan Singh is our first prime minister to
admit the caste problem and Rahul Gandhi, took the British foreign
minister to a dalit village in 2009 and Bill Gates to a Musahar dalit
village in Bihar. Rahul Gandhi's recent statement that casteism is
worse than racism shows that old attitudes are changing.

Let this government take one more step in the right direction by
taking Obama to Deekshabhoomi. Let America know that India, too, is a
mature nation grappling with its strengths and weaknesses.


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