Wednesday, February 10, 2010

[ZESTCaste] tudy on 'untouchables' can help end human rights abuses, says Notre Dame scholar

http://www.physorg.com/news184946533.html

Study on 'untouchables' can help end human rights abuses, says Notre
Dame scholar

February 9, 2010 BY JOAN FALLON (PhysOrg.com) -- The largest-ever
study on the Dalits -- the so-called "untouchables" of India --
reveals widespread caste-based discrimination in every aspect of daily
life, according to Christian Davenport, professor of peace studies,
political science and sociology at the University of Notre Dame's Kroc
Institute for International Peace Studies and one of the co-authors of
the research report.

"Dalits are widely abused, and they live lives of constant
humiliation, indignity and violence," Davenport said. "They also are
often deprived of water, food and health. It really is a kind of
institutionalized, slow genocide."

"Understanding Untouchability: A Comprehensive Study of Practices and
Conditions," just released by the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice
and Human Rights and the Navsarjan Trust, uses data from 1,589
villages and 5,462 respondents in Gujarat, the westernmost state in
India. The three-year study combined the efforts of academics, human
rights activists and lawyers.

The report reveals that — despite Indian and international laws that
ban discrimination against the Dalits — the practices of segregated
housing, drinking water wells, places of worship and seating
arrangements in schools and public events are nearly universal. The
study also shows a pattern of "horizontal" discrimination among
sub-castes of Dalits.

"Approximately one out of every six people on earth is Indian, and one
out of every six Indians is a Dalit," Davenport said. "That's a
population that is roughly the equivalent of two-thirds of the United
States. This is no small problem of discrimination. It's a massive
human rights tragedy taking place in the world's largest democracy and
one of the most important countries in the world."

The research was envisioned by 2000 RFK Human Rights Laureate Martin
Macwan and RFK Global Advocacy Team members, including Davenport and
his collaborators Allan Stam at the University of Michigan and David
Armstrong at the University of Wisconsin.

"Having solid data and clear evidence of discrimination against the
Dalits is critical so that government officials, religious
organizations and human rights activists inside and outside of India
can address the 3,000-year-old problem," Davenport said.

Davenport is a scholar of political conflict who is working on
projects involving repression and state-dissident interactions in the
United States, Rwanda, India and Northern Ireland. He joined the Kroc
Institute in 2008.

More information: To read or download the report on the Dalits, visit
http://www.kroc.nd.edu

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

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[ZESTCaste] SC allows Maya govt to remove construction material at memorial sites

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/sc-allows-maya-govt-to-remove-construction-material-at-memorial-sites/577941/

SC allows Maya govt to remove construction material at memorial sites
Express News Service Posted online: Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 at 0252 hrs
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Mayawati
government to remove the construction material and clean the premises
of Dalit memorials in Lucknow, but issued strict orders against
carrying out masonry work on the structures.
Construction at the memorial sites had come to a halt after the apex
court in September 2009 took suo motu cognizance of news reports that
the work was going on in violation of an earlier Supreme Court stay
order. The ban was re-imposed and a contempt notice issued to the then
Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.

A Division Bench of Justices H S Bedi and A K Patnaik on Tuesday
permitted the government to recommence the maintenance of the work,
including removal of unused construction material and debris, planting
and watering of grass and trees and mending of leaking water pipes at
three sites — Kanshiram Smarak Sthal, Ramabai Ambedkar Maidan and Dr
Bhimrao Ambedkar Sthal.

Earlier, the Bench had asked state Acting Chief Secretary V K Sharma
to apprise it through an affidavit on the various works that the
government wanted to undertake at various memorial sites.

With this, the court made it clear that it does not fully agree with
the list of works earlier submitted by V K Sharma in an affidavit.

"We have perused the list of the works that need to be done at
different project sites," said the Bench, adding that "it, however, is
not inclined to permit the state government to carry out all the works
mentioned in the list".

While allowing minor maintenance jobs, the Bench transferred all
lawsuits opposing and supporting the construction of the memorials to
the Allahabad High Court.

The Bench asked the High Court to form a special bench to resolve the
issue, preferably within four months after its reconstitution.

The Bench also absolved former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Atul
Kumar Gupta of the charges of showing contempt to court by allegedly
allowing the government machinery to continue with the construction
work at various memorial sites, which had been halted by a Bench of
erstwhile Justice B N Agrawal last year on September 8. SC allows Maya
govt to remove construction material at memorial sites
Express News Service Posted online: Wednesday, Feb 10, 2010 at 0252 hrs
New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Mayawati
government to remove the construction material and clean the premises
of Dalit memorials in Lucknow, but issued strict orders against
carrying out masonry work on the structures.
Construction at the memorial sites had come to a halt after the apex
court in September 2009 took suo motu cognizance of news reports that
the work was going on in violation of an earlier Supreme Court stay
order. The ban was re-imposed and a contempt notice issued to the then
Chief Secretary of Uttar Pradesh.

Earlier, the Bench had asked state Acting Chief Secretary V K Sharma
to apprise it through an affidavit on the various works that the
government wanted to undertake at various memorial sites.

With this, the court made it clear that it does not fully agree with
the list of works earlier submitted by V K Sharma in an affidavit.

While allowing minor maintenance jobs, the Bench transferred all
lawsuits opposing and supporting the construction of the memorials to
the Allahabad High Court.

The Bench asked the High Court to form a special bench to resolve the
issue, preferably within four months after its reconstitution.

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

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[ZESTCaste] Rahul Gandhi told to marry Dalit girl

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/51627/rahul-gandhi-told-marry-dalit.html

Wednesday 10 February 2010

Rahul Gandhi told to marry Dalit girl
Mumbai, Feb 9, DH News Service:

Rattled by Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi's highly successful
'local train yatra' in Mumbai, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on
Tuesday fired a fresh salvo against him for calling Mumbai as 'Bombay'
during his recent public meetings.

"During his speech here, Rahul Gandhi repeatedly called Mumbai as
Bombay. Those who want to break Mumbai away from Maharashtra call
Mumbai as Bombay," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece
"Saamna."

The 39-year-old Rahul's Mumbai visit was like the "funeral procession
of Congress" taken out by Marathi people, Thackeray commented,
ridiculing the massive police protection deployed by the Maharashtra
government for the "Congress Yuvraj."

Thackeray also blasted the state's minister of state for home Ramesh
Bagwe, who was seen carrying Rahul's shoes, apparently for
safe-keeping, during the Congress leader's visit here. "The minister
should be ashamed to stoop so low," the Sena chief said, telling him
that "Rahul Gandhi is not Mahatma Gandhi so that his shoes should be
held close to the heart."

The paper also targeted management guru Arundam Chaudhuri, who
favoured converting Mumbai into a separate state or union territory,
out of Maharashtra. Chaudhuri, Editor-in-Chief of 'The Sunday Indian',
has said in an editorial in the latest issue of the magazine "Hats off
to Shah Rukh Khan for standing his ground! It's now time to end this
hooliganism once and for all and make Mumbai a union territory!"

The Sena mouthpiece quoted Chaudhuri's words in its frontpage story
and said he has "insulted Maharashtra by spewing such venom." "Saamna"
also reported that during a recent TV debate, Chaudhuri deliberately
called Mumbai as Bombay. Last year, Chaudhuri's IIPM roped in Shah
Rukh Khan to host its annual quiz.

Social revolution

If all this was not enough, the Republican Party of India leader
Ramdas Athawale also jumped into the controversy and asked Rahul
Gandhi to marry a Dalit girl and bring in a social revolution.

"The casteism and social disharmony will not go away just by visiting
Dalit colonies or shaking hands with Dalit people... Rahul should
marry a Dalit girl to bring in a true social revolution. I shall ask
Sonia Gandhi to select a Dalit girl for Rahul," Athawale said at his
party's convention.

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

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Tuesday, February 9, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Fwd:Oxfam Youth Action Partner application, Deadline Feb 12th

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Paul Divakar <paul.divakar@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 10, 2010 at 9:36 AM
Subject: FW: Please fwd!!! Oxfam Youth Action Partner application, Deadline Feb 12th (unfortunately!)
To: ashutosh vishal <ashutoshkumarvishal@gmail.com>, "<Prasad" <sdjmprasad@gmail.com>, sindhu K <sindhuk2@gmail.com>, jesiantony@gmail.com, satyendra kumar <satyendra.km@gmail.com>

Urgent – PLS CIRCULATE TO FRIENDS ASSOCIATES WHO ARE INTERESTED

N. Paul Divakar

General Secretary

Dalit Arthik Adhikar Andolan/NCDHR

8/1 South patel nagar, 2nd Floor

New Delhi - 110 008

Mobile: +91 99100 46813

paul.divakar@gmail.com

www.ncdhr.org.in

From: Catherine Bevilacqua [mailto:catherinebevilacqua@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, February 10, 2010 7:00 AM
To: Catherine Bevilacqua
Subject: Please fwd!!! Oxfam Youth Action Partner application, Deadline Feb 12th (unfortunately!)

Dear friends,

I'm sorry this information reaches me so late, had you received it already?! If you know any activists between the age of 18-25 who are fluent in English and would like to apply, I will be happy to proofread their application if that is of any help.

I did this program/conference in 2004 and it was a very special (and useful) experience!

Plus, this year it is in New Delhi...

Consider asking for a deadline extension -- I don't know if it would work, but I know there are some excellent young activists out there and I wish they could participate...!

Contact me if you want to hear more about my experience, the link for all the info is here:

http://oiyp.oxfam.org/oiyp/template_02.aspx?id=52

Warm thoughts to all from snowy Geneva,

Catherine

Become an OIYP Action Partner!

NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATION UNTIL THE 12TH FEBRUARY 2010

How does it work?

Between 2010 and 2013, you will have opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and understanding and to talk and exchange with other young people from around the world. You will be able to use these opportunities to support your work with your community.

Your participation in OIYP will start in March 2010. If selected, you must be available to attend an event in November 2010 in New Delhi, India.

Who are we looking for?

Are you a young person who cares about what is happening in your community? Are you committed to working with others to overcome injustices? Do you want to learn from other young people working with their communities all around the world?

If you answered YES to these questions, would you consider applying to be a member of the OIYP?

OIYP is open to all nationalities, Indigenous and ethnic groups. It is open to young people with any level of education and who live in rural or urban areas. We aim to recruit equal numbers of young men and women. We have a strong focus on the participation of Indigenous young people and those marginalised in their communities.

Apply to be part of OIYP

To apply you must be:
aged between 18 and 25 as at 1 October 2010
speak fluent English or Spanish

Your application will be assessed against selection criteria. Applications close on 12th February 2010.

Download your application form here:

OIYP 2010-2013 Application Form Word Document

OIYP 2010 -2013 Application Form - PDF

Want to help OIYP find our 300 Action Partners? Download the poster and put it up where young people will see it!!

OIYP 2010-2013 Recruitment Poster

How do I apply?

You can apply by sending your application with your letter(s) of support from community members or organisations before February 12th 2010 by email, fax or mail.

--
~ Best Regards ~

~*~ JESI ~*~

"It is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich."

__._,_.___

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Re: [ZESTCaste] press question

YES I CAN GIVE YOU A LOT

________________________________
From: anuj chopra <achopra@thenational.ae>
To: "zestcaste@yahoogroups.com" <zestcaste@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tue, February 9, 2010 1:14:05 PM
Subject: [ZESTCaste] press question

Hello,

My name is Anuj. I'm a reporter with The National, an international daily newspaper published in Abu Dhabi.

I'm working on a story on inter-caste marriages in India.

I'm interested in interviewing an inter-caste couple in Pune/Mumbai. Someone who got married in the last year or two -- say, a Dalit married to a non-Dalit, or a couple from two different castes who faced opposition from their families. Do you know of any such couple who would be interested in sharing their inspiring story with the press?

I'd be very grateful to hear from you soon. Many thanks.

Best,
Anuj

--
Anuj Chopra
Foreign Correspondent
The National
India mob: +91 98220 30883
achopra@thenational .ae<mailto:achopra@thenational .ae>
www.twitter. com/AnujChopra<http://www.twitter. com/AnujChopra>
www.thenational. ae<http://www.thenational.ae/>