Wednesday, May 4, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Police warn of stern action against untouchability

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article1985710.ece

Madurai, May 2, 2011
Police warn of stern action against untouchability
D. Karthikeyan

Lathi wielding policemen moving around in the deserted streets of
Villoor, near Madurai on Monday, after an incident where a Dalit youth
was attacked by caste Hindus following which they were arrested.
Photo: S. James
The Hindu Lathi wielding policemen moving around in the deserted
streets of Villoor, near Madurai on Monday, after an incident where a
Dalit youth was attacked by caste Hindus following which they were
arrested. Photo: S. James

Three persons were seriously injured when police opened fire in a
village in Kallupatti Taluk, about 40 km from Madurai following
clashes between two communities, authorities said today.

Police said the clash in Villoor village, in which 100 people were
arrested yesterday, ensued after people belonging to the dominant
community had seized the two-wheeler of Thanga Pandian, a Dalit
resident of the village who had rode through the street where members
of the dominant community resided.

The members of the dominant community had banned the Dalits, living in
the neighbouring street, from riding on two wheelers or wearing
slippers while walking in their street, police said.

Five persons of the dominant community were arrested in connection
with the seizure of Mr. Thanga Pandian's vehicle.

However, even as the Madurai SP Asra Garg was holding peace talks at
the police station with the local people belonging to both the
communities, people belonging to dominant community pelted stones,
demanding the release of the five arrested persons, injuring some
policemen, officials said.

The cars of the SP and DSPs were also damaged in the stone pelting, they said.

When the two groups clashed again, the situation "went out of control"
and the efforts of the police to quell the violence by lathi charge
and deploying tear gas shells were in vain, they said.

The police subsequently opened fire, in which three were seriously
injured and 15 others suffered minor injuries, they said. Hundred
persons were also arrested, they said.

SP Asra Garg today warned that severe action would be taken against
those committing atrocities against Dalits.

The situation is under control at Villoor village after police has
been deployed, officials said.


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[ZESTCaste] Youth rapes mentally challenged Dalit girl

 

http://www.sify.com/news/youth-rapes-mentally-challenged-dalit-girl-news-national-lfdx4hhabdb.html

Youth rapes mentally challenged Dalit girl
2011-05-03 23:30:00

Jind (Haryana), May 3 (IANS) A youth has been booked here for raping a
20-year-old mentally challenged Dalit girl, police said Tuesday.

The youth, identified as Sukhbir Singh, is absconding.

According to the police, the girl was alone at her house in Siwaha
village in this district Monday when Sukhbir raped her. Her family
members had gone to their fields.

'Sukhbir entered the house of the victim and raped her. It has been
confirmed in the medical report. After committing the crime, he
threatened the victim with dire consequences if she dared to tell
anybody about this,' a police officer said here.

'However, the girl narrated the incident to her parents and they
approached the police today (Tuesday). We have booked Sukhbir for rape
and intimidating the victim. He lives in the same village and we have
started our search operation to arrest him,' he added.

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[ZESTCaste] A village where dalits can't wear footwear or ride bikes

 

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-03/chennai/29498919_1_dalits-asra-garg-caste-discrimination

A village where dalits can't wear footwear or ride bikes
V Mayilvaganan, May 3, 2011, 12.22am IST

MADURAI: Villur, set in a typical agrarian backdrop with about 1,200
households was once a peaceful village that was until the dalits
challenged the diktats of the upper caste' Thevars.

For dalits of Villur, about 50km from Madurai and the scene of
violence on Saturday night, buying a motorcycle was a sign of extreme
luxury just few years back. But only after they managed to buy one
they realized that the bigger challenge was riding it down the neatly
laid Kaliamman street in the village that leads to their colony.

When G Thangapandian (27), a dalit youth, decided to challenge the
caste diktat that dalits should not ride motorcycles on Kaliamman
street, it ended in a brutal attack on his house by a mob of over 500
persons, including women armed with broomsticks.
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"If I am alive now it is because of this grill gate," pointed out G
Murugan, Thangapandian's brother. The gate was damaged in several
places. "The mob tried to break open the gate with boulders, but left
later on Saturday night," said Murugan, fear still evident on his
face.

The dalits, overwhelmed by the sheer numbers and economic status of
the more influential Thevars, obeyed the diktats they did not wear
footwear and they did not ride bicycles or motorcycles on Kaliamman
street. "We are served tea in different tumblers and we are not
entertained in the barber shops in the village," said Murugan's father
Guru.

The village has been a witness to the worst forms of caste
discrimination, as even schools have become a platform for such
practices. "My non-dalit classmates would demand that I address them
as Ayya.' If I call them by their names they would abuse me with
filthy words and threaten me," said M Palani, who just completed his
Plus-Two in the higher secondary school in the village.

It all started about ten years back when the family of Thangapandian,
who owns a seven-acre land beside a poclain vehicle, questioned the
restrictions imposed on dalits. "His family was immediately
ostracized," said Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front
secretary K Samuel Raj.

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[ZESTCaste] Tension grips Indervelli after Dalits- VHP clash

 

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article1987812.ece

Andhra Pradesh
ADILABAD, May 3, 2011
Tension grips Indervelli after Dalits- VHP clash
Staff Reporter

Indervelli mandal headquarters village was tense on Monday as Dalits
and Vishwa Hindu Parishad-Shiv Sena activists clashed over
disappearance of a couple of flags belonging to the former. Police had
to lathicharge to disperse the warring groups, which resulted in minor
injuries to nine persons including Utnoor SI Ramesh.

Dalit organisations had lodged a complaint with police regarding
disappearance of two flags that were put up as part of Ambedkar
anniversary celebrations. The flags had reportedly disappeared on
Sunday night while the Shiv Sena-VHP combine were celebrating Shiv
Jayanti.

Partial bandh

The Dalit organisations gave a call for Indervelli bandh on Monday
morning which was objected to by the business community as it was
shandy day. This resulted in heated arguments between the two groups
which made police to intervene.

Utnoor Deputy Superintendent of Police Md. Sarwar worked out a
compromise according to which the market was to observe bandh for
half-a-day. However, some businessmen did not adhere to the agreement
which drew angry reactions from Dalits.

The rally taken out by Dalits ended up in a clash with Sena-VHP
activists. Activists from both sides were injured in the incident.

Police then cane-charged the clashing groups to restore order.

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[ZESTCaste] Stress on holistic approach to Dalit liberation

 

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/02/stories/2011050253160300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Vellore

Stress on holistic approach to Dalit liberation

Special Correspondent

VELLORE: South India has the largest number of oppressed people in the
world, according to A.M. Chinnappa, Archbishop of Chennai and
president of the Tamil Nadu Catholic Bishops' Council (TNBC).

Releasing the Dalit Bible Commentaries (DBC) at a function organised
in connection with the 10th anniversary celebrations of the Centre for
Dalit/Subaltern Studies (CDS) at the Bishop's House here on Saturday,
Rev. Chinnappa said that in no other part of the world there are so
many oppressed persons as in South India. Tamil Nadu is the State
where casteism is most prevalent in India, followed by Andhra Pradesh.
The attempt of the Dalit Bible Commentaries, namely Deuteronomy and 1
& 2 Samuel Commentaries, is to lead the people from darkness that
casteism symbolises, into light. The Archbishop said that the Dalits
constitute the root of theology, and therefore, the task of liberation
of Dalits should be taken up after integrating the different
theologies. Any attempt at Dalit liberation should not only involve
the oppressed people but also the oppressors, to have a holistic
approach towards the goal of Dalit liberation, he said.

Rev. Chinnappa honoured James Massey, Director, CDS and author of 1 &
2 Samuel Commentaries, and Monodeep Daniel, author of Deuteronomy. I.
John Mohan Razu introduced the commentaries. The guests received
copies of the commentaries from the Archbishop.

Rev. Y. William, Church of South India Bishop of Vellore, released the
Leviticus and Numbers Commentaries.

Rev. P. Soundararaju, Catholic Bishop of Vellore and Chairman of TNBC
Commission for Youth, welcomed the gathering.

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[ZESTCaste] For the first time, a women and Dalit, mayor of Bangalore

 

http://www.asianews.it/news-en/For-the-first-time,-a-women-and-Dalit,-mayor-of-Bangalore-21430.html

04/30/2011 10:23
INDIA
For the first time, a women and Dalit, mayor of Bangalore
by Nirmala Carvalho
Sharadamma was elected unanimously. She is the 45th mayor of the city,
the 5th woman. Her promise is to "renew Bangalore, without changing
its identity." Only a year ago, she was a homemaker.

New Delhi (AsiaNews) - Sharadamma, 45, is the first Dalit woman to
become mayor of Bangalore (Karnataka),since the Bruhat Bangalore
Mahanagara Palikè (Bbmp), was established. The election took place
yesterday and was unanimous. She is the 5th woman mayor and the city's
45th mayor.

Newly elected Shadaramma spoke of her plans for Bangalore, saying that
the problems the city faces will be resolved through dialogue.
"Certain issues - she said - can not be solved overnight." And she
promised to renew the city without changing its identity.

Shadaramma said: "There are women of all communities who need
assistance so they can obtain the proper recognition of their rights."

The woman received an overwhelming welcome to the Council. The
Minister of Housing and Transport R. Ashoka greeted with satisfaction
the apparent availability of the new mayor to face the challenges
ahead.

Only a year ago, Shadaramma was a homemaker. Shortly after she became
a Councilor in Shettihalli, before being given this prestigious role.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit thrashed for riding bike in ‘upper caste’ lane

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/3/2011050420110504053407137a70401f4/Dalit-thrashed-for-riding-bike-in-%E2%80%98upper-caste%E2%80%99-lane.html

Dalit thrashed for riding bike in 'upper caste' lane

Incident sparks riots in a Madurai village, cops arrest 54 people

Gladwin Emmanuel

Posted On Wednesday, May 04, 2011 at 05:33:59 AM

In Chennai In a shocking reminder that many parts of rural India are
still locked in the dark ages, a 24-year-old Dalit man was thrashed in
a Tamil Nadu village for riding a motorbike.

Police cordoned off the entire street in Villoor village, Madurai
after the incident

Villoor village near Madurai remained tense on Tuesday, 24 hours after
G Thangapandian was abused and thrashed for riding a motorbike in the
streets where members of 'upper castes' live.

Thangapandian's injuries moved his community to swear revenge, and
clashes broke out in the village, leading to the arrest of 54 people
on Monday.

Discrimination against dalits

Locals remained indoors fearing clashes
Villoor is notorious for the way Dalits are treated here.

Police sources in the village said there have been complaints of
Dalits not allowed to sit on benches at tea shops, and forced to wash
glasses in which they are given tea or coffee.

On Monday, situation worsened after many members of the non-Dalit
communities were arrested.

Protesters pelted stones on Tuesday
A mob attacked Dalit homes, and pelted police vehicles with stones.
This led to police firing a few rounds in the air.

An 18-year-old lad, P Kalimuthu, and three others were injured in the
lathi charge.

A police official said, "We have to send a message that discrimination
of any kind won't be tolerated.

Those guilty of hitting the Dalit man, and subsequent riots will be
brought to justice."


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[ZESTCaste] Trouble brews at Eflu over beef in menu

 

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-03/hyderabad/29499005_1_beef-festival-abvp-students-eflu

Trouble brews at Eflu over beef in menu
May 3, 2011, 12.24am IST

HYDERABAD: The beef row on English and Foreign Languages University
(Eflu) campus intensified on Monday. While Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi
Parishad (ABVP) activists maintained that they would attack anyone who
cooks beef on campus, a large group of students lead by Dalit Adivasi
Bahujan Minority Students' Association (DABMSA) and Telangana
Students' Association, said that they will continue the agitation till
beef gets accepted in the hostel food guide.

Trouble started on campus on April 30 when dalit students of the
university who tried to conduct a " beef festival" were allegedly
beaten up by ABVP activists who also reportedly desecrated the food.

On Monday, beef supporters initiated a "food bandh" on campus, closing
down the hostel messes, canteens and stores demanding inclusion of
beef dishes in the mess menu. The students said that no food will be
available on campus if their demands were not met.

The campus remained tense on Monday with several student groups
holding meetings with university authorities demanding immediate
action on those who indulged in vandalism on campus. Considering the
sensitivity of the situation, police personnel from Osmania University
police station were deputed at Eflu campus.

"We have started a non-cooperation and have been on a hunger strike
since Sunday night till our demands are met. We have decided to
continue with the agitation till our demands are met," said L Rajesh,
a member DABMSA. DASMA demanded that the university authorities should
issue a statement saying that the students have the right to hold
similar food festivals on campus.

Meanwhile, the issue drew attention of student groups of other
Universities including Osmania University (OU) and University of
Hyderabad (UoH). Dalit Students' Union (DSU) of UoH campus has joined
DABMSA in the protest by bring out posters in support. "University as
an institution of learning should protect the interests of dalit
students also and prevent a cultural negation that has been going on
in the country since long," a DSU poster read. Some social and human
rights activists are also expected to extend support to students. "We
are expecting that a public interest litigation (PIL) will be filed by
Karthik Navayan, an activist to get a court order supporting the
inclusion of beef in the hostel menu," said a member of DABMSA.

Meanwhile, ABVP students against whom complaints were filed by DABMSA
at OU police station said that including beef in the mess menu with
the permission of university administration is out of question. "There
are Hindu students whose beliefs would be hurt by such an act. We are
accountable to them and hence we are against the festival," said a
member of the ABVP body on campus.

Meanwhile, the university authorities said that they have set up an
enquiry committee to look into the incident. "Once the enquiry
committee ascertains facts about the incident we will look into the
demands of students," said Nagamallika Gudipaty, dean, school of
communication and spokesperson Eflu.

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[ZESTCaste] PLEAESE CONTACT ARUL DOSS, NAPM: arul.borntowin@gmail.com

 

this is the prelude to my earlierposting. i would be grateful if arul could be enrolled so that he can post directly. if not possible revert

also follow save thervoy kandigai on face book.. daily things are being loaded
ranjani

________________________________________________________
Dalit Women's struggle against destruction of environment and for right to life and livelihood in Thervoy Kandigai

Thervoy Kandigai and Neighbouring villages

Thervoy Kandigai is located at Gummudipoondi taluk of Thiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu state. It is 73 kms North of Chennai city, and 23 kilometer from the Kaverapettai junction of the Nellore Highway (NH5). It is 8 kilometers from the state High Way 52 towards Sakthiyavedu. Under Therovy Kandigai panchayat there are six villages namely: Therovy, Thervoy Colony, Dr Ambedkar Nagar, Villiyar (schedule tribe), Thervoy Kandigai (dalit village) and Thirvalluvar Nagar.

The ongoing SIPCOT Industrial Park is hosted in Thervoy Kandigai on 1127 acres of land which hosts Thondaiman Lake, Mekkal Poromboke land (actually a village forest land under the joint forest management scheme- See Annexure 1), Dr Ambedkar Nagar and village burial ground. The 1127 acres acts as a catchment area feeding several lakes and ponds irrigating agricultural land, providing water for drinking, livestock and in-land fisheries for 25 villages and hamlets including the six villages mentioned above. Agriculture and animal husbandry is the mainstay of all these villages, and people harvest two to three crops per year.

Thervoy Kandigai alone has a population of 2667, and a sex ratio of 1002, which is likely to decline if agriculture declines as women's work force participation in agriculture is higher than in industries or services. Dalits constitute two thirds of Thervoy Kandigai

SIPCOT industrial park and likely environment impact

The proposed industrial park of 1127 acre land is supposed to host the following units: Michelin Tyre Company, aluminum and ferrous alloy metal-maker Hunter Douglas India private Limitied, Harsha Float Glass and Harsha Exito Engineering Private Limited. However investigation by an activist reveals that there is also a brewery which is supposed to come up, linked to the ruling party.

The Environment Impact Assessment study done by Dr. Lakshmanan, the Madras Institute of Development Studies (MIDS) notes that the agriculture, livestock and other livelihoods of the Thervoy Kandigai village as well as the other 24 villages will be affected if the Industrial Park comes up in the Thondaiman Lake and Mekkal Poromboke land (Dr Lakshmanan, 2010, Summary attached as Annexure 2). The Mekkal Poromboke land also plays hosts to a variety of medicinal plants, fruits and herbs. The enquiry by National Alliance of People's Movements suggests that access to drinking water (classified as class A), fuel wood, open space for toilets and menstrual hygiene would also get affected, affecting women more than men.

The Environment Impact Assessment study done by Dr Lakshmanan, the MIDS notes that the area will receive less rainfall which will affect storage of water in lakes and ground water supply. The quality of atmospheric air and environment would become warm and hot unsuitable for many species The air and ground water pollution would affect people's health and increase vulnerability to contagious diseases. The same report notes that the proposed industries would affect the village nerve system, people's land, agriculture and socio cultural milieu and above all environment degradation and ground water depletion. Further, the industrial establishments will bring along real estate, hotels restaurants, and business centers which might require more land and resources. The Professor from the MIDS notes that ultimately the local communities who live in the village at present would be forced to sell their agriculture land and live without dignity


Undemocratic process of decision making, unjust government EIA and no pollution control board clearance

Undemocratic process
Just before the SIPCOT industry commenced in 2009 (announced in 2007), there was a non judicial agreement dated 21-12-2008 between forest department and Thervoy Panchayat stating that the Mekkal grazing land (also classified as reserve forest) will be managed by the panchayat for the year 2008-2009, and then handed over to the Village Forest Committee for management between 2009- 12 (See Annex 1).

Further, Gram Sabha which was held on 15-8-2009 in which majority of the six village/hamlets under Therovy Kandigai Panchayat were present took part did not approve the project as it would affect their lives and livelihood (Annexure 3). So it is not clear how the 1325 acres of Mekkal Poromboke/grazing land was handed over without people approving it.

Unjust and False EIA

The EIA report of TN Pollution Control Board evaluating parameters of the industries speaks of nil distance to sensitive zones and assures zero air or water pollution. It mentions that the water required for the industries would be only 4.5 MLD which be sourced through Chennai Metro water. It is deliberately silent about the disastrous implications the proposed industries will have on its native population- a most strikingly, a complete cessation of farming and allied activities. Curiously the EIA report claims that within the 10 km radius of acquired land no protected living beings, water bodies area or sanctuaries exist. In fact it states that "Around the 10 Km radius, there is no vegetation. But a very small area of protected forest is there". On 2/8/2010 SIPCOT CMD Niranjan Modi was unavailable for reaction to the MIDS Professor Dr Lakshmanan. Mr M.R.J General Manager of Sipcot claimed that the EIA had been done and a public hearing was held, which people had approved (cited in Annexure 4), when actually people had not approved in (improper) public hearing , and as per Gram Sabha resolution(Annexure 3).

The public hearing on the implications of the SIPCOT industrial park was held in Gummudipundi, 15 km away from Thervoy Kandigai, which itself is an improper procedure. Hence the public hearing should be again held. The officials in the public hearing admitted that it failed to take into account the inconsistency in the species of flora and fauna reported in the study area, besides lack of studies on the impact during monsoons and loss of employment due to the establishment of the industrial park.

Lack of pollution control clearance:

Madhumita Datta, an Independent Researcher and Activist, filed a RTI on 25/2/2011 with the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board on whether pollution control clearance was obtained and was informed on 24-3-2011 by the TN Pollution Control Board that it had not issued consent for Establishment to the SIPCOT Industrial Park at Thervoy Kandigai. See Annexure 5.


Ongoing destruction and its impact

Discussions with villagers by activists and researchers associated with NAPM reveal that a check dam built by the forest department in 1995 in the MekKal Porumboke land/Forest department has already destroyed by the SIPCOT. This is going to affect water security. Of 7 lakes, three have been closed by SIPCOT according to the villagers of Thervoy Kandigai who were met in the last week of April. THAT IS EARLIER SCHEMES OF GOVERNMENT ARE BEING ERODED BY THE INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Sadly women reported that one young woman who went to collect fuel had to face a naked man, and came back. Now they are forced to go in groups of ten to collect fuel, to use open space as toilets and for menstrual hygiene.

Protest of affected women and men government's repression

The people of Thervoy Kandigai have been protesting since 2007 to 2011 against the proposed/ongoing SIPCOT industrial park using a variety of democratic and peaceful methods like road blocks, hunger strikes, demonstrations, padayatra (10/10/2010), holding of mass meetings, boycott of elections and surrendering of ration cards and election cards. Sixty one people (including six women) were arrested on 9-1-2009 inspite of such democratic protests against destruction of right to life and livelihood. They were subsequently released on bail. On 15/2/2011 eight male youth were arrested and released on bail.

When a group of youth went to the next village using their traditional path in the village forest area a case was registered by the police at the behest of Michelin Tyre company that they indulged in violence which was a total falsehood. This sparked a wave of protest in the form of an indefinite hunger fast in March, 2011 for ten days by thousand residents of Thervoyal Kandigai. During the hunger fast all local political parties took part, and the Collector asked the people to withdraw the hunger strike on the plea that the case would be withdrawn against the youth, and there would be no more construction of the companies in the SIPCOT industrial park. However, this commitment was not adhered to. There was a public meeting on 15th March, 2011, which was attended by Ms Medha Patkar, National Convenor, National Alliance of People's Movement. After two days 500 women from Thervoy Kandigai stopped construction materials of Michelin Tyre Company peacefully. The Superintendent of Police, Thirvullavur district sent a contingent of 500 policemen and police women who mercilessly indulged in lathi charge against the women, a violation of their right to protest. Some women's jackets were ripped (see Annexure 6). Police raided some of the houses and broke the bikes and hit some of the youth. 158 women and 10 male youth were arrested, and retained in a Mandapam in Ponneri till midnight and women were released while ten male youth were remanded to custody. A case under Public Property Damage Act was filed against them. After fifteen days they were released on bail, but still the case against them has not been dropped. The youth leader of National Alliance of Peoples Movement filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission on 24/03/2011 (case no 222/22/12/2011).

THUS THE SIPCOT TAKING OVER THE VILLAGE FOREST/MEKKAL POROMBOKE LAND IS DESTRUCTIVE OF FORESTS, WATER RESOURCES AND, AGRICULTURE, HENCE A VIOLATION OF RIGHT TO LIFE AND LIVELIHOOD AND WILL LEAD TO GREATER POVERTY, INEQUALITIES, UNREST AND MARGINALISATION OF WOMEN.
IT IS UNDEMOCRATIC, WITHOUT PROPER PUBLIC CONSULTATION BASED ON FALSE OFFICIAL EIA AND OVERLOOKING GRAM SABHA RESOLUTION, THUS TOTALLY ILLEGAL, AND UNWARRANTED, AGAINST PUBLIC INTEREST AND ONLY TO AID CORPORATE PROFIT.

SUCH DESTRUCTION WOULD ALSO LEAD TO RISE IN FOOD PRICES, DECLINE IN WOMEN'S ECONOMIC CONDITION AND THEIR VULNERABILITY TO SEXUAL EXPLOITATION, AND FURTHER DECREASE IN CHILD SEX RATIO

HENCE WE URGE THE GOVERNMENT TO TAKE THE FOLLOWING ACTION IMMEDIATELY:
&#61656; THE SIPCOT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX IN THERVOY KANDIGAI SHOULD BE WITHDRAWN IMMEDIATELY AND THE ENVIRONMENT CLEARANCE IF GIVEN FOR SIPCOT INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX SHOULD BE CANCELLED
&#61656; DAMAGES ALREADY DONE TO THE WATER BODIES, FORESTS AND RESOURCES SHOULD BE RECTIFIED AND RESOURCES RESTORED
&#61656; CASES AGAINST YOUTH SHOULD BE DROPPED
&#61656; COMPENSATION SHOULD BE GIVEN TO VICTIMS OF ATROCITIES
&#61656; PENAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THE MAN FOR INDECENT BEHAVIOUR.
&#61656; PENAL ACTION SHOULD BE TAKEN AGAINST THE COMPANIES FOR HAVING INDULGED IN VIOLATIONS
&#61656; ALL SIPCOTS IN THE STATE AND COUNTRY SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF AFFECTED PEOPLE'S REPRESENTATIVES, PEOPLE'S MOVEMENTS AND INDEPENDENT RESEARCHERS

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[ZESTCaste] One more party for Dalits in Uttar Pradesh

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Ws0405112CASTE.asp

One more party for Dalits in Uttar Pradesh

Former bureaucrat Udit Raj wants to challenge Mayawati's dominance by
giving voice to the margianlised among Dalits

Arpit Parashar
New Delhi

The political development of the last week have thrown a new, surprise
candidate in the power equation of caste politics. Former bureaucrat
Udit Raj, the man at the forefront of the campaign to push for OBC and
SC/ST reservations in the private sector, has formed a new
socio-political front called the Upekshit Dalit Mahapanchayat in Uttar
Pradesh.

Though politicians have heard of Raj's efforts, most of them have not
taken notice of the development. A senior BJP politician, speaking to
the media "off the record" after a press conference, laughingly
dismissed the "concept" of upekshit (marginalised) Dalits as
imaginary.

However, one must not forget that the initial reaction of the
mainstream parties to the formation of now-successful Dalit parties,
like the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), was one of dismissal. The Congress
often ridiculed the rise of Mayawati's BSP two decades back. It seemed
to tell the BSP, "Align with a mainstream party, or you will lose
relevance."

Related

D for Dalit, D for defiance
Dalits, like flies to feudal lords
'Mayawati Is Insecure As A Woman And Dalit'

Ironically, in the case of Uttar Pradesh, the BSP has become the
mainstream party and the Congress a marginal player.

The Mayawati brand of politics and the successful assertion movement
led by the Kanshi Ram's Backward and Minority Communities Employees'
Federation (BAMCEF) has translated into successful electoral campaigns
and subsequent victories for the BSP over the years. She is presently
serving her fourth term as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, after
having served three short terms between 1995 and 2003.

And, she won in Uttar Pradesh on her own by engineering a major social
change last time around. She came to power without any support from
the Congress, the BJP, or the Samajwadi Party in 2007.

Why then has Raj formed a front that will only weaken a successful
movement of the country's most underprivileged and oppressed castes?
Observers believe that Raj's movement is an attempt at addressing the
problems that the Dalits face under Mayawati. They point out that
power, as is always the case in Uttar Pradesh, benefitted a particular
caste group.

"The question is not what Mayawati can do to [Dalits], but what we can
do to us," writer and journalist Chittibabu Padavala wrote about the
meaning of Mayawati's victory in 2007 in The Economic and Political
Weekly.

The Dalits have definitely benefited, not just by their own assertion
but with consistent efforts of the state government too. Caste
atrocities have reduced, affirmative action has been taken and they
are much better represented in the administrative and political
structures now. But, looking deeper, one finds it is only the Jatavs,
who are reaping benefits this time.

Raj says, "Only Jatavs!" And, why is it so? "Because Mayawati is a
Jatav too," says Raj.

Politicians and observers say that while power has changed hands and
the traditional ruling castes are no longer the ones in power, the
state has seen the emergence of a new feudal system with Jatavs as the
dominant caste.

Jatavs make up nearly 57 percent of the Dalits in Uttar Pradesh, and
eight to nine per cent of its total population, almost same as that of
the Yadavs. The BSP broke the backbone of Samajwadi Party's successful
Yadav-Thakur voter base, using its stronghold among the Jatavs in
2007.

Jatavs are now emerging as an assertive caste in the state, especially
with their numbers in the administration growing rapidly in the past
decade. "A simple analysis of the data on recent appointments in the
police and the administration shows a 30 to 35 per cent increase in
the number of appointments of Jatavs," a senior BSP minister told
Tehelka on the condition of anonymity.
Mayawati

Mayawati

Many top postings are recommended from Lucknow. Many other happen
almost by default when the candidate is Jatav. It is considered a safe
bet to have a senior Jatav officer in any district administration.

The Jatavs have been politically conscious and involved since the time
of Babu Jagjivan Ram of the Congress in the 1960s. Then when Kanshi
Ram and Mayawati came together, Jatavs took the BAMCEF's assertion
movement forward. And they still do: they form a large chunk of the
BSP cadre.

"This constant hammering of her caste's identity has made them
politically forward looking," Raj says.

The other castes among the Dalits, on the other hand, are still
underrepresented in the state government jobs, making up barely five
to eight per cent of the force in the administration and the police in
the state, that too only on lower posts. Off the record, senior
officials in Uttar Pradesh say that most of the housing schemes for
Dalits in the state have benefited Jatavs more than any other caste.

"Fruits of governance have gone to just one caste. There is no
difference between this regime and the other regimes in the past.
Rather, the discrimination is much more open under Mayawati's rule,"
Raj alleges.

The socioeconomic rise of the Jatavs has on the one hand made them
confident, and they have stood up to the higher castes in the state,
while on the other hand they have also fallen prey to the feudal
practices alien to the Jatav society.

They are traditionally a more equal caste and not patriarchal. But,
that has changed over the past decade and has often resulted in crimes
against lower Dalit castes.

The number of rape cases involving Jatav men has seen a constant rise
in western Uttar Pradesh, a phenomenon, senior police officials say,
has not been noticed before. Jatavs are often caught in cases of
atrocities against other lower Dalit castes as well as the higher
castes.

In the Jewar village in Greater Noida near Delhi, where an
international airport and India's first F1 racing track will come up
soon, a minor girl from the Valmiki community was raped by a Jatav man
in 2008.

Her ordeal did not end there. She was married off to the man who raped
her within a few days. The village panchayat consulted both the
families in the presence of the police and elders made the decisions.
The girl now has two children and is not allowed to even step outside
the house.

This is not the only such case. There have been many similar cases
across western Uttar Pradesh involving Jatavs, information on which is
regularly fudged to keep the official counts down.

While Mayawati represents the political force that has consolidated
the Dalit vote, Raj partly represents the Dalit movement outside of
electoral political framework working towards a caste-less society. He
has led campaigns across the country as head of various Dalit unity
groups to open up the communities to conversion to other religions.
Thousands of Dalits have embraced Buddhism, Islam and Christianity and
snubbed the Hindutva forces, irking the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and
similar groups repeatedly.

Raj has also challenged Mayawati many a time over the past decade to
embrace Buddhism and put an end to the casteist politics altogether.
"The objective is the revival of Buddhism to create a caste-less
society, so that the decadent social structure can be changed," he
says.

But, Mayawati has consistently attacked him and leaders from all other
lower Dalit castes in a derogatory way, he alleges. "Mayawati has been
repeatedly pointing out who belongs to which caste. She called Ram
Vilas Paswan a Dusadh, pointed out that Bangaru Laxman is a Valmiki,
and called me a Khatik," he said.

"And then in 2008 she announced that her successor will only be a
chamar. She has discriminated within the party and openly too. But,
you cannot, in India, in a democracy, say who will be your successor
and treat the voter base like it is your kingdom. Why preach about the
Bahujan samaj when you openly discriminate and say only a chamar will
be the successor? Why not any Ambedkarite, irrespective of the caste?"
he questions.

Raj formed the Indian Justice Party in 2003, after quitting a
government job in 2001. He had ideas very different from that of the
BSP. He wanted to push for an equal education system, job reservations
for Dalits in the private sector and unite the voters on those lines.

But, now he says it is not the way to go forward. A sense of
disillusionment over the four years of Mayawati's present rule has
changed his approach. "I have realised that ideology, development and
even honesty do not play a very important role in Uttar Pradesh. Caste
configurations and equations do," he says.

The main agendas of his party have not attracted the communities or
the voters. Hence, the new front with a different approach, he says.

Dalit leaders from other parties have joined him too. Ram Nihore
Rakesh from the Congress convinced him to form the Upeskshit Dalit
Mahapanchayat to fight the rights of castes lower in hierarchy, like
Pasi, Dhobi, Kori and Khatik.

"These castes are not aware, educated and conscious of participation
in the government and about their rights in governance," Raj says.

He realises that the caste system cannot be rooted out so easily; it
will exist; people in Uttar Pradesh will vote along caste lines.

He now plans to unite leaders representing the marginalised sections
from all parties and bring them together. He also wants to collaborate
with other parties representing marginalised groups, like the Peace
Party, which represents the Muslims in the state.

Jats found the Rashtriya Lok Dal, Yadavs and Gurjjars found Mulayam
Singh Yadav, Thakurs found Amar Singh and Jatavs found Mayawati. Maybe
it is time for another ignored section of Uttar Pradesh to find
representation in the state, where caste loyalties run deep.

Whether Udit Raj succeeds and his ideas translate into votes and
electoral success in the 2012 assembly elections or not, he can still
play a very important role in bringing debate to the Dalit discourse
and push the political system a step closer towards the marginalised
within the Dalits.

Arpit Parashar is a Senior Correspondent with Tehelka.com.
arpit.parashar@tehelka.com

Posted on 04 May 2011


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