Friday, June 17, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Human Rights Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity [2 Attachments]

 
[Attachment(s) from ranjani k.murthy included below]

Dear Pramada

Thanks, I am disseminating.

My concern is specifically with discrimination against people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity who are poor and from marginalised communities (dalits, adivasis, poor Muslims, labourers etc). They are denied basic services, housing, education, employment (even under MNREGS), forced into prostitution, forced into marriage etc.

Sex realignment surgery is available only for male to female transgender in TN public health facilities, why not for female to male? There is a special board for Aravanis in TN, but not for all people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identity. In situations of disasters they are hugely neglected
 
There is too much of focus on "MSM" (I disagree with this term) and "transgender (male to female)" and HIV/AIDS and this leaves out  a whole load of other discrimination faced. In particular the discrimination faced by dalit, adivasi and people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities. There is free mastercheck up for "MSM", transgender (male to female) and women compelled into prostitution in TN, this lumping is not viewed positively by poor people from above groups I met, and they feel discriminated. Why not free master check up for all? They want mental health services which are not part of this package- lot of focus is on STIs. Are they just tools for HIV/AIDS prevention.

I think it would be useful for all <$2 per day to form and alliance together, and include people of diverse sexual and gender identities who are poor within that and democratise that from all aspects of diversity. The HIV/AIDS lobby is pushing for legalisation of prostitution, but I think unless alliance is formed by people of diverse sexual orientation and gender identities with those under $<2 per day, what is just for India is not going to emerge.  

with warm regards
Ranjani

--- On Fri, 17/6/11, Pramada Menon <pramadam@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Pramada Menon <pramadam@gmail.com>
Subject: [feministsindia] Fwd: [sogi] Press Release on Historic UN Vote Today - Please Distribute Widely [2 Attachments]
To: "Feminists India" <feministsindia@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Friday, 17 June, 2011, 7:47 PM

FYI

Begin forwarded message:

From: Kimberley Vance <kim@arc-international.net>
Date: 17 June 2011 5:05:08 PM GMT+05:30
Subject: [sogi] Press Release on Historic UN Vote Today - Please Distribute Widely

Historic Decision at the United Nations:

Human Rights Council Passes First-Ever Resolution on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

 

(Geneva, June 17, 2011) In a groundbreaking achievement for upholding the principles of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the United Nations Human Rights Council has passed a resolution on human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity (L.9/Rev.1).

 

The resolution, presented by South Africa along with Brasil and 39 additional co-sponsors from all regions of the world, was passed by a vote of 23 in favour, 19 against, and 3 abstentions.  A list of how States voted is attached. In its presentation to Council, South Africa recalled the UDHR noting that "everyone is entitled to all rights and freedoms without distinction of any kind" and Brasil called on the Council to "open the long closed doors of dialogue".

 

Today's resolution is the first UN resolution ever to bring specific focus to human rights violations based on sexual orientation and gender identity, and follows a joint statement on these issues delivered at the March session of the council. It affirms the universality of human rights, and notes concern about acts of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. This commitment of the Human Rights Council sends an important signal of support to human rights defenders working on these issues, and recognizes the legitimacy of their work.

 

"The South African government has now offered progressive leadership, after years of troubling and inconsistent positions on the issue of sexual orientation and gender identity. Simultaneously, the government has set a standard for themselves in international spaces. We look forward to contributing to and supporting sustained progressive leadership by this government and seeing the end of the violations we face daily". (Dawn Cavanagh, Coalition of African Lesbians)

 

The resolution requests the High Commissioner for Human Rights to prepare a study on violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, and calls for a panel discussion to be held at the Human Rights Council to discuss the findings of the study in a constructive and transparent manner, and to consider appropriate follow-up.

 

"That we are celebrating the passage of a UN resolution about human rights violations on the basis of sexual orientation is remarkable, however the fact that gender identity is explicitly named truly makes this pivotal moment one to rejoice in," added Justus Eisfeld, Co-Director of GATE.  "The Human Rights Council has taken a step forward in history by acknowledging that both sexual and gender non-conformity make lesbian, gay, trans* and bi people among those most vulnerable and indicated decisively that states have an obligation to protect us from violence."

 

"As treaty bodies, UN special procedures, and national courts have repeatedly recognized, international human rights law prohibits discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity." (Alli Jernow, International Commission of Jurists)

 

The resolution is consistent with other regional and national jurisprudence, and just this week, the 2011 United Nations Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS recognised the need to address the human rights of men who have sex with men, and the Organization of American States adopted by consensus a resolution condemning violence and discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

Earlier in this 17th session of the Human Rights Council, the UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences, Rashida Manjoo, reported to the Council that:

 

"[C]ontributory factors for risk of violence include individual aspects of women's bodily attributes such as race, skin colour, intellectual and physical abilities, age, language skills and fluency, ethnic identity and sexual orientation."

 

The report also detailed a number of violations committed against lesbian, bisexual and trans women, including cases of rape, attacks and murders.  It is therefore regrettable that a reference to "women who face sexuality-related violence" was removed from the final version of another resolution focused on the elimination of violence against women during the same session.  

 

"Despite this inconsistency, we trust the UN resolution on sexual orientation and gender identity will facilitate the integration of the full range of sexual rights throughout the work of the UN." (Meghan Doherty, Sexual Rights Initiative)

 

A powerful civil society statement was delivered at the end of the session, welcoming the resolution and affirming civil society's commitment to continuing to engage with the United Nations with a view to ensuring that all persons are treated as free and equal in dignity and rights, including on the grounds of sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

"Now, our work is just beginning", said Kim Vance of ARC International. "We look forward to the High Commissioner's report and the plenary panel next March, as well as to further dialogue with, and support from, those States which did not yet feel able to support the resolution, but which share the concern of the international community at these systemic human rights abuses." 

 

ARC International, John Fisher (Geneva) +41 79 508 3968 or john@arc-international.net 



Amnesty International, Peter Splinter (Geneva) +41 (0) 22 906 9483 or Emily Gray (London) +44 (0) 20 7413 5865

CAL – Coalition of African Lesbians, Dawn Cavanagh (South Africa) + 27 11 918 6115 or dawn@cal.org.za 



COC Nederland, Björn van Roozendaal
(Netherlands) +31 6 22 55 83 00 or BvanRoozendaal@coc.nl



Council for Global Equality, Mark Bromley (Washington)  +1.202.719.0511 or Mark@globalequality.org

GATE - Global Action for Trans* Equality, Justus Eisfeld (New York) jeisfeld@transactivists.org, +1-646-341-1699 or Mauro Cabral (Argentina) mcabral@transactivists.org or +54 9 351 5589876

Heartland Alliance for Human Needs & Human Rights, Stefano Fabeni (Washington) +1 312-919-3512 or sfabeni@heartlandalliance.org



Human Rights Watch, Siphokazi Mthathi (South Africa) mthaths@hrw.org or + 27 82 777 1319/ +27 11 484 2640 or Juliette De Rivero (Geneva) +41 079 640 1649 or derivej@hrw.org



IDAHO - International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, Joel Bedos (France) jbedos@dayagainsthomophobia.org



IGLHRC - International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission, Jessica Stern (New York) + 1 212 430 6014 or jstern@iglhrc.org



ILGA- the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association, Renato Sabbadini, +32 474 857 950 or renato@ilga.org

International Campaign Stop Trans Pathologization STP 2012, Amets Suess, stp2012@gmail.com

International Commission of Jurists, Alli Jernow (Geneva) +41(0)22 979 3800) or allison.jernow@icj.org

International Service for Human Rights (ISHR), Bjorn Pettersson (Geneva), b.pettersson@ishr.ch, +41 22 919 7117



Sexual Rights Initiative, Meghan Doherty, Sexual Rights Initiative, +41 (0)78 871 6713 or meghan@acpd.ca

Thailand's Sexual Diversity Network, Paisarn Likhitpreechakul +66 81 634 3450 or forsogi@gmail.com

Transgender Europe (TGEU), Carla LaGata (Germany), mana@zedat.fu-berlin.de

 

 

Attachment (Records of Vote and Co-Sponsorship)

 

States supporting the resolution: Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Ecuador, France, Guatemala, Hungary, Japan, Mauritius, Mexico, Norway, Poland, Republic of Korea, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, Thailand, UK, USA, Uruguay

 

States against the resolution: Angola, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Cameroon, Djibouti, Gabon, Ghana, Jordan, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar, Moldova, Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Uganda.

 

Abstentions: Burkina Faso, China, Zambia

 

Absent: Kyrgyzstan, Libya (suspended)

 

Co-Sponsors of the resolution: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Honduras, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania,  Serbia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Timor-Leste, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, and Uruguay.

 


--
Kim Vance, Co-Director
ARC International
132 Prince Albert Road, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 1M6
CANADA


_______________________________________________
sogi-list mailing list
sogi-list@arc-international.net
http://lists.arc-international.net/mailman/listinfo/sogi-list

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Attachment(s) from ranjani k.murthy

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[ZESTCaste] Equality Act 2010 - Invitation to comment on UK Government Website

 

Hello,

You will have at some stage been involved in the lobbying for a change to the Equality Legislation to include provisions to outlaw Caste based discrimination in the UK. The Government is currently inviting comments on the Equality Legislation.

Here is your opportunity to join the debate and make a comment on the following website and about the need to bring into force the provision on Caste contained in the Equality Act 2010 (now over a year old).

http://www.redtapechallenge.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/equalities/

It is vital we record our contributions and comments onto this website.

Regards

Ravi

 

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit activists protest anti-Brahmin remarks by author

 

http://www.newkerala.com/news/2011/worldnews-6356.html

Dalit activists protest anti-Brahmin remarks by author

Pune, June 13 : A few Dalit activists in Maharashtra have demanded
action against a Pune-based author for his anti-Brahmin comments in a
book while Brahmin groups are yet to decide on any action.

A case was registered against author Puroshottam Khedekar Saturday on
the complaints of five activists at the Bund Garden police station in
Pune, a police official said Monday.

Khedekar, who also heads the Maratha Seva Sangh and Sambhaji Brigade,
released his book "Shivrayanchya Badnamichi Kendre" last month, in
which he has made several derogatory remarks against Brahmins.

While the Brahmins here are yet to decide about filing a police
complaint, five Dalits, including academicians and activists,
registered a complaint with Joint Police Commissioner Ashok Dhiware
against Khedekar and his book.

In his book, Khedekar has mentioned that the non-Brahmins should take
revenge on Brahmins by carrying out systematic riots in the state.

Khedekar has also allegedly used derogatory remarks against Brahmin women.

--IANS

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[ZESTCaste] ‘Not opposed to naming varsity after Ambedkar’

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Not-opposed-to-naming-varsity-after-Ambedkar/Article1-710337.aspx

'Not opposed to naming varsity after Ambedkar'
Sayli Udas Mankikar, Hindustan Times
Mumbai, June 17, 2011
Email to Author

First Published: 01:25 IST(17/6/2011)
Last Updated: 01:27 IST(17/6/2011)

Denying that he had ever been anti-Dalit, Shiv Sena chief Bal
Thackeray, on Thursday, clarified that he had never opposed to lending
Dr BR Ambedkar's name to Marathwada University. "There was never any
opposition to giving Ambedkar's name [to the University]. We only
insisted that the name Marathwad
a had historical importance and therefore it should also be retained,"
Thackeray said in his statement. He added that Dalit leader R S Gavai
and NCP leader and Union minister Sharad Pawar were aware of his stand
on the issue and that they should reveal the truth.

Earlier, the Sena had aggressively opposed the renaming of Marathwada
University after Dr Ambedkar, a demand made by Dalit outfits.
Thackeray also blamed a "certain section of the media for always
targeting the Sena and its pro-Marathi stand in order to create a
misunderstanding," before adding, "The Sena has always taken brickbats
for the cause of the Marathi manoos. No matter what opposition we
face, we will keep fighting for the cause."


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[ZESTCaste] Fake hubby‚ brother try to sell off Dalit girl

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Fake+hubby%E2%80%9A+brother+try+to+sell+off+Dalit+girl&NewsID=291390

Fake hubby‚ brother try to sell off Dalit girl

Added At: 2011-06-11 12:34 PM

Last Updated At: 2011-06-11 3:27 PM

"During interrogation‚ the duo admitted they were taking the girl to
India by forging documents"

KANCHANPUR: Two persons, who were taking 18-year-old Laxmi BK of
Bajhang district to India to sell off her, were arrested from
Mahendranagar Buspark.

With the support of organisations working in the field of human
trafficking, police arrested Ram BK of Bajhang's Kacha VDC and his
aide Ramesh BK.

During interrogation, the duo admitted they were taking the girl to
India by forging documents, said coordinator of Sana Haatharu Surendra
Deuja.

Ram BK feigned himself as Laxmi's husband and Ramesh her brother.
Another accomplice was made her father, Deuja said. Ram had lured the
orphaned girl into going to India with a promised to wed her.

Laxmi is now under the shelter of Sana Haatharu and the arrestees
under investigation.


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[ZESTCaste] Pilfered CWG funds could have helped Delhi's Dalits: Mayawati

 

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=245449

Jun 17, 2011

Pilfered CWG funds could have helped Delhi's Dalits: Mayawati

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Flaying the Congress for graft in the
Commonwealth Games, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said here
Thursday that the quantum of money pilfered could have transformed
Dalit colonies in and around Delhi.

Addressing a Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) convention at the Talkatora
Stadium here, Mayawati said: "I am convinced that the Congress
government in the national capital is least interested in the
well-being of Dalits, otherwise a fraction of the billions that were
pocketed away could have change the lives of the underprivileged."

"While the Congress party had always been notorious for indulging in
rampant corruption, the levels to which its functionaries stooped in
the Commonwealth Games has earned the party much disrepute," she said.

Lamenting the "utter apathy" of the Delhi administration towards the
plight of Dalits and other downtrodden castes living in slums,
Mayawati said: "The Delhi administration has failed to realise that it
were these people who gave their sweat and blood to provide Delhi with
a new and modern infrastructure."

She also referred to the hue and cry raised by both Congress and the
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over land acquisition in Noida and
Greater Noida.

"Even as both Congress and BJP were busy criticising my government on
various issues relating to land acquisition, they had not cared to see
how the poor farmers were exploited in the states ruled by the two
parties," the chief minister said.

"While the going rate of agricultural land in the neighbourhood of
Delhi was ranging between Rs.3-10 crore per acre, the Delhi government
was acquiring the same at a paltry rate of Rs.53 lakh per acre," she
said.

She flayed the Congress for showing least interest in the upliftment
of downtrodden classes, including farmers.

"Even though successive Congress governments have been at the helm of
the country's affairs for many decades, its leaders failed to amend a
117-year old archaic land acquisition law," she said.

She said her government had evolved a pro-active land acquisition
policy that had not only substantially raised the level of
compensation but also provided several long term annuities and
employment.

"In case the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) government fails to
table the much awaited land acquisition bill during the monsoon
session of parliament, BSP will lay siege around the parliament," she
warned amidst loud applause.

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[ZESTCaste] Cast in a different mould!

http://www.thehindu.com/arts/cinema/article2109786.ece

June 16, 2011
Cast in a different mould!
Anuj Kumar

Prakash Jha uses the tools of mainstream Bollywood to reveal the
lopsided nature of our education policy.

A painter who loves to reflect his socio-political concerns with the
hues of mainstream Bollywood, Prakash Jha is back with another burning
issue, "Aarakshan". Mandal Commisson Report sounds like a thing of the
past when corruption has become the leitmotif of civil society; Jha
says the film is set in contemporary times, though his script was
ready for four years. "It is timely because the Supreme Court verdict
came only in 2008."

He goes on to add that reservation policy is the pivot but the
underlying comment is on the skewed education system which got a
defining blow when Mandal Commission report was adopted. "The issues
are co-related. When the general seats reduced, the private coaching
networks cropped up. Cities like Kota emerged as the centres for
coaching. Names like Mahesh classes became common. Coaching is a 40-50
thousand crore industry. Private universities, capitation fees are all
by products of a distorted education policy. Buying a seat has becoame
a normal practice. Nobody wants to study pure science, humanities,
literature, everybody wants to do managerial courses or engineering
and medicine. Where are the research scholars? Teaching profession has
no value any more. Those who could not compete in other areas turn to
teaching. All these things are so inter-related that they have been
incorporated in the script," says the Brahmin from Bihar, who chucked
the family trend of joining Indian Administrative Services to try
something different. He was about to join JJ School of Arts before
cinema hooked him for life.

Never judgemental, Jha says his idea is to present all possible faces
of the problem. "Public is smart enough to find its solutions." Jha
puts lack of political will as the main reason behind the state of
affairs. "It is all about the greed for power. For short term gain we
are creating a more unequal society. The divide is increasing. That's
why I say it is India vs India. India is perhaps the only country
where people are protesting to be called backward. Today it is Jat and
Gujjar, tomorrow it might be somebody else."

In the film, Jha's counter to the problem is a teacher played by
Amitabh Bachchan. "He is neither in favour nor against reservation. He
is pro-education and that's the way it should be. He has an open
verandah where every student is welcome. He is maligned, humiliated
for his views but he fights back with the only tool he has:
education." Jha says Bachchan was the only choice for the role. "I
went to him when he was shooting for 'Deewar'. He immediately liked
the idea. It took four years because new developments happened in
between and I like to go for as many drafts as possible so that every
issue is ironed out and I have answers to all the questions of my
actors. On my sets, every actor remains in the character. That's why I
have been able to finish shooting two days ahead of the scheduled
close."

A product of the New Wave, Jha sounds mellower these days. He has
alloyed his hard hitting ways with the needs of the market.
"Raajneeti" was a successful example. "When the open market threw us
out of the system, it became a matter of survival for people like me.
I preferred to swim. When I was making films on a budget of 15 lakhs,
I was not concerned whether they found theatres or not. I was happy
with the awards. Not any more."
New wave-length!

It includes surrendering to marketing scoops like 'Deepika Padukone
learns to make chapatti for "Aarakshan".' It is hard to digest from a
man, who gave us "Damul". "See, when you accept a system, you have to
accept its laws and by-laws as well. I have also released the first
look on the Internet. I am told it works! The film will compete in the
same market where a 'Ready' makes a dent easily. Stars take a serious
issue to a larger audience and the subject demands it. I don't believe
that I can make anybody act. I cast only those stars, who fall into my
scheme of things." Even if they don't know the language well? Saif Ali
Khan has admitted that he was the odd one out when it came to speaking
chaste Hindi in the film. "That's why I do extensive workshops before
the shoot. Language is not the only criterion. Saif brings a certain
texture that I wanted in the character."

In a sense he is smartly using the tools of the market-driven industry
to raise some serious issues. "It's up to you to interpret but what's
wrong with that?" Jha's smile resurfaces.

Is he satisfying his political concerns through cinema? "I have never
subscribed to any political ideology. I wanted the job of a Member of
Parliament but that didn't happen. By the time of next elections, it
will be too late."

Right from his documentary days, Jha has rubbed the Central Board of
Film Certification the wrong way. "I am much calmer now. I don't want
to say anything that's unpalatable. I have learnt if you present an
opinion, there is bound to be a counter opinion." Like the recent
protest where a Dalit organisation questioned the casting of Saif Ali
Khan, a nawab in real life, as a Dalit.

"I am trying to make them understand that their argument – he is a
nawab, he should not play a Dalit – amounts to discrimination,
something they are fighting against all their life."

Is it something in our genes that we find a controversy with every
creative work? "I find it healthy. A contented society ceases to
grow." Jha likes the tag of argumentative Indians.

Jha is not done yet. When the country is seeing news sides of its
spiritual gurus, Jha says he is researching the spiritual side of the
society. "It will take time. My next film will deal with the
perception of development. Who is really developing? The 9-10 percent
growth rate is limited to the 15 per cent of the population of the
country. Mobiles have penetrated into the villages because some
corporates saw big money in the business but where is the basic
infrastructure."


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit woman raped

http://my.news.yahoo.com/dalit-woman-raped-061800404.html

Dalit woman raped
PTI – Thu, Jun 16, 2011

Barabanki (UP), Jun 16 (PTI) A dalit woman was allegedly raped in
Safdarganj area here, police said here today.

The incident took place on Tuesday at Turkani village. A man dragged
her into a field while she was on her way to a market and raped her,
they said.

An FIR has been lodged and efforts were being made to arrest the
accused, police said.


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[ZESTCaste] Cops flayed for ignoring Dalit girl’s murder

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/169098/cops-flayed-ignoring-dalit-girls.html

Cops flayed for ignoring Dalit girl's murder
Lucknow, June 15, DHNS :

For the second time in a fortnight, the Uttar Pradesh police have
found themselves on the back foot over the murder of a dalit minor at
Ramapur village in Sultanpur district.

The police officials, already under fire after the murder of a
teenager inside a police station in Lakhimpur-Kheri district, had
allegedly refused to register any case when eight-year-old Ankita was
found murdered in a nearby village on Saturday.

The SHO of Jaisinghpur police station reportedly refused to file an
FIR in this regard even after Ankita's father approached him many
times. "For the last four days, I have been trying to lodge a
complaint with the police, but they ignored my pleas," Ankita's father
Vikas Prasad alleged.

The police officials had even asked him to bury the body and forget
about the incident. The victim was ultimately buried a few days later.
As the matter came to light, some local politicians exerted pressure
on the police to investigate the matter.

The body of the girl was exhumed on Tuesday and the autopsy revealed
that she had been murdered. According to the report, Ankita had died
of excessive bleeding after being attacked by a sharp-edged weapon on
her neck. "The girl was laying in a pool of blood and her body bore
many injury marks," the villagers claimed.

A murder case has been registered against unidentified assailants,
police said, adding that stern action would be taken against the staff
at the Jaisinghpur police station for failing to register an FIR
immediately.


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[ZESTCaste] PM to inaugurate conference on Dalits

 

http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=245375

Jun 17, 2011

PM to inaugurate conference on Dalits

New Delhi, June 16 (IANS) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will Friday
inaugurate here a conference of ministers of welfare and social
justice from states to discuss issues related to development of the
Scheduled Castes and other backward classes.

According to an official statement, the two-day conference will also
deliberate on self-employment schemes for the rehabilitation of manual
scavengers and the implementation of revised post-Class 10 scholarship
scheme.

It will also monitor progress on simplification of procedure for
issuing disability certificates and schemes related to welfare of
persons with physical challenge.

Schemes for welfare of senior citizens will also be taken up at the
conference, the statement said.

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