Thursday, July 28, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Free UPSC exam coaching for SC/ST/OBC

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Free-UPSC-exam-coaching-for-SC/ST/OBC/articleshow/9384173.cms

Free UPSC exam coaching for SC/ST/OBC
Manjiri Damle, TNN | Jul 27, 2011, 05.08PM IST

PUNE: Maharashtra government's Pune based Yashwantrao Chavan academy
of development and administration (Yashada) will conduct an entrance
test for admission to Babasaheb Ambedkar competitive exam coaching
centre on October 2.

The coaching centre will offer free coaching to candidates of
scheduled caste, scheduled tribe, nomads, other backward classes and
denotified tribes for competitive exam to be conducted by the union
public service commission (UPSC) in 2012. Some seats will also be
reserved for women candidates.

The October 2 entrance exam will select 60 candidates who will receive
free coaching from top state government bureaucrats for 11 months.
Selected candidates will be given free lodging, boarding at Yashada
and monthly stipend of Rs 2500 each. Besides they will also get
facilities like library, internet, computer and study room for free.

The entrance exam will be of 200 marks and will be based on 2011 UPSC
prelim exam pattern. Candidates who hold a degree of any recognised
university and have domicile certificate can appear for the exam which
will be conducted in association with N Wadia college.

Candidates will have to submit their applications by August 30 and
applications forms can be downloaded from www.yashada.org/acec or
www.geexam.com websites. Filled forms with Rs 250 exam fee either in
the form of demand draft or cash should be sent to Centre for talent
search and excellence, Nowrosjee Wadia college, V K Jog road, camp,
Pune 1.

The entrance exam will be conducted at Pune, Nagpur, Nashik,
Aurangabad, Amravati and Mumbai during 11 am to 1 pm.

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar lesson for JNU & DU in court

http://www.telegraphindia.com/1110728/jsp/nation/story_14300115.jsp

Ambedkar lesson for JNU & DU in court
OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, July 27: The country would not have had a B.R. Ambedkar and
its "brilliant Constitution" if he was denied college admission over
low marks, the Supreme Court said today, criticising JNU and Delhi
University for failing to fill OBC quotas.

"The minimum pass mark those days was 35 per cent. Dr Ambedkar had got
37 per cent marks. If you had denied him admission at the threshold,
would you have had a Dr Ambedkar and a brilliant Constitution?" a
two-judge bench said while hearing a plea against the OBC reservation
policies of the two universities.

OBC reservations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) have never in
the past three years touched the 27 per cent mandated under a 1993
central act.

In 2008-09, it reserved only 12 per cent seats, excluding the creamy
layer that was expected to compete in the general category. While only
9.93 per cent got in through the quota, another 10.33 per cent came in
on merit. JNU then showed its total OBC reservation for the year as
20.26 per cent.

Delhi University (DU) has been giving a 10 per cent relaxation in
marks to OBC candidates over the general category percentage but with
cut-offs touching almost 100 per cent, OBC students are expected to
get a minimum of 90 per cent to get into some of its elite colleges.

To justify this, DU has fallen back on a 2008 Supreme Court judgment
that said the difference between the general cut-off and backward
cut-off should not be more than 10 per cent. The aim was to balance
the needs of the weaker sections with considerations of merit.

As a result of the cut-off mechanism, effective OBC reservation in DU
has been in single digits, virtually nullifying the central act.

Both universities have been diverting the vacant OBC seats to the
general category, something the top court had said earlier they could
do.

But at today's hearing, Justice R.V. Raveendran, sitting alongside
Justice A.K. Patnaik, suggested the merit argument was being stretched
too far. "Let us not harp only on merit. Equality is only equality
between equals, not unequals. Some push is necessary for some, whether
some like it or dislike it," said Raveendran, who was part of a
five-judge bench that had in 2008 upheld the 27 per cent quota.

To say general candidates have 90 per cent and no OBC students with
less than 80 per cent will get in is "very "unreasonable", Raveendran
said.

"Institutions are required to help them (weaker sections). Money gives
you access to better coaching, better standard of living. So more
marks does not mean more clever. You (the varsities) must take
material that is not the best and make them the best. You cannot
insist that you will take the best," he said, appearing to suggest
high scores could come from having had facilities weaker sections
often don't have.

The strong pro-quota observations by the judge and his presence on the
bench that had upheld the OBC quota law prompted a response from a
group of anti-reservation students. P.P. Rao, the group's lawyer,
insisted the judges send back the matter to Chief Justice S.H. Kapadia
to be placed before another bench.

Rao kept emphasising the minority judgment of Justice Dalveer Bhandari
in the five-judge bench judgment which had warned against a too large
gap between cutoffs for general students and those from weaker
sections. He implied that another judge (Justice Raveendran) could not
interpret Bhandari's words. Justice Raveendran then recused himself
from the matter, ensuring the debate remained inconclusive.


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[ZESTCaste] Dr.Ambedkar wanted states' division on linguistic basis - Lagadapati

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5juKjEUA0Q

Dr.Ambedkar wanted states' division on linguistic basis - Lagadapati

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[ZESTCaste] Scholarship scheme for madarsa girls a farce: SP

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Scholarship-scheme-for-madarsa-girls-a-farce-SP/Article1-726265.aspx

Scholarship scheme for madarsa girls a farce: SP
Press Trust Of India
Lucknow, July 27, 2011

Accusing the BSP-led Mayawati government of making false promises, the
Samajwadi Party on Wednesday said its announcement of scholarships for
madarsa-going girls was nothing but a farce. "The state government has
a long history of making false promises. Announcing scholarships for
madarsa
girls is nothing but a farce," Ahmad Hasan, Leader of the Opposition
in Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council, told reporters here.

He alleged the state government had not distributed scholarships to
minority students to the tune of Rs 34 crore last fiscal.

In October 2008 during a convention of religious leaders, Mayawati had
announced that Urdu teachers would be appointed in Muslim-dominated
areas, Hasan said.

The CM should tell how many Urdu teachers had been appointed and where
they had been posted, he said.

SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had recruited 14 per cent Muslims
during his regime, Hasan said.

The BSP government had recruited 33,000 police jawans in which only
two per cent -- 650 are Muslims, he claimed.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits' needs to be brought to Centre

 

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/kochi/dalits-needs-to-be-brought-to-centre/298627.html

Dalits' needs to be brought to Centre

Express News Service
Last Updated : 28 Jul 2011 09:34:41 AM IST

KOCHI: AICC general secretary Shanimol Usman has said the emergency
needs of the Dalit society in Kerala will be brought to the notice of
the Central Government. She was inaugurating the district-level
meeting held by the Bharatiya Dalit Congress. Dalit Congress state
president K Vidyadharan presided over the function. AICC
representatives Arun Nathan, Nirmala and Anushree shared their views
on the Indian National Congress and the needs of Dalits. DCC general
secretaries A K Raju and V K Thankaraj also attended the meeting.

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[ZESTCaste] The lesser among the Dalits

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main50.asp?filename=Ws280711The_lesser.asp

Posted on 28 July 2011
OPINION
RESERVATION

The lesser among the Dalits

Dominic Emmanuel explains why converted Christians need reservation

Illustration: Mayanglambam Dinesh

CHRISTIANS OF Dalit origin along with many Archbishops and Bishops are
currently on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and
will end their relay fast of three days today with a march from the
Ramlila grounds to parliament. Though the government doesn't like
hunger strikes after the Anna Hazare and the Baba Ramdev episodes,
Christian leaders have still decided to go ahead with the strike
because their demand goes back 61 years. The struggle of Dalit
Christians and Muslims seeking the status of SCheduled Castes started
after the Constitution (SC) Presidential Order 1950, para 3, removed
the privileges given to SCheduled Caste converts who were not Hindus.
But even though the privileges were restored to Sikhs (1956) and to
Buddhists (1990), Christians and Muslims, who have been pressing upon
successive governments for 61 years, have not been granted that and
there seems to be little hope for them.

Notwithstanding the Supreme Court 1985 case of Soosai versus Union of
India, a PIL was filed by the Centre for Public Interest Litigation
represented by Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan in March 2004,
backed by firm data from numerous studies to show how converted Dalits
to Christianity continued to suffer the same fate as before. The
Supreme Court then asked for the government's response, which was
submitted by the then Attorney General Milon Banerjee in February
2005, saying, "It is (a) matter of policy and legislation and the
courts should keep out of it." Shockingly for the Christians, he also
informed the court that the National Democratic Alliance government
had rejected a similar request in 2002. Unrelenting, the court
persisted saying that since, according to the petitioner, his
fundamental right was being denied it had to intervene.

Since then, the government has been dragging its feet in the matter.
And to think that the Congress-led UPA1 and UPA2 are pro-minorities.
It is most disgusting to hear what the Attorney General has been
telling the government. The Supreme Court's query and the government's
response has again exposed the UPA's bluff, particularly of the
Congress, which has been deceiving Christians on granting SCheduled
Caste status to converted Christians of Dalit origin. The Congress has
been lying to the Christian leadership for over four decades.
Recently, the law ministry, most preposterously, cited again the 1985
judgment favouring the status quo. Similarly, before the court was to
hear the plea on February 24, Attorney General GE Vahanvati, briefing
the Cabinet Committee on Political Affairs, said, 'many complicated
legal issues were involved' and currently 'no decision was called
for'. But in every meeting with Christian heads, Congress leaders have
guaranteed positive action.

Related

Dalits, like flies to feudal lords
Dalits not welcome in IIT madras
Converted dalits get no justice

Do Vahanvati and the UPA suffer from dementia? How could they so
quickly forget the recommendations of the Ranganath Misra Commission,
which was set up after a cabinet decision for this very purpose? Over
and over again the Christian community has been producing documents to
convince the government about the illegality and unconstitutionality
of the 1950 order. And the fast over the past three days is to once
again remind the government that during the 1996 Congress-led
government, the cabinet had cleared this demand of the Christians and
that a Bill was introduced in parliament by Sitaram Kesri, then
minister of social justice. Ironically, the Bill could not be
diSCussed because 'it was brought too late in the session'. That the
readymade Bill was never again tabled seals the lie of the Congress.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has at least been honest in stating
it would never support such legislation, though neither the Congress
nor the BJP come clean on why such affirmative action is being denied
to a community not trained to burn buses or block railway tracks, and
one which makes for a negligible vote bank. After coming to power in
2004, UPA1 set up the National Commission for Religious and Linguistic
Minorities (NCRLM), headed by Ranganath Misra. Since the commission's
recommendations were positive, the government sat over it for eighteen
months. Many demonstrations and RTIs later, it tabled the report in
parliament in December 2009.

EVEN BEFORE the NCRLM report, various ngos had supplied ample data to
the government establishing that even after conversion, the converted
continued to suffer the diSCrimination they suffered before
conversion. In 1984, the Supreme Court summarised thus: "The mark of
caste does not seem to really disappear even after some generations
after conversion. In Andhra Pradesh and in Tamil Nadu, there are
several thousands of Christian families whose forefathers became
Christians and who, though they profess the Christian religion,
nonetheless observe the practice of caste. There are Christian Reddys,
Christian Khammas, Christian Nadars, Christian Adi Dravidas and so on.
The practice of their caste is so rigorous that there are
intermarriages with Hindus of the same caste but not with Christians
of another caste".

Again in the judgment of Indra Sawhney versus the Union of India
(1991) concerning Mandal Commission, Justice Jeevan Reddy had ruled:
"What emerges is backward class, for the purposes of clause (4) of
Article 16. The concept of caste in this behalf is not confined to
castes among Hindus. It extends to castes, wherever they obtain as a
fact, irrespective of religious sanction for such practice." And much
before all this, Mahatma Gandhi had advocated in Harijan, December 26,
1936, the right to reservation for Dalit Christians. Ambedkar held the
same view.

About 60% Christians belong to the SCheduled Castes, socially deprived
in society and within the Church too. Franklyn Ceasar, one of the
petitioners to the Supreme Court, says, "The Dalit Christian is thrice
diSCriminated against compared to the Hindu Dalit. First, by the Hindu
community from which they came; second, by the higher caste Christians
to the community where they goes, and finally by the government, which
denies job reservations because of conversion". With Articles 14
(equality before law), 15 (prohibition of diSCrimination on grounds of
religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth) 16 (equality of
opportunities), the Constitution leaves no room either for the
government or the courts to deny fundamental rights to Dalit
Christians. Is the support to the cause by 22 political parties,
including UPA allies, not enough? What more can Christians do? The
trust that the Christian leadership had in the Congress is fast
becoming a thing of the past.

Dominic Emmanuel is spokesperson of Delhi Catholic Archdiocese.
frdominic@gmail


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit dies of starvation

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-dies-of-starvation/171059-60-117.html

Orissa
Dalit dies of starvation
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Jul 28, 2011 at 01:03pm IST

RAIRAKHOL: A Dalit labourer Kapil Hans of Gobindpur village under
Tribanpur gram panchayat of Rairakhol block reportedly died of
starvation on Tuesday night.

He is survived by his 60- year-old wife Chanchala and two married daughters.

Sources said for the last one week, Kapil was ailing reportedly from
malnutrition and starvation and was bedridden.

As per reports, he owned 1.33 acres of farmland jointly with his five
brothers and eked out a living by working as daily wager along with
his wife.

He name did not find mention in the BPL list and was consequently
deprived of all welfare schemes of the government, including the
old-age pension. Though he had been running from pillar to post for
inclusion of his name under welfare programmes, it did not
materialise.

Rairakhol Sub Collector Ananta Kumar Bhuiyan said Additional Block
Development Officer (ABDO) RN Chakraborty has informed him about the
death and gram panchayat officials have been sent to ascertain the
exact cause of the death.

He promised to extend all possible government help to the bereaved family.

On the other hand, ABDO Chakraborty denied that Kapil had died of
starvation and said he had suffered from fever. The ABDO further said
he was issued a job card under MGNREGS but never reported for work.

This is the second alleged starvation death in Tribanpur gram
panchayat. On July 8, Siba Naik (65) of Chubkadadar village died of
starvation.

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[ZESTCaste] CEO's efforts bring IT job skills to those with disabilities

http://dhbusinessledger.com/main.asp?SectionID=107&SubSectionID=197&ArticleID=2754

7/20/2011 10:32:00 AM
CEO's efforts bring IT job skills to those with disabilities


Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.comRaj Cherukonda, right, CEO of Wyvil
Systems in Lisle with Brian Aardsma, a mentor with SAP Business
Objects Solution Provider and Business Intelligence.
Bev Horne/bhorne@dailyherald.com

Raj Cherukonda, right, CEO of Wyvil Systems in Lisle with Brian
Aardsma, a mentor with SAP Business Objects Solution Provider and
Business Intelligence.

       By Richard R. Klicki


Raj Cherukonda knows firsthand about the pain and frustration when a
family member suddenly loses the ability to be a breadwinner.
His father, an immigrant who worked hard to provide his family with
the American dream, was forced to go on disability at age 55.
Cherukonda said it was especially traumatic for his father, who was
suddenly unable to be a productive worker, provider for his family,
and giving member of the community.
When his father died two years ago, Cherukonda looked for a way to
honor his memory. As president and CEO of Wyvil Systems Inc. in Lisle,
a reseller of SAP business software, he came to realize that the
skills required to use his products were adaptable to those who were
disabled.
From that seed, Cherukonda has grown the SAP Knowledge Abilities
Network, a not-for-profit venture that provides SAP program training
for people with disabilities. Funding the project entirely from his
profits with Wyvil, he's developed partnerships with many area
business schools to provide classes and training opportunities.
The enterprise system programs created by German company SAP AG are
among the most widely used by medium and large firms, primarily
because of its ability to work within all major business functions.
It's that popularity, along with the technology's flexibility to be
used anywhere, that makes it a useful skill for those with
disabilities, Cherukonda said.
"They can be anywhere; they don't need to be physically at a building
to do this," he said.
Since he began SAP KAN, he's trained 25 people in SAP skills,
operating classes in partnership with schools such as DeVry, IIT and
Keller School of Management. In true "pay it forward" fashion, his
students are now teachers who conduct classes for others.
"We train the trainers," he said. "Our philosophy is that each one
should get up to speed on these tools, not only learning them but also
to help other people — to train them so that they get the knowledge
base and the skills that are very essential in corporate America."
Cherukonda notes that through learning the skills and in turn helping
others learn, students have improved their self-esteem and confidence,
and show a "can do" attitude that can help them find work.
One of Cherukonda's first students is Brian Aardsma, who was trained
in SAP BusinessObjects and is now one of SAP KAN's mentors. Aardsma,
who is restricted to a wheelchair, now teaches others how to use the
programs primarily through hosted webinars.
Aardsma said he always had an interest in technology and working with
the people at SAP KAN given him a feeling of worth and accomplishment.
"I've had a very positive experience," he said. "I'm happy that Raj
believes in me and it's a great thing to be a part of."
He adds that in addition to being a teacher, he is also a role model
to others with disabilities who may doubt their own abilities.
"They look at me and say 'if he can do this, then so can I,'" Aardsma said.
Aardsma and the other students are showcased at quarterly seminars
hosted by Wyvil, Cherukonda said. At these seminars, hiring managers
from various companies and educational organizations are invited to
meet the students and see what they an do.
"We use these seminars to showcase what these people are capable of
and what they've learned," he said. "If we can impress some of these
hiring managers, that's going to open up a lot of opportunities for
us."
Cherukonda said 10 percent of the Wyvil's yearly profits are directed
to the program, and at this point he does not solicit outside funding.
SAP KAN recently received its 501(c) nonprofit status, he added.
Cherukonda practices his philosophy at Wyvil as well, noting 20
percent of his staff are people with disabilities, including his key
assistants, Monica Luna, senior business development manager and Pre
Sales Manager Sue Martini.
Cherukonda spends much of his time networking with local schools,
businesses and social service organizations to make them aware of SAP
KAN, and in turn hopes to expand the partnership network to open up
more opportunities for training and employment.
His next goal is to find businesses that have a need for SAP-trained
employees and connect them to his network. Cherukonda notes he's
focusing in particular on government agencies at all levels. He notes
many of the agencies already use SAP software, and he hopes leveraging
that with federal ADA requirements will provide an edge to helping
find employment opportunities for SAP KAN students.
"The advantage is that these are government organizations and they
respect ADA," he said. "As a result, if there are some permanent jobs,
they can give us an opportunity, because we have people who know the
skills. We can say 'If you have some openings, we have some students
who are very eligible.'"
While SAP KAN provides hope and opportunities for many, its focus can
still be found in the corner of every slide of its PowerPoint
presentations, where Cherukonda has nestled a picture of his father.
"He was a great teacher," he said. "He taught us with tact and always
tried to pay a little back to the community. That's the major reason I
am so willing and passionate to help other people."
You can find more information at www.sapkan.org.


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