Friday, March 25, 2011

[ZESTCaste] exclusive growth: voters beware

 

http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=26577 (with a lot of typos in outlook)

Dear Editor:

The central vision of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) is to trigger 9% Growth rate in GDP and a path of development that improves of the quality of life including of dalits, adivasis and women (Chapter on Inclusive Growth).

With Assembly elections coming I looked at data for India as a whole, and Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu (little data on Puducherry-I wonder why). What did I find? That exclusive growth paths have been followed, and no state is perfect.

Rate of growth in tenth plan has been higher in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but dalit and non dalit difference in rural poverty is higher than other states (planning commission data). Rural landlessness is highest in these two states, and sex ratio at birth is lower than other states (NFHS 3 data). West Bengal and Assam do better in all these respects.

The difference between Adivasis and others in rural poverty is highest in Kerala, followed by West Bengal and then TN. In only Assam,the adivasis are doing better in rural areas! (Planning commission data)

While the state of affairs looks better in Assam, it records highest levels of Infant mortality rate (SRS), maternal mortality ratio (SRS), primary level drop out rate (SES). This is followed by West Bengal. Kerala and TN perform better on these indicators

So one needs to ask what is inclusive growth- higher the growth greater the dalit-non dalit inequalities (Kerala and TN) and lower the sex ratio at birth? Greater the education, lower the sex ratio at birth (Kerala and TN). What kind of education is imparted? But neither is low levels of growth, with high drop out, high IMR and MMR good (Assam and West Bengal).

It is time we revisited the concept of inclusive growth, and move towards a concept of Just Growth, where dalits, adivasis, minorities (little data available), unorganised workers, slum dwelllers and migrants (little data available) grow at a faster rate. Where growth is accompanied by no son preference. Where growth is not accompanied by rural landlessness, food and nutritional insecurity . Where growth is accompanied by improvement in IMR and MMR and higher levels of education - but education which helps moves towards justice.

Ranjani.K.Murthy
Researcher and activist

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.


Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] exclusive growth: voters beware

 

http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=26577 (with a lot of typos in outlook)

Dear Editor:

The central vision of the 11th Five Year Plan (2007-12) is to trigger 9% Growth rate in GDP and a path of development that improves of the quality of life including of dalits, adivasis and women (Chapter on Inclusive Growth).

With Assembly elections coming I looked at data for India as a whole, and Assam, Kerala, West Bengal and Tamil Nadu (little data on Puducherry-I wonder why). What did I find? That exclusive growth paths have been followed, and no state is perfect.

Rate of growth in tenth plan has been higher in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, but dalit and non dalit difference in rural poverty is higher than other states (planning commission data). Rural landlessness is highest in these two states, and sex ratio at birth is lower than other states (NFHS 3 data). West Bengal and Assam do better in all these respects.

The difference between Adivasis and others in rural poverty is highest in Kerala, followed by West Bengal and then TN. In only Assam,the adivasis are doing better in rural areas! (Planning commission data)

While the state of affairs looks better in Assam, it records highest levels of Infant mortality rate (SRS), maternal mortality ratio (SRS), primary level drop out rate (SES). This is followed by West Bengal. Kerala and TN perform better on these indicators

So one needs to ask what is inclusive growth- higher the growth greater the dalit-non dalit inequalities (Kerala and TN) and lower the sex ratio at birth? Greater the education, lower the sex ratio at birth (Kerala and TN). What kind of education is imparted? But neither is low levels of growth, with high drop out, high IMR and MMR good (Assam and West Bengal).

It is time we revisited the concept of inclusive growth, and move towards a concept of Just Growth, where dalits, adivasis, minorities (little data available), unorganised workers, slum dwelllers and migrants (little data available) grow at a faster rate. Where growth is accompanied by no son preference. Where growth is not accompanied by rural landlessness, food and nutritional insecurity . Where growth is accompanied by improvement in IMR and MMR and higher levels of education - but education which helps moves towards justice.

Ranjani.K.Murthy
Researcher and activist

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.


Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] MPs Demand Inclusion of Caste in Ongoing Census

 

http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?716350

Mar 25, 2011
Wires

MPs Demand Inclusion of Caste in Ongoing Census
New Delhi | Mar 25, 2011


On the last day of the budget session of Parliament, members raised
the issue of inclusion of caste in the on-going census prompting the
government to assure the House that it will be done.

RJD leader Lalu Prasad raised the issue in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.

He reminded the government that he, along with Mulayam Singh Yadav
(SP), Sharad Yadav (JD-U) and Gopinath Munde (BJP) had met Leader of
the House Pranab Mukherjee and asked him to include caste in census.

"We submitted a request for including caste in census. A proforma was
sought from us for this. We have given that also," Prasad said.

Mulayam said he had full faith in Mukherjee but steps should be taken
before the census exercise is completed.

Mukherjee assured the House that the government is taking steps to
include caste in census.

"The proforma had been given to us. Then Sharad Yadav suggested some
amendments in it. We have given the amended proforma to the Home
Minister. I can assure that this will be encompassed in the Caste
based counting," Mukherjee said.

OBC leaders have been demanding inclusion of caste in census. They
maintain that their percentage in population has gone up and, hence,
they are entitled to more reservation in jobs.
Filed On: Mar 25, 2011 13:48 IST , E

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Hundreds of lives reduced to rubble in Delhi: Paul Divakar

http://kafila.org/2011/03/25/delhi-jj-demolition-baljit-nagar-gayatri-colony-paul-divakar/

Hundreds of lives reduced to rubble in Delhi: Paul Divakar
March 25, 2011
tags: Dalits, housing, slum demolitions in Delhi, urban poor
by Shivam Vij

Guest post by PAUL DIVAKAR


PreviousToggle PlaybackNext

This was written yesterday, 24 March 2011: Today we witnessed most
humiliating, fascist nature of pulverising already vulnerable
communities – most of whom are Dalits and backward castes in Gayatri
colony near Faridpur of Baljit Nagar.

Mobilised by Indu Prakash and Hemalatha and supported by HRLN, we
(NCDHR, Safai Karmachari Andolan, Centre for Social Equity and
Inclusion) all gathered near the Gayatri colony along with an initial
group of about 200 residents of the colony. Already many houses were
demolished yesterday (23 March) and today the DDA authorities with a
support of 1000 posse of armed police with 6 bull dozers and Proclaine
machines were all set to raze to ground the rest of the colony. When
we challenged the authorities as to on what grounds they were doing
this, they flashed court order which ruled in favour of the DDA the
property near the Ramjess grounds. No prior notice was given on the 23
March, residents were not warned of the demolition, they were not
given any time to collect their belongings stored in the huts or
'juggis'. when some elders resisted on the 23 March they were lathi
charged and assaulted.

We warned them they they are violating the Delhi high court order of
eviction procedures and all established norms of human rights. The
authorities of DDA insited they hae the authority to demolish in the
high handed manner they have carried out previously. We also pleaded
with them that the court ruling is going to reach as our advocates are
already in the High Court but we were threatened of obstructing the
public officials of duty! The residents were peaceful and finally when
the Bulldozers were order to demolish they cried and looked on.

Another 250 houses were demolished from 12.45pm till 3.30pm. The total
number of houses there was around 600.

HRLN advocates Jayshree and Sukti informed us of the order from the
High court issued by Justice. Muralidhar and later came with the
order. Though the Delhi Court order was telephonically communicated
of stay on the DDA's action, the officials went about demolishing the
homes of the residents. Finally after a stiff argument from Indu and a
telephone call from higher authorities the DDA officials withdrew.

But already most homes were destroyed and decimated! The lives of
students shattered during examinations. Pregnant women and children
thrown on the roads, out in the open, vulnerable to disease,
belongings worth many lakhs destroyed. 80% of the victims ae Dalits,
and since the officials are guilty of willful negligence, this should
attract the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.

Dr. Amod Kumar of St. Stephen's Society came to investigate and report
the matter the chief secretary. He agreed to testify before the High
Court in favour of the residents tomorrow when the case comes up for
hearing.

A team from IGSSS and NCDHR sat with the victims to take signed list
of the details of documentation available of the residents, like
Electiricity bills, gas bills, voters ID issues and some also of the
house tax they paid. Some told of the amounts collected by the DDA
officials even as late as on the 22 March promising of protection from
demolitions.

Tomorrow (25 March) the case will be up for hearing in the High Court.
We are ready with about 150 details of the documentation explaining
the long standing nature of the colony and peacful occupation of the
'joggis' by teh residents. HRLN advocates are ready with the petitions
and affidavits drafted for the case tomorrow.

Those of us involved in the protection and promotion of human rights
and also of inclusion efforts need to have a clear strategy of how to
equip the residents of Delhi to face and prevent such inhuman attacks
and atrocities by the state officials.

I am attaching some photographs of demolition.

While we can congratulate each other on the initial success of the
stay on the demolition we do have a long struggle and home work to do
in organising and equipping the residents of their right to life and
dignity in this atrocious city of Delhi


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Allocation of loans for SC/ST students hiked manifold: Govt

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/allocation-of-loans-for-scst-students-hiked-manifold-govt/622334.html

Allocation of loans for SC/ST students hiked manifold: Govt
PTI | 10:03 PM,Mar 24,2011

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) Government today said it had increased
allocation of loans for SC/ST scholarships manifold and was aiming to
provide the benefit to 40 lakh pre-metric students from this category.
Speaking in the Lok Sabha on a discussion to the answer given by
Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on March 11, his deputy Namo Narain
Meena said the education loans to SC/ST students was Rs 273 crore in
2003-04 but stood at Rs 2,252 crore in 2009-10. He said the percentage
of SC/ST students covered under the loans from this category was 17.69
per cent of their population. For loans to SC/ST on agri-business, a
special cell has been established in public sector banks, the Minister
of State for Finance said. Opposition members, especially those from
the BJP, countered the claims made by Meena, saying these provisions
were already there and the main issue was their proper implementation.
They claimed no cells had been established in banks for SC/ST. Jyoti
Dhurve (BJP), who had asked for the half-hour discussion on
Mukherjee's reply, raised some important points during her
presentation. "The SC and ST have are not getting dues. What is the
reason behind the poor development of these communities despite
spending a lot of money by the government. I think that they have not
got their due," she said. Dhurve also talked about the unaffordable
education finance which is hampering the growth of downtrodden in the
country and pointed out that the rate of interest on such loans is as
high 11 per cent. She demanded cheaper education loans for the SC and
ST students. Shailendra Kumar (SP) said the enumeration of SC/ST
population has till now not been done properly, as a result of which
the real number of those living below the poverty line is not known.
He said provisions should be made for giving reservations to SC/ST in
private sector as well. Arjun Meghwal (BJP) said the government should
find out how many banks have not met their target of providing loans
to SC/ST under its DRI scheme. He insisted that government should
provide for coaching classes for SC/ST students. Paramjeet Kaur
Gulshan (SAD) said the minister's answer was way off the mark and
sought to know who are the beneficiaries of the government schemes for
SC/ST. She complained that the loan never reaches the intended
beneficiaries at the ground level.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] NAC to push for inclusion of SC/ST in food security law

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/nac-to-push-for-inclusion-of-scst-in-food-security-law/622457.html

NAC to push for inclusion of SC/ST in food security law
PTI | 11:03 PM,Mar 24,2011

New Delhi, Mar 24 (PTI) The National Advisory Council, chaired by
Sonia Gandhi, today decided to push for inclusion of SCs/STs in the
vulnerable groups that required to be covered under the proposed food
security law. At its meeting here today, the NAC also decided to give
its inputs to the formulation of a BPL survey methodology so that its
recommendations could be operationalised. "In the meeting of the NAC
today, it was agreed that the NAC should reiterate its earlier
recommendations to the Ministry of Rural Development," said a
statement by the advisory panel here. In October last year, the NAC
had recommended that every household should be categorised as priority
and non-priority households. Every individual in priority households
should get a minimum of 35 kg of cheap foodgrain every month. The NAC
had suggested inclusion of particularly vulnerable tribal groups'
(PTGs), the Maha dalit groups, households headed by single women or
disabled person or a minor, destitute households which are dependent
predominantly on alms for survival, homeless and bonded labourers in
the priority group. "After the inclusion of these categories, the
highest priority should be given to the inclusion of Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes in the identification of "Priority groups" under
the National Food Security Bill," the NAC had said. On the amendments
to the Right to Information Act, the NAC has reached an agreement with
the Department of Personnel and Training on all but one issues. "Areas
of agreement include, enhancement of word limit from 250 words to 500
words and also to drop the Rules relating to abatement of RTI
application upon death of applicant," the NAC statement said. With
regard to restricting all RTI applications to 'one subject matter',
the NAC decided to recommend that such restriction be dropped from the
purview of the proposed amendments to RTI Act. The draft Communal
Violence Bill is expected to be presented before the Council at its
next meeting on April 28.PTI SKU

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Unsure of OBC support, NCP cancels rallies, looks to Dalits

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Unsure-of-OBC-support--NCP-cancels-rallies--looks-to-Dalits/767188

Unsure of OBC support, NCP cancels rallies, looks to Dalits
Rakshit Sonawane Posted online: Fri Mar 25 2011, 03:56 hrs
Mumbai : Jittery about the support from backward communities in the
forthcoming civic elections, the NCP has postponed its OBC rally twice
and started making overtures towards Dalits.

The Maratha-dominated party had planned a huge rally of OBCs in Pune
on March 6. The rally had been planned by the OBC cell of the NCP,
after OBC leader and PWD minister Chhagan Bhujbal (NCP) had organised
a show of strength in Pune through his social outfit — the Mahatma
Phule Samata Parishad. Bhujbal's rally was held after he had to
relinquish the deputy chief minister's post to Sharad Pawar's nephew
Ajit Pawar in the reconstitution of the cabinet after Ashok Chavan
quit as the chief minister over his alleged role in the Adarsh society
scam. It was Bhujbal's show of strength in Pawar's den.

Sources said the plan for holding the NCP's rally on March 6 was
backed by Bhujbal's detractors within the NCP (read the Maratha lobby)
to show that the party had enough backing of OBCs even without his
support. However, the rally had to be postponed to March 13 and then,
indefinitely.

"I don't know the reason for the postponement," NCP's OBC cell chief
Bhanudas Mali told The Indian Express. "I was asked by the party
(leaders) to postpone the date... the rally will take place in
presence of (Sharad) Pawarsaheb, but after I get the nod."

Meanwhile, Bhujbal's Samata Parishad has planned an OBC rally at
Mapusa in Goa on April 3. "We had initially decided to hold this rally
on March 27. But since there is a cultural event for tourists on the
same day, we have decided to postpone it by a week," Samata Parishad
leader and Bhujbal aide Dr Kailas Kamod said on Thursday.

The postponement of NCP OBC cell's rally is seen as an indication of
the party getting jittery over its OBC support-base. "With municipal
and ZP elections due in less than a year's time, the party does not
want to send wrong signals," a senior NCP leader said. He said RPI
leader Ramdas Athawale's visit to Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray's
house and the appeal by the latter that Dalits and Shiv Sainiks should
unite against the Congress-NCP in the forthcoming polls had also sent
shaken the NCP, an ally of Athawale till the last Lok Sabha polls.

"To bring Athawale and Pawarsaheb together, a public felicitation was
organised for trade unionist Vijay Kamble on his 70th birthday at
Bandra on March 13," he said, "Athawale and Pawarsaheb had a closed
door meeting. Even at the public meeting Pawarsaheb and R R Patil
asked Athawale to reconsider his plans of shake hands with the Sena."

He said the NCP had now taken up the task of consolidating its
position among Dalits, OBCs and women. The NCP is also planning to
hold a rally of women members of local self-governing bodies at
Aurangabad in April.

Incidentally, the NCP and Congress are going to contest the local
polls against each other and are vying for credit for the announcement
of 50 per cent quota for women by the state government.


------------------------------------

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Dalit woman thrashed

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Dalit-woman-thrashed/articleshow/7782852.cms

Dalit woman thrashed
TNN | Mar 24, 2011, 11.02pm IST

SURAT: The hair of a dalit woman was cut and she was thrashed by two
women and two men for her alleged affair with a member of their
family.

Four days ago in another incident, a woman's head had been shaved at
Palsana for similar reason, police said, adding that the four accused
were arrested and produced in a local court here on Thursday.

The victim Sangita Solanki, a resident of Chhappan Ni Chawl, was
kidnapped by Rajesh Kahar, Kamlesh Kahar, their sister Anita and
mother Kamla from Sagarampura on Tuesday when she was returning home
after finishing work.

They took her to a nearby place where they allegedly thrashed her
before cutting her hair with a pair of scissors. The accused also
injured her with a blade, police said.

The victim was later released and had to be taken to a hospital, whose
officials informed the police. A complaint in the case was lodged on
Wednesday.

Sangita has claimed that she was attacked by members of Kahar family
out of suspicion that she was having an illicit affair with Anita's
husband, police said.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Dalit leader murdered in Tilak Nagar

 

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/mar/250311-News-Bangalore-Dalit-Hindulaya-Kriya-Samithi-murdered-Tilak-Nagar.htm

Dalit leader murdered in Tilak Nagar
By: Bindiya Carmeline Thomas Date: 2011-03-25 Place: Bangalore

The state president of the Dalit Hindulaya Kriya Samithi was stabbed
to death in Gulbarga Colony in Tilak Nagar at about 8.30 pm last
night. S Manjunath (pictured), left home at about 7.30 pm after
receiving a call to meet a friend. However, barely an hour later his
body was found on the roadside a few metres from his home.

Manjunath sustained a single stab injury to the upper left thigh,
which has severed a major artery and led to death by profuse bleeding.
Residents of Gulbarga Colony rushed him to NIMHANS by 9 pm, where he
was declared dead.

Manjunath's friends and family are clueless as to why anybody would
want to harm him. Bodhiappa, Manjunath's uncle, said, "I don't know
why anyone would want to take his life. He was a good man and did a
lot to help people."

Meanwhile, members of Manjunath's family have filed a complaint at
Tilak Nagar police station. Harsha P S, DCP (South East), said, "We're
awaiting the post-mortem report and cannot definitively comment until
then. Since we've established that he had no real enemies, we are
assuming that it is a case of murder due to a personal matter."
Manjunath's body was taken to Victoria Hospital at about 2 am for
autopsy.

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
MARKETPLACE

Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center.


Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

.

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Wikileaks - 35177: Socioeconomic future of Dalits remains bleak

 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/the-india-cables/the-cables/article1568910.ece

March 25, 2011
35177: Socioeconomic future of Dalits remains bleak

Most experts believe the key to ending discrimination is a
comprehensive education campaign starting at the primary level to
teach acceptance of dalits, a topic completely absent from India's
public school system.

35177, 6/22/2005 13:44, 05NEWDELHI4761, Embassy New Delhi,
CONFIDENTIAL,, "This record is a partial extract of the original
cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.221344Z
Jun 05","C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 004761

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/06/2015 TAGS: PHUM, PGOV, ECON, ELAB, IN, Human Rights

SUBJECT: SOCIOECONOMIC FUTURE OF INDIAN DALITS REMAINS BLEAK

Classified By: DCM Bob Blake for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

1. (C) Summary: Embassy interlocutors report that after one year of
UPA rule, limited government efforts to improve dalit (formerly called
""untouchables"") socioeconomic status have shown little success,
ensuring that they continue to face severe economic and social
discrimination. Government reservation laws do not extend to the
private sector, the largest and fastest growing segment of the
economy. Most experts believe the key to ending discrimination is a
comprehensive education campaign starting at the primary level to
teach acceptance of dalits, a topic completely absent from India's
public school system. Despite the political success of dalits such as
current Minister for Chemicals and Fertilizers Ram Vilas Paswan,
dalits' failure to organize at the national level has limited their
ability to demand equal rights. Until the Indian majority increases
pressure to change the status quo, many dalits will remain trapped
below the poverty line in manual labor jobs with few mechanisms for
upward mobility. End Summary.

Discrimination Remains Despite Legal Protection

--------------------------------------------- --

2. (U) Dalits, who make up approximately 16% of India's population,
roughly 166 million people, occupy the lowest position in the social
structure and face constant and severe discrimination. Formerly called
""untouchables"" because ""caste Hindus"" believe they can be
""polluted"" by having any contact with them, most dalits remain
trapped at the bottom rung of the caste ladder. In fact, most ""caste
Hindus"" consider them to be so low as to be outside the caste system
altogether.

3. (C) Despite the passage of the Anti-Untouchability Act of 1955 and
the Prevention of Atrocities Act of 1989, crimes against dalits are
still a major social problem, and discrimination is widespread.
According to Jawarahal Nehru University Professor and Director of the
Indian Institute of Dalit Studies SK Thorat, all of the trappings of
untouchability remain in rural India and rampant job discrimination
occurs in India's cities and towns. Thorat recently told Poloff that
the approximately 18,000 caste-related discrimination cases filed
annually with the Indian government are only a small fraction of the
actual number. Vastly more cases go unreported, because dalits in
rural areas still live under feudal systems and cannot risk angering
their high-caste landlords. Thorat also commented that only the most
serious and well-publicized acts of caste discrimination receive the
attention of the Indian authorities.

4. (C) Ram Nath Kovind, himself a dalit and a BJP MP from Uttar
Pradesh, expressed a more positive view to Poloff recently, stating
that ""open"" discrimination against dalits has decreased dramatically
over the last decade, while the number of persons who genuinely care
about helping dalits has increased. He maintained that while
discrimination persists in the housing sector, employment decisions
are usually free from bias. Executive Director of the South Asian
Human Rights Documentation Center Ravi Nair agreed that employment
discrimination against dalits has decreased over the last decade,
while access to housing often remains based on caste.

The Reservation System

----------------------

5. (U) The GOI uses a system of ""reservations,"" similar to
affirmative action programs in the US, in an attempt to ameliorate the
social and economic disparities resulting from the caste system. Under
the system, dalits receive government-mandated, numerical quotas in
government employment and education programs. The law requires the
state to allocate approximately 16 percent of government jobs, seats
in schools, the Parliament and State Assemblies, and public housing be
to ""scheduled"" castes and tribes. These schedules contain a list of
underprivileged groups determined by the government to need social
assistance. There are no reservations for dalits in the military or
the private sector.

6. (C) Nair argued that the reservation system has only been partially
successful in empowering dalits, because they often discriminate
against each other. For example, in North India, a subgroup of dalits
known as the Jatevs have become very successful in the leather
industry. Nair indicated that this group of dalits would never help
other dalit groups in the area, such as the Bhangi, which they
consider lower. He observed that due to the many strata within each
caste, the reservation system has created a ""creamy layer"" of
successful people within the dalit community. In general, these groups
have focused on solidifying their own positions rather than helping to
empower other dalits, Nair stated.

7. (C) Professor Thorat judged the reservation system as ""only a
partial success"" and maintained that its effectiveness will decline
in the future, because discrimination is rampant in the private
sector, which is creating the most new jobs. Himself a dalit,
Professor Thorat claimed that high-caste Hindus would almost always
hire another caste Hindu over a dalit, even if the dalit were fully
qualified for the job. He theorized that the religious basis of the
caste system, which teaches that dalits hold their social position due
to mistakes made in a prior life, allows caste Hindus to discriminate
without guilt. BJP MP Kovind disagreed with Thorat, asserting to
Poloff that current legislation has to a large degree been successful
in protecting dalit rights, but that India still has work to do to end
discrimination, citing increasing dalit access to primary education as
a place to start.

8. (C) Centuries of discrimination have confined most dalits to the
lowest paying jobs. Thorat claimed that 70% of all dalits live in
rural areas, and over 90% work in the agricultural sector as unskilled
or day laborers. Most of the remainder are employed in manual,
unskilled labor jobs in urban areas. Given these facts, he argued that
only 5% of the working dalit population has actually benefited from
the Indian reservation law. He acknowledged that while GOI poverty
alleviation programs help dalits, the government does not strictly
monitor them and many are never implemented. Thorat asserted that the
vast majority of dalits are denied upward socioeconomic mobility due
to lack of access to education, land, and capital. Kovind commented
that the true basis of discrimination is economic in nature rather
than caste-based, as the ""haves discriminate against the have nots""
and use the caste system to perpetuate differences between economic
groups. Comparing the caste system to the trade guilds in feudal
Europe (in that certain groups performed specific jobs), he added that
under the caste system persons acquire their trade at birth, while the
guilds allowed job mobility. Caste factors are now used to protect
jobs and livelihoods more than anything else, Kovind argued.

Poor Prospects for Improvement

------------------------------

9. (C) Thorat and Justice Party President and Chairman of the
All-India Confederation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Organizations Dr. Udit Raj commented to us recently that despite
India's growing economy, the outlook for dalits remains bleak.
According to Thorat, globalization and economic liberalization have
actually hurt dalit prospects for progress and social mobility. Raj
argued that liberalization will shift more of the economy from the
public to the private sector, where hiring managers are almost
exclusively from high castes and constantly discriminate against
dalits, denying them the opportunities guaranteed by reservations.
Unlike the United States, India has no equal opportunity law
applicable to the private sector, which means that the rapidly
expanding private sector is under no compulsion to hire dalits, while
the public sector will have fewer jobs to offer. Kovind predicted that
caste-based discrimination will exist for at least the next 50-100
years in India. He suggested that since the Hindu religion condones
caste, it will take longer for the GOI to end caste discrimination in
India than it will take to eradicate racial discrimination in the US.

10. (C) Sangh Priya Guatam, a dalit BJP MP from Uttar Pradesh, India's
largest state and one of its poorest, agreed that dalits will be left
behind in a globalizing world and that job reservations in the private
sector would be an important tool to ensure equality. Guatam stated
that the BJP favors private sector reservations and would like the UPA
government to take up the issue in Parliament and not rely on the
private sector to develop a solution. Thorat confirmed that a
Ministerial Commission is researching the issue of reservations in the
private sector. Raj did not expect positive results, commenting that
the private sector fears losing competitiveness, especially in the
information technology realm, should the GOI extend reservations to
private industry. Thorat and Raj both denied that private sector
reservations would hurt productivity, as many qualified dalit
applicants could fill reserved slots. Kovind stated that the BJP
favors reservations in the private sector and will pressure the UPA
government to institute them.

GOI-CII Agreement on Reservations

---------------------------------

11. (C) Thorat asserted that a June 2 agreement between the
Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and the Ministry of Social
Justice and Empowerment will likely prevent the extension of
reservations to the private sector. Under the agreement, the GOI will
not press for government-legislated private sector reservations for
dalits. In exchange, the CII pledged to promote vocational skill
advancement programs for dalits in the private sector. Thorat agreed
that vocational programs are necessary, but will not help dalits as
much as reservations. Raj concurred, stating that with a rapidly
growing population and an excess of workers, high-caste hiring
managers will always choose non-dalits, regardless of qualifications,
unless the law forces them to do otherwise.

12. (C) Dalits view the GOI-CII agreement as yet another mechanism to
maintain the status quo, according to Raj. He argued that with the BJP
and Congress dominated by upper-castes with little interest in
increasing opportunities for the lower castes, both parties have
abandoned platforms aimed at empowering the poor and elevating the
socioeconomic status of dalits, while Congress has exploited its
secular identity to justify inaction. The high castes want to preserve
the status quo because they benefit from it. A large segment of the
population living in desperation guarantees a pool of workers willing
to work for minuscule salaries and perform the most menial jobs. Raj
anticipates that the CII,s promise to offer vocational training to
dalits will never be adequately implemented and is unlikely to
increase dalit employment opportunities.

Solutions?

----------

13. (C) Education programs for Indian youth to increase egalitarian
attitudes are the only way to truly break caste discrimination,
according to Thorat and Raj, although they asserted that the
initiative needed to centrally mandate such education in all public
schools is absent. Raj proffered that the upper-castes have enjoyed
thousands of years of free access to education, at the expense of
dalits. These same castes remain in control of India's educational
institutions and, consequently, few administrators wish to mandate or
incorporate education programs advocating dalit equality. Thorat and
Raj contend that the human rights awareness classes currently offered
in some schools are wholly inadequate, as they do not cover caste
discrimination or critically investigate the unjust norms regarding
interpersonal relationships between dalits and the caste Hindus still
practiced today. Raj pointed out that until such education programs
are implemented, schools will serve as breeding grounds for prejudice,
and upper caste children will continue to learn that it is permissible
to discriminate against dalits. He argued that the present system
teaches caste Hindus that it is acceptable to cheat dalits and
discriminate against them.

14. (C) Reservations in public education institutions have not
translated into enhanced socioeconomic status for dalits, according to
Thorat. Schools and teachers are unable to keep up with the growing
numbers of children, and dalits are usually the first children denied
an education when resources are scarce. Therefore, many dalits have no
access to the primary education necessary to qualify for
education-based reservations in the university system. Since public
schools frequently offer substandard education, and the vernacular
education they provide is held in low regard, few members of the
Indian elite and middle class attend them. This leaves private,
English-medium education as the principal tool for upward mobility. As
a result, argues Raj, GOI-enforced dalit reservation in public schools
has not led to increased social mobility, and most dalits with access
to education remain in manual, unskilled jobs that others refuse to
take.

15. (C) Raj also questioned whether the GOI was committed to taking
effective action to end discrimination against dalits, claiming that
most members of the Indian Commission on Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes which investigates violations of anti-caste
discrimination law are from the upper castes and not genuinely
interested in the plight of dalits. As a result, the Commission
overlooks most day-to-day discrimination to concentrate on a few
highly publicized acts of violence or discrimination, he stated.

Dalit Rights Movements

----------------------

16. (U) Dalits' perception of their plight varies from region to
region, according to Thorat. He noted that the civil rights agitation
for dalits began in South India with the ""self-respect movement"" in
the early 20th century. Consequently, dalits in the South have seen
more improvements than their counterparts in the North, where the
movement for equality was much slower and began only after Partition
in 1947. As a result, Northern dalits generally harbor greater ill
will towards the upper castes than those in the South, because of the
higher and more recent levels of discrimination against them.

17. (U) This finds expression in the bitter caste-based politics of
the North India ""Hindi Belt"" which has spawned such parties as the
dalit-based Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) of Uttar Pradesh and its fiery
leader Mayawati, who routinely rails against the excesses of ""caste
Hindus,"" while pledging to openly discriminate in favor of dalits. In
South India, the dalit agenda has been largely absorbed by more
broad-based regional parties such as the AIDMK and DMK in Tamil Nadu,
or the Communists in Kerala.

18. (U) With dalits estimated to constitute from 16% to 27% of the
Indian population, the lack of progress for dalits has both political
and social implications. Their lack of access to jobs in the growing
private sector, and limited access to land and capital, has led
increasing numbers of dalits to convert to other religions, such as
Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam, which have not institutionalized
caste, in hope of obtaining redress. However, for many, interpersonal
and economic discrimination has continued despite conversion, as most
caste Hindus in their local communities continue to regard them as
dalits despite their change of religion.

19. (U) Thorat argued that political organizations have also proven
ineffective. After 1947, most dalits pledged allegiance to Congress,
but many became discouraged by what they viewed as the party's failure
to live up to its promises in the ensuing decades. With the departure
of many dalits from Congress, their votes have become fragmented
between numerous and disparate political organizations, preventing
them from forming a cohesive lobby capable of pressuring the GOI to
address their concerns. Congress is trying to convince dalits to
return to the fold, but with little success, and they remain divided.
Thorat and Raj argue that massive religious conversions or political
organization have failed to provide necessary social change. With
these avenues proving largely ineffective, dalits remain discouraged
and fatalistic. Kovind, who heads the BJP's dalit cell, disagreed,
asserting that his party is determined to help dalits and shed the
image that it is only an ""upper caste party."" He argued that only a
nationalist party like the BJP will succeed in fighting discrimination
against dalits, as India cannot become a world power until dalits and
low-caste persons are brought up to the level of the rest of society.

20. (C) Prominent human rights expert Nair stated that dalits need to
take their case to the courts if they want to achieve emancipation. He
argued that laws protecting dalits exist, but that they have not used
them effectively, and that dalit groups do not use the large donations
they receive from the government, the donor community and private
sources effectively. He said that they should mirror the civil rights
movement in the US and set up legal aid defense groups. These groups
of lawyers would ensure that dalit cases are heard and judgments
rendered against those who discriminate. Nair warned that nothing will
change until people who discriminate go to jail or face stiff
financial penalties. He did not expect dalits to implement his plan,
because their leaders are more interested in rhetoric than doing the
hard work required to mount a meaningful challenge in the courts.

Success Stories

---------------

21. (U) Despite widespread discrimination, a number of dalits have
become successful. The highest profile case is that of K.R. Narayanan,
who served as President of India from 1997-2002. Ram Vilas Paswan,
currently holding two Ministerial level positions (Minister for
Chemicals and Fertilizers and Minister for Steel), is a very
successful politician from Bihar. BSP president and a three-time
Member of Parliament from Uttar Pradesh Mayawati is also a well-known
dalit. However, these persons have all benefited from the reservation
system and local interlocutors stated it unlikely that they would have
reached these positions without affirmative action programs. The Dalit
NGO Dalitawaz lists dalits from a wide range of professions, including
doctors, lawyers, engineers and civil servants, indicating that,
despite the odds, it is possible for members of this disenfranchised
group to do well.

Comment

-------

22. (C) While the UPA has focused on bettering the lot of the dalit
community, it is dominated by upper caste Hindus, very few of whom are
genuinely concerned about the plight of dalits. This ensures that
dalits will continue to be an oppressed, discriminated group in India.
Although the GOI has passed legislation and established government
bodies to administer these laws, it has failed to attack the root of
the problem. There are success stories, but acts of violence and
prejudice against dalits, combined with government negligence, persist
and there is little upward mobility among the dalit population.
Without a broader, more comprehensive approach to teach tolerance and
equality early in primary schools, it is unlikely that the social
acceptance of caste-based discrimination will fade any time soon. The
increasing dominance of the private sector in the economy could also
result in greater economic polarization if there is no mechanism in
place to combat job discrimination.

MULFORD

__._,_.___
Recent Activity:
----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/
.

__,_._,___

Blog Archive