Wednesday, March 23, 2011

[ZESTCaste] MFIs, atrocities against dalits, adivasis and Muslims and tn assembly demands

 

What should women demand from people who stand for TN assembly elections with regard to micro finance?
Ranjani.K.Murthy (coming in tamil in penn shakti)
Is it just that middle/upper class people get loans at 13% interest rate from banks, while the poor get at 26-40% or above from Non Banking Financing Companies (if one goes by the reports of the poor who took into account the money collected initially for membership and insurance)? That too the burden of interest is borne by poor women from unorganized sector and from dalit, adivasi, Muslim communities. In fact, I repeatedly get phone calls asking me whether I want a loan at 13% interest rate, while these poor women- some of who have not had opportunities to get literacy and numeracy skills- get home visits offering huge loans for any purpose ranging from food crisis, dowry expenses, health expenses, education expenses, their husbands' production needs, their production needs, their friends needs and so on at interest rates which are not transparent to them. All they have to do is form a joint liability group of 5 to 15 people depending on the NBFC concerned. I thought the government was supposed to meet food needs of the poor through PDS system, health and education needs of the poor through universal health and education, ensure 100 days of employment in rural areas, implement self employment schemes like SGSY and is also supposed to form SHGs and federate them under the Mahalir Thittam scheme.
A deeper analysis of the injustice revealed that the government on the one hand needs to better implement the various schemes (which is not specific to Tamil Nadu, public health systems here are in fact better in Tamil Nadu than India as whole), but more shocking were two other factors: priority sector lending was going into three of the six NBFCs studied and three of the NBFCs had issued venture capital or Initial public offers or non convertible debentures. That is poor women had become a ground for investment! As a result of diversion of priority sector lending the SGSY scheme was poorly implemented in Tamil Nadu, like the rest of India. The huge scam is a failure and lack of accountability of not only the state, but also the banks, corporate houses and individuals from India and abroad who have invested in the NBFCs. It may be worth examining if investments from the west have increased in the light of financial crisis there. As some of the NBFCs began as a NGO, it is also a failure of these NGOs (cannot be generalised to all NGOs). At a broader level, there is a crisis in humanism as how can the NBFC staff have the heart to exploit poor women? One staff collected repayment money and disappeared!
The scam is not particular to Tamil Nadu, but is happening in other states as well. Other than Andhra Pradesh where the government has passed an ordinance regulating the micro finance sector recently, none of the others are yet to take action and the national bill is still pending.
What are the consequences to poor women who could not repay? Several of the women from five districts in the public hearing organized by the All India Democratic Women's Association Tamil Nadu Women's Forum, and Tamil Nadu Dalit women's Movement and on 26th February, 2011 in Vellore district reported not being able to go to work on MNREGS work sites as the profit laundering NBFCs arrived early in the morning and would not leave. Several reported selling off their thalis (to them important), mortgaging ration cards/gas cylinders, selling utensils and gold to repay. Several reported usage of obscene words "like sell your body and repay" or "ask your daughter to sell her body and repay". Several reported increase in violence against them by their husbands as the pressure to repay built up, and inability to sleep in peace. Some reported being retained in their own house the whole day till they gathered the repayment amount, and one woman out of thirty reported that her dress was ripped apart. A case of a woman who did not come for the hearing but reported being taken to the NBFC office and released after husband complained to police was also shared. Three out of thirty reported pulling their children out of school and putting them to work to repay. Two reported being non poor when taking the loan, and becoming poor after taking one. Some reported being asked to commit suicide so that the life insurance amount could cover the pending loan (provided relatives said it was natural death). A case of a woman being asked to repay loan she took for her friend's family after they absconded was also reported. The NBFCs pitted the group members against each other, as it was joint liability. The ray of hope was a Mahalir thittam group telling the NBFCs not to enter their village as they had seen through the scam.
While earlier under the government formed Mahalir Thittam there were occasions (depending on which NGO had formed the group) when poor women would unite to close arrack shops, handle cases of violence, preventing early marriage etc the NBFCs had divided the poor women through joint liability. In particular group leaders were given gold coins by the NBFCs if the ensured 100% repayment. While joint liability is also a feature of the Mahalir thittam, they have the buffer of collective savings and groups and banks accept delays in repayment during festival season or during personal calamities. While one is not glorifying Mahalir Thittam (poorest do not join if they cannot save, women in the scheme are harnessed as vote banks by dominant political parties, group leaders get more loans, deep rooted class, caste and gender hierarchies persisted), it certainly offered loans at lower interest rate to women and NGO staff and TNWDC staff under the scheme did not harass poor women like this.
What then should we ask the people who come to us seeking votes? If you have suggestions write to penn shakti. There is likely to be a state level public hearing and we could take your advise into account- it would probably be wiser than mine.
Immediate demands to people who stand for elections and from state government could include (taking leads from the jury and organizers, but all may not agree with these recommendations- and all recommendations from jury not included)
• Pass an ordinance that allows only those MFIs (NBFCs, cooperatives, societies, trusts, producer companies etc) which are willing to charge less than the rate for rich to function. A cap of 4% like the much earlier Differential rate of Interest scheme is appropriate. Automatically the NBFCs and other profit laundering MFIs will leave
• In the interim, bring NBFCs and other MFIs under the usurious lending act and disseminate information that harassment by NBFCs and other MFIs charging higher than the rates stipulated under the usurious lending act can be booked under this act.
• In the interim, disseminate information that those MFIs directly/indirectly (though other group leaders/members) harassing women using obscene words/acts can be booked under IPC 341 (Punishment for Wrongful Restraint), and sections related to words, gestures or actions intended to insult the modesty of a woman.
• Collectors and state commission for women to set up a help line for poor women
• All cases of suicides and recorded natural deaths of women in MFIs to be checked whether it is due to harassment by profit laundering MFIs
• Government to provide free legal support for poor women who are harassed
• Regulate insurance so that it is not used to cover the loan, but the women/spouse concerned.
• Collector to call for monthly meeting of all MFIs to regulate them
• Collector to call for meetings of all nationalized banks to ensure that first priority is to fulfill commitment under SGSY and Mahalir Thittam
• Government should not consider lending by banks to NbFCs, producer companies, NGOs delinked from government programs as priority sector lending
Medium term demands could include:
• Government should cover 100% poor through Mahalir Thittam/SGSY scheme (form no savings group so that the poorest can also join) or restart the individual Differential Rate of Interest (4%) scheme for poorest and ensure that between all these schemes credit needs of the poor are started
• Peg interest rate to poor at 4% which is below the rates for the rich.
• Ensure that the budget allocated to government schemes meets 100% of the credit needs are met through government schemes.
• Implement MNREGS to fullest extent with stipulated wages.
• Extend SGSY and Employment Guarantee scheme to urban areas
• Government should impart financial literacy to poor women, and basic numerical and reading literacy to women who cannot read and write
• Go beyond gender training to groups and federations to issues include issues of justice based on caste, class, religion, gender etc. Legal and human rights literacy a must
Long term demands could include:
• Land reform and land given in joint names of poor women from landless households, dalits, adivasis, Muslims etc.
• Stop privatization of agriculture, forests, in land water resources, sand, coasts etc
• Invest in agriculture growth with a focus on strengthening food and nutritional security
• Adopt labour intensive growth models
• Give common property resources to dalit/tribal/Mulsim women/women from landless households like quarries, ponds, lakes, trees, market etc
• Give labour contracts, garbage disposal contracts etc to women's groups from marginalized communities
• Strengthen public health, education, PDS, anganwadi system so that poor do not have to go to private sector for these
• Strict implementation of dowry prohibition act, and curb expenses on marriages, ear piercing ceremonies etc
• Put a ceiling on how much assets rich people can own- the rest they have to give back to society
• Do not use MT federations as vote banks but train them through partner NGos to challenge neo liberal models of growth, casteism, class hierarchies, exclusion of minorities, and tribals.
• Reform TN cooperative Act and make it mutually aided cooperative Act or have a parallel act along those line

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[ZESTCaste] Women, SC & ST in Phase-I of Assam Elections

http://isikkim.com/2011-03-women-sc-and-st-in-phase-i-of-assam-elections-220/

Women, SC & ST in Phase-I of Assam Elections

Posted on March 22, 2011 by iSikkim

Tilak Jha

How 'free and fair' are we when it comes to bringing forward those who
have been left behind in the electoral process? Here is an analysis of
the Assam assembly electoral politics with regards to three important
section of Assamese population i.e. the women, the SCs and the STs.

A total of 529 candidates are in the electoral fray in the first phase
of Assam assembly elections 2011. This includes 42 female and 487 male
candidates. While 42 might not sound very insignificant number, it is
insignificant when seen as a percentage of total candidates fighting
election. Women are almost half of the population of Assam and the 42
candidates out of 529 who are fighting the election in the first phase
is a miniscule 7.6 percent. The reality of the break up of 42 is even
more difficult to accept.

Caste wise there are 418 general, 35 SC and 76 ST candidates in the
first phase of Assam assembly election. The ticket distribution in the
first phase suggests that SC and ST candidates (Scheduled Caste) form
respectively 6.6 and 14.36 percentage of the total number of
candidates running for a seat. The percentage of SCs and STs in the
population of Assam, according to Census 2001, was 6.9 and 12.4
percent respectively.

Due to reservation of seats in case of SCs and STs, they do get a fair
representation in terms of those who will form the final house. Sadly,
reservation is the only way we have chosen to bring SC/ST forward.

Of the 126 seats in Assam assembly, a total of 28 seats (9 for SC and
19 for ST) have been reserved for the SCs and STs. And out of the 62
Assembly Constituencies of eastern and southern Assam going to polls
on April 4, 2011 in the first phase, 12 seats (3 for SC and 9 for ST)
are reserved for SC and ST candidates.

Reservation at least leaves the SC/ST represented by someone from
among their own. But without reservation women remain an ignored lot.
A deeper analysis reveals that the figure of 42 is far from fair.

BJP and the ruling Congress gave 9 tickets each to women candidates.
It amounts to almost 15 percent of the 62 seats going under vote, far
below the 33 percent reservation for women in central and state
legislatures that both these parties support. BJP has given 3 of the 9
ticket to women SC/ST candidates. Congress has distributed 2 tickets
to women SC/ST candidates.

But the disparity can be gauged from the fact that 30 out of 62
Assembly Constituencies do not have any women candidate in the fray.
Among the rest, the largest segment of women candidates are of
independents i.e. 11 of the 42.

The regional parties who raise the greatest hue and cry whenever
women's reservation bill is brought in the Parliament are worse in
terms of being fair to women folk. Asom Gana Parishad gave just three
tickets to women candidates. All the three women candidates of AGP
come from SC/ST background. But the real bottom has been hit by
Badruddin Ajmal's All India United Democratic Front which didn't find
one women candidate competent enough to be given a ticket.

Again while the Congress and the BJP have given tickets to 9 women
candidates, Congress has given 6 of the 9 tickets from constituencies
where it won last time. Congress won 36 out of the 62 assembly seats
which will vote on April 4 in 2006 assembly elections.

The percentage of SC and ST candidates might be proportionate to their
overall population of Assam but that doesn't represent social equity.
Most of the SC/ST candidates are from SC/ST seats. The number of SC/ST
candidates fighting from a general seat doesn't represent their coming
forward or blurring of caste identities as far as elections are
concerned. Out of the 50 general seats, (12 of the 62 seats going to
poll in the 1st phase are reserved), only 19 seats have any SC/ST
candidate trying their luck. 31 general seats have no SC/ST candidate,
not even as an independent. In this particular regard, independent
SC/ST candidate again lead the way by fighting from 8 general seats.
BJP gave 5 tickets to SC/ST candidates to fight election from general
seats, albeit BJP didn't win any of the five seats in 2006 assembly
election. Congress didn't give any ticket to any SC/ST candidate to
fight election from general seat.

May be, we as a nation, need much soul searching and actually start
doing something to ensure that free and fair doesn't remain a phrase
quoted in books and speeches.


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[ZESTCaste] ‘Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy'

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/20/stories/2011032060180900.htm

Other States - West Bengal

'Discrimination, atrocities against Dalits a poor reflection on democracy'

Special Correspondent

Activists call for sensitising the administration, better implementation of laws

'Demand for justice':A speaker narrating a case of atrocity against
Dalits during a public hearing in Jaipur.

JAIPUR: Nearly two dozen cases of atrocities, untouchability, violence
and discrimination against Dalits were presented at a public hearing
on Dalit rights here earlier this week with a call for sensitising the
administration, implementing the laws and breaking the nexus between
criminals and a section of public servants.

The day-long hearing was organised by Jaipur-based Centre for Dalit
Rights (CDR) at Samagra Seva Sangh grounds here to raise the demand
for justice in the crimes against Dalits in Rajasthan during the past
few months and ensure accountability of police and administration for
executing the laws for protection of Scheduled Castes.

Dalit activists and victims presenting the instances of atrocities
pointed out that the rampant anti-Dalit mind-set of so-called higher
castes "reflected in the administrative machinery" often leads to
denial of justice, as the cases are routinely weakened, local mafia is
protected, victims are threatened and the criminals get political
protection.

The jury at the public hearing comprised former Rajasthan High Court
Judge I. S. Israni, Supreme Court lawyer M. P. Raju, former State
Women's Commission chairperson Pawan Surana, Rajiv Gupta of Rajasthan
University, Sunny Sebastian of The Hindu, R. K. Ankodia of CDR and
Nisha Siddhu of the National Federation of Indian Women.

CDR patron P. L. Mimroth said the trial in the Dalits' cases was
obstructed at every stage, with the victims not getting notices on
time for hearing in courts in 58 per cent of the cases. "The FIR is
always registered with great reluctance, but the police are prompt in
[filing] final reports in the courts for closure of Dalit atrocity
cases."

Dalit activist Gopal Ram Verma said the police and administrative
officers seemed interested in somehow getting a compromise reached
between the victims and perpetrators of violence rather than taking
action against the latter: "In this scenario, the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, remains only on
paper."

Several cases

The cases presented before the jury included the recent attacks on
Dalit localities at Husaipur village in Alwar district and Chandupura
in Bharatpur, killing of a Dalit boy allegedly to please Lord Balaji
at Mehandipur, three Dalit children expelled from a school in Alwar on
their caste identity being revealed and thrashing of a Dalit man on
touching the utensils of a Brahmin shopkeeper in Gadhkheda village.

Except for the Husaipur incident, where the State Government released
financial assistance to Dalits and arrested the offenders, all other
cases were either not registered or closed with a compromise forced on
the victims. Dalit activists pointed out that action was taken in
Husaipur because of "political sensitivity" of the matter involving
Meo Muslims.

Thandi Ram of Mudiakheda village in Dausa district alleged that his
nephew Rajendra was taken to Lord Balaji's temple in Mehandipur on the
pretext of work at the inauguration of a guest-house on the premises.
He alleged that the boy was sacrificed in the temple and his mother
was later given some money to sign the papers for a compromise.

Mukesh Kumar Valmiki said he had got his three children admitted to
Balika City Public Shiksha Samiti School in Alwar through the normal
process. When the school management came to know of the children's
caste after a week, the Principal flatly told him to take them to some
other school. Despite his complaint, the district administration did
not take any action.

The jury, taken aback by the stories of blatant discrimination
narrated at the hearing, observed that atrocities against Dalits was a
"poor reflection" on democracy even after six decades of Independence.
"Needless to say, the strongest action should be taken against the
public servants for dereliction of duty," said the jury in one of its
recommendations.

Emphasising the significance of execution of laws for Dalits'
protection, the jury recommended steps to break the nexus between
criminals, police and politicians and provide protection to Dalit
victims and witnesses to take all cases registered under the SC/ST
(PoA) Act and other statutes to their logical end to ensure conviction
of offenders.


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[ZESTCaste] National Seminar on “Relevancy of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar Philosophy at PU

http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in/showEE.asp?newsid=8358

National Seminar on "Relevancy of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar Philosophy at PU
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Chandigarh: Ambedkar Centre, Panjab University (PU) is organizing one-
day National Seminar on "Relevancy of Baba Saheb Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Philosophy in the Present Era" on Thursday, March 24 from 10 am at the
Golden Jubilee Hall, PU Campus.

Many social scientists, academicians, legal luminaries, NGO's and
researchers are expected to participate in the deliberations of the
seminar.

Inaugural function of the seminar shall be presided over by Prof R.C.
Sobti, Vice-Chancellor, P.U. Dr Virendra Kumar, Director (Academics),
Chandigarh Judicial Academy (former Professor and Chairman, department
of Laws, Dean Faculty of Law) shall deliver the keynote address.

Prof P.S. Verma, former Chairman, department of Political Science, PU
will deliver valedictory address at 4.00 pm on March 24. The
valedictory function of the seminar will be presided over by Dr R.B.
Langayan, former IAS Officer, Director, Centre for Dr B.R. Ambedkar
Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Prof Bhajan Kaur,
Coordinator, Ambedkar Centre, PU informed.


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[ZESTCaste] RPI demands white paper on atrocities on Dalits

 

http://www.dailypioneer.com/326065/RPI-demands-white-paper-on-atrocities-on-Dalits.html

RPI demands white paper on atrocities on Dalits
March 23, 2011 3:29:58 PM

Pioneer news service | Lucknow

Demanding a white paper on alleged atrocities being committed on
Dalits, the Republican Party of India (RPI) gave a memorandum to the
Governor BL Joshi here on Tuesday.

Submitting a 14-point charter of demands, the RPI delegation, led by
state president Javed Ahmad, said that law and order situation had
gone from bad to worse in the state. Nine people were burnt alive in
Maharajaganj last fortnight and a father and his son were shot dead by
police in Fatehpur last week. Both the incidents should be probed by
the CBI, the RPI leaders demanded.

The members also demanded to get the role of police probed in such issues.

Ahmad said that government should pay unemployment allowance of Rs
3,000 per month as this government had failed to provide employment to
the jobless youth.

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at Mhow on April 14

http://www.dailypioneer.com/326208/Ambedkar-Jayanti-celebrations-at-Mhow-on-April-14.html

BHOPAL | Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations at Mhow on April 14
March 23, 2011 3:27:40 PM

PNS | Mhow

Mhow being the birthplace of Bharat Ratna Babashaeb Bhimrao Ambedkar,
is a holy place for millions of Dalits all around the country. The
Ambedkar followers coming from all over the country will be treated as
special guests and will be provided free food, boarding and lodging on
the occasion of Ambedkar's birth anniversary on April 14.

The State Government not only got the construction of the Ambedkar
Smarak Stupa completed by granting around Rs 13 crore but also
declared that every year the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar on April
14 would be celebrated as Maha Kumbha for which the State Government
would spend around Rs 1 crore every year.

SDM Mhow PC Rathi on Tuesday held a meeting with officers of all the
departments and gave the responsibility to all the Government
departments.

Speaking to representatives of different political parties, he said
that Mhow was a Cantonment town and Army officers have clearly
instructed that celebration programme should not be held under any
political banner. He said the Army had banned use of the big ground
situated near the Ambedkar Stupa, which is being proposed for the
construction of Army family accommodation.

"We are still trying to get the permission for the ground from the
Army, he added."


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[ZESTCaste] AP to spend 9000 Cr for SC, ST welfare in 3 Yrs

 

http://www.siasat.com/english/news/ap-spend-9000-cr-sc-st-welfare-3-yrs

AP to spend 9000 Cr for SC, ST welfare in 3 Yrs
Tuesday, 22 March 2011

Hyderabad, March 22: The state government has programmed to spend
Rs.9000 crores during the next three years to develop and distribute
25 lakh acres to the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes as part of
the welfare measures being initiated by the administration.

Disclosing this in the State Assembly while intervening during a
debate on the plight of the SCs and STs in the House, the Chief
Minister Mr. N. Kiran Kumar Reddy asserted that the Congress Party and
the Government were committed for the emancipation of the weaker
sections and downtrodden.

Earlier the House proceedings was stalled by CPM and CPI members who
had tabled adjournment motions on the problems faced by the harijans
and girijans, and the indefinite fast undertaken by the CPM Secretary
Mr. B. Raghavulu. After the Deputy Speaker disallowed the adjournment
motions and informed the CPM and CPI members that they could express
their views and suggestions on the subject during the discussion in
the House on the demands of the social welfare department, the Left
parties insisted that the government should first come out with a
clear cut assurance keeping in view the deteriorating health of the
fasting CPM leader in the hospital. The CPM and CPI members, holding
placards, rushed to the podium and persisted in their demand for a
positive response from the government. The efforts of the Deputy
Speaker and also that of the Minister for Legislature Affairs Mr.
Sridhar Babu to pacify the protesting members and restore order in the
House failed and proceedings could not make any headway.

The Minister for Social Welfare Mr. P. Satyanarayana reiterated that
the state government was committed for the welfare of the harijans and
girijans and as such has been making adequate budget allocations. The
government has also created a nodal agency to oversee that the funds
allocated are properly utilised for the welfare of these weaker and
downtrodden sections. If there are any loopholes in the implementation
of the welfare measures, the government would take required steps to
rectify them immediately, he assured.

The Minister further informed that the a high-level meeting is being
convened by the Chief Minister with the Chief Secretary and the
concerned officials on March 25 to discuss in depth various issues
concerning the welfare of these sections. He said that the members
have also an opportunity to air their views and make concrete
suggestions during the debate on the demands of the concerned
department. He appealed to Mr. Raghavulu to withdraw his hunger strike
as the government was taking all steps with regard to the demands he
had put forth for the welfare of the harijans and girijans.

The Communist members, however, remained unrelenting and continued to
protest near the podium, when the Deputy Speaker adjourned the House
for a brief period and advised the protesting members to meet him in
his chambers for consultations.

The House reassembled after a break of nearly two hours and even as
the protest by the Communist members continued, the Chief Minister
intervened and reassured that there was no going back on the
commitment of the state government for betterment and uplift of the
poor and downtrodden, especially the harijans and girijans.

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[ZESTCaste] Jamia to organize National Seminar on “Dalit Movements and its Contemporary Times”

http://www.indiaeducationdiary.in/showEE.asp?newsid=8359

Jamia to organize National Seminar on "Dalit Movements and its
Contemporary Times"
Tuesday, March 22, 2011

New Delhi: Dr. K.R. Narayan Centre for Dalit and Minorities Studies,
Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is going to organize a national seminar on
"Dalit Movements and its Contemporary Times" on March 23, 2011 at 9.30
AM in the FTK-Centre for Information Technology, Jamia Millia Islamia.

The introductory remarks will be delivered by Dr. Narender Kumar,
Seminar Coordinator while Prof. Azra Razzack will welcome the guests
and participants.

The seminar shall be chaired by Prof. T.K. Oommen and keynote address
will be delivered by Prof. Gail Omvedt.


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[ZESTCaste] Bangladesh: ‘Ensure equal rights for Dalits’

http://theindependentbd.com/paper-edition/metropolitan/dhaka/40420-ensure-equal-rights-for-dalits.html

'Ensure equal rights for Dalits'
User Rating: / 0
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Dhaka
Tuesday, 22 March 2011
Author / Source : STAFF REPORTER

DHAKA, MAR 21: Speakers on Monday demanded to the government to
formulate necessary laws ensuring all citizens' equality, humanistic
status and social justice. The demands were raised at a seminar on
'Discrimination on the basis of birth and profession: socio-economic
influence and its solution' organised by the Bangladesh Dalit and
Excluded Rights Movement (BDERM) at the National Press Club in the
city.
Mukul Sikdar of BDERM presided over the seminar. Among others,
professor Dr Farzana Islam of Jahangirnagar University, Abul Bashar,
project coordinator of Nagarik Uddyag, Kazi Riajul Haque, member of
the national human rights commission, Saiful Islam Haque, general
secretary of Biblobi Workers' Party, Professor Dr HKS Arefin, Dhaka
University, Shamsul Huda, executive director of Association for Land
Reform and Development addressed on the occasion.
Kazi Riajul Haque said the main spirit of the freedom movement of
Bangladesh was to establish a state ensuring all citizens' equal
rights, social status and social justice. The country was liberated
fighting against all forms of discrimination and the state should be
run on this spirit because democracy can not be established keeping a
majority of people disadvantaged especially the Dalits, he added.
"Dalits are the creation of the society and their rights is
constitutional rights," he pointed out.
Speaking at the seminar, Saiful Islam Haque said the identity of
Dalits can not be an obstacle in obtaining his rights in a democratic
system. He also emphasised on the allocation for the 55 Lakh Dalits
in the forthcoming national budget.
Shamsul Huda said article 28 of the constitution ensures equal status
for all people but even after the liberation of 40 years, we could not
remove the discrimination on the basis of race and profession. We have
to eradicate this problem from the society to establish equal human
rights, he added.


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[ZESTCaste] Failure to spend SC/ST funds rocks Assembly

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/23/stories/2011032355350800.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Failure to spend SC/ST funds rocks Assembly

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD: The issue of the government's "failure" to solve various
problems of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, a matter
highlighted by the fasting CPI (M) leader B. V. Raghavulu, rocked the
Assembly on Tuesday, with Opposition parties expressing ire and
seeking justice to these sections. Placard-wielding members of the CPI
(M) and CPI moved to the podium, demanding that the government should
concede Mr. Raghavulu's 50 demands, stalling the proceedings.

Intervening, Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy said the Congress'
commitment to SCs and STs could be reckoned from the fact that seven
lakh acres was distributed to SCs during the last six years and 14
lakh acres to STs (under Forest Rights Act).

Schemes

He said the schemes of the SCs/STs would be reviewed on March 27 by
the apex body headed by Chief Secretary. Nodal agencies monitoring
SC/ST sub-plans will be activated and the SC and Women Commissions
constituted shortly.

He assured that funds of the SCs/ STs would be not diverted and 16.23
per cent of the State's budget will be spent for them as per norms. A
legislation would be enacted during this session to benefit
tenant-farmers.


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[ZESTCaste] AP govt committed to welfare of SC/STs: Kiran Reddy

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/ap-govt-committed-to-welfare-of-scsts-kiran-reddy/618462.html

AP govt committed to welfare of SC/STs: Kiran Reddy
PTI | 05:03 PM,Mar 22,2011

Hyderabad, Mar 22 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar
Reddy today said the state government was totally committed to the
welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Responding to an
issue raised in the state Assembly, the Chief Minister said the
government was making efforts to spend 16.23 per cent of the total
budget towards SC and ST welfare. "We spent nine per cent of the
budget in 2009-10 and 12 per cent in 2010-11 on SC and ST through the
sub-plans. We are making efforts to enhance it to 16.23 per cent," he
said. The SC and ST welfare issue was raised by CPI and CPM in the
House through an adjournment today, in the backdrop of an indefinite
hunger-strike launched by CPM politburo member B V Raghavulu six days
ago. The Left MLAs stalled the proceedings demanding an immediate
statement from the Chief Minister on the issue.Officiating Speaker
Nadendla Manohar adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes and held a
meeting with floor leaders of all parties to discuss the issue. At the
meeting, the parties wanted the Chief Minister to make an appeal to
the fasting leader to end the fast and accordingly the House
re-assembled. Making the appeal, Kiran said most of the demands raised
by the CPM politburo member were already being implemented while some
other were under consideration. "We shall soon appoint a chairman to
the SC and ST Commission and also constitute the Women's Commission.
As much as 25 lakh acres of land in the state will be developed at a
total cost of Rs 9,000 crore under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural
Employment Guarantee Programme in the next three years," he said.
(More) PTI DBV VKV

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[ZESTCaste] Couple’s bodies burnt in honour killing ‘case’

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/hyderabad/couple%E2%80%99s-bodies-burnt-honour-killing-%E2%80%98case%E2%80%99-003

Couple's bodies burnt in honour killing 'case'

March 23, 2011
DC
Hyderabad

March 22: The bodies of a woman and her paramour were burnt on the
outskirts of Pocharam village in Medak district on Tuesday in an
attempt to disguise the cause of the deaths. According to the Pulkal
police, E. Narasimha, 31, of Pocharam was having an illicit
relationship with B. Nagamani, 26, wife of Lokesh. At around 12 am on
Tuesday, Lokesh returned home and caught the two together. Narasimha
escaped from the back door but, according to the police, a furious
Lokesh and his relatives and friends formed small groups to hunt him
down.

"After searching for almost two hours they found him, brought him to
the village and tied him to an electric pole in front of a temple and
thrashed him. Knowing that Narasimha had been caught and fearing that
she would be killed, Nagamani consumed pesticide and died in her
home," said the Pulkal inspector, Mr D. Krishna. After finding that
Nagamani had killed herself, Lokesh beat Narsimha that he died of his
wounds.


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Fwd: Fw: [ZESTCaste] Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ranjani k.murthy <rk_km2000@yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 7:17 AM
Subject: Fw: [ZESTCaste] Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008
To: Burnad Fatima <burnadfatima@gmail.com>, dalit siddharta <
mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com>


how many of these would be agaisnt women, any estiamtes? rnjani

--- On *Thu, 17/3/11, Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com>* wrote:


From: Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com>
Subject: [ZESTCaste] Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008
To: "zestcaste" <zestcaste@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Thursday, 17 March, 2011, 7:12 PM

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/nearly-39-000-offences-against-sc-st-in-2008/763328/

Nearly 39,000 offences against SC/ST in 2008

Agencies Posted online: Wed Mar 16 2011, 17:58 hrs
New Delhi :


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