Latest News Update: Nov 19, 2009

Thursday, November 19, 2009

[ZESTCaste] Rajasthan town free from manual cleaning of toilets (Nov 19 is World Toilet Day)

http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/health/rajasthan-town-free-from-manual-cleaning-of-toilets-nov-19-is-world-toilet-day_100277184.html

Rajasthan town free from manual cleaning of toilets (Nov 19 is World Toilet Day)

November 19th, 2009 - 8:21 pm ICT by IANS Tell a Friend -

New Delhi, Nov 19 (IANS) Till a few years ago Dalits in Alwar,
Rajasthan were employed in inhumane manual scavenging practices. But
thanks to social activism and NGO Sulabh International, the town was
Thursday declared free from the illegal practice.
Commemorating the birth anniversary of late prime minister Indira
Gandhi and in observance of 'World Toilet Day', Sulabh International
Thursday marked the end of its six-year long fight against the
caste-based tradition in Alwar.

"To eliminate the need for human scavengers, I developed a (easy to
maintain) toilet which is very user friendly and fairly cheap. We have
managed to install this toilet in all the households of Alwar,"
Bindeshwar Pathak, Sulabh International founder said.

"Without this technological innovation, we would have found it
difficult to bring the scavengers into the mainstream. The practice in
itself is a blot on our society," he added.

The practice of manual scavenging, which involves cleaning dry
latrines and clearing carcasses with hands, is an offence under the
Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry (non-flush)
Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993.

However, the practice is still prevalent in rural areas and small
towns. Following an age-old tradition of passing on the practice to
others in their lower caste families, it is women who are the worst
affected.

Pathak said that in Alwar the scavengers were given vocational
training in stitching, making noodles and pickles and basic fashion
designing as well as imparting them training in English and Hindi.

"I feel extremely proud when people from all walks of life buy pickles
and noodles prepared by me," said Sushila Chauhan, who left scavenging
in 2004.

Another young girl Dolly, who was till recently a manual scavenger,
said: "In spite of societal pressures and financial constraints, I
continued my studies and completed my graduation with the active
support of Sulabh."

Over 115 women from scavengers families in Alwar have given up the
practice to take up new roles in society.

After Alwar, Pathak says the fight has just begun.

"Our journey has just started and would be complete only when we are
able to free the around 115,037 (as per 2001 census) manual scavengers
from all parts of the country," Pathak said.

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

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[ZESTCaste] Fwd: Safai karamcharis in Karnataka

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 6:29 PM
Subject: Safai karamcharis in Karnataka
To:

'... Thousands of safai karamcharis, who were engaged in handling the
night soil manually, clearing chocked drain with minimum equipment,
and gathering night soil collected on railway platforms were
succumbing to diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer. The
Chairperson of the National Safai Karamchari Commission, Santhosh
Choudhry, rightly pointed out that life expectancy of a safai
karamchari was only 45 years. ...'

Safai karamcharis seek alternative jobs

http://www.hindu.com/2009/11/06/stories/2009110656800300.htm

Staff Correspondent

State Government is not using the funds released for rehabilitation of
safai karamcharis

Mysore: The Karnataka State Safai Karamchari Nirmoolana Mahasamsthe
here on Thursday has urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to direct the
State Government to create alternative jobs for safai karamcharis and
their dependents as assured by him in the 11th Plan.

Addressing presspersons, Peddanna, State president of the mahasamsthe,
said a memorandum detailing the plight of the safai karamcharis, who
are engaged in manual collection of night soil, would be submitted
shortly to the Prime Minister in New Delhi. Mr. Manmohan Singh
declared that the Government was committed to eradicate the obnoxious
and inhuman practice of manual collection of night soil. Mr. Manmohan
Singh said that safai karamcharis engaged in such work would be
provided with alternative employment by 2012. However, the Karnataka
State Government was doing nothing to eradicate the practice. Instead
the safai karamcharis were continued to be engaged by the State
Government in manual collection of night soil.

The number of safai karamcharis who were engaged in collection of
night soil was estimated at 6.76 lakh* in the country while 2.8 lakh
of the karamcharis were in Karnataka. Even after over 60 years after
the country became independent, the socio-economic conditions of the
safai karamcharis had not improved. This was undoubtedly a blot on the
country which was emerging as an important economic power, he added.

Despite passing the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction
of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act - 1993 to liberate the safai
karamcharis from the obnoxious practice of carrying night soil
manually, the State Government had done nothing to liberate them.

Instead the State Government was filing "false" affidavits to the
Union Government, Supreme Court and the National Human Rights
Commission on eradication of the practice, he alleged.

Thousands of safai karamcharis, who were engaged in handling the night
soil manually, clearing chocked drain with minimum equipment, and
gathering night soil collected on railway platforms were succumbing to
diseases such as tuberculosis and cancer. "The Chairperson of the
National Safai Karamchari Commission, Santhosh Choudhry, rightly
pointed out that life expectancy of a safai karamchari was only 45
years.

Funds

Although the Centre released Rs. 400 crore in the 10th Plan for the
rehabilitation of safai karamcharis, the State Government spent only
Rs. 146 crore. The State Government exhibited similar apathy while
spending Rs. 500 crore released in 2007 for the purpose. Same was the
case with the 18 per cent funds earmarked in the civic bodies for the
purpose, he regretted.

Mr. Peddanna suggested that members of the Karnataka State Safai
Karamchari Nirmoolana Mahasamsthe should be included in the
Rehabilitation Committee. He said the funds released for the
rehabilitation of the safai karamcharis should be utilised fully.

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

* These are government estimates. Safai Karamcahri Andolan estimates
that over 12 lakh people work as 'scavengers'.

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

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[ZESTCaste] Fwd: Phantom India

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
Date: Thu, Nov 19, 2009 at 6:19 PM
Subject: Phantom India
To:

3 excerpts on caste from Louis Malle's 'Phantom India' (1969)- which
is still banned in India - is available on Youtube!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zwMx3FAN8qQ&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVPsqEoN9cc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZ07JKMA72A&feature=related

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[ZESTCaste] Re: Buddha

Let all of us
request His Excellency the president-barack-obama to celebrate next
Buddha Jayanthi at White House to spread the message of non-violence and peace
by chanting relavant gathas by Maha theras for the happiness and wlfare of all.

Jagatheesan Chandrasekgaran

MAY
YOU BE EVER HAPPY, WELL AND SECURE

MAY YOU LIVE LONG

MAY ALL SENTIENT AND NON-SENTIENT BEINGS BE EVER
HAPPY

MAY YOU BE ALWAYS HAVE CALM, QUIET, ALERT,ATTENTIVE
AND

EQUANIMITY MIND WITH A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING THAT

NOTHING IS PERMANENT

Transcript of the President's speech at Suntory Hall: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/remarks-president-barack-obama-suntory-hall

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[ZESTCaste] Compliance with quota norms of SC and ST

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=54229

Thursday, November 19, 2009
Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises

Compliance with quota norms of SC and ST

16:23 IST
LOK SABHA

As per the data available in Public Enterprises Survey 2007-08, in
respect of 206 CPSEs as on 1st January 2008, the overall
representation of SCs in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) is
18.83 per cent and that of STs is 8.38 per cent whereas existing
policy provides for 15 per cent reservation in recruitment for
candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes (SC) and 7.5 per cent for
those belonging to the Scheduled Tribes in the CPSEs.

Instructions on Reservation Policy for SCs and STs issued from time to
time by Department of Personnel & Training have been extended by
Department of Public Enterprises (DPE) to the Ministries/Departments
concerned with CPSEs for compliance by CPSEs under their
administrative control. Instructions issued by Department of Personnel
& Training towards launching a fresh Special Recruitment Drive to fill
up the backlog reserved vacancies of SCs and STs have also been
extended by DPE to all Government Departments/Ministries concerned
with CPSEs for implementation by the CPSEs.

This was stated by Shri Arun Yadav, Minister of State for Heavy
Industries and Public Enterprises in the Lok Sabha today.

GG/BS

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit family camps in front of collectorate

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_dalit-family-camps-in-front-of-collectorate_1313721

Dalit family camps in front of collectorate
Vivek Vijayapalan / DNA
Thursday, November 19, 2009 14:57 IST

Ahmedabad: Nathubhai Solanki has been camping outside the district
collectorate office for the past few days with his family. His aim is
to get justice for his family which was allegedly pushed out of his
native village over caste issues. Solanki, a Dalit, has also submitted
a memorandum to the district collector, saying that if he does not get
justice immediately, he and his family will immolate themselves in
front of the office.

In the memorandum submitted to the district collector, he has alleged
that his house in his village Alav in Ranpur taluka was razed to the
ground by Bhaga Bharwad, Vala Vindani and Bhima Bharwad belonging to
the upper caste. He has also said in his memorandum that the trio
attacked him with swords and sticks in a bid to kill him and his
family.

Solanki told DNA, "I have been camping outside the collectorate to get
justice. I have also been booked under section 151 of the IPC after I
submitted the memorandum which stated that if I do not get justice I
will immolate myself. However, I have decided that I will continue my
struggle to get justice."

"I don't want money, I merely want to protect my family," adds
Solanki. Sources aware of the development said that the three people
against whom Solanki raised allegations had been booked and a
charge-sheet had been filed in the case. Solanki points out, "If I
succeed in my struggle to get justice, then there will be hope for
many more people like me who belong to the lower caste."

Manjula Pradeep, Director of Navsarjan who is supporting Solanki,
says: "The situation has become hostile in his village because of
which he had to leave. Even the police have not been able to provide
him with protection in the village. He lost property worth Rs65,000
when his house was razed but the state government has reimbursed him
only with Rs10,000. This clearly shows that the state is not
fulfilling its responsibility."

On the other hand, senior collectorate officials say that the
allegations made by Solanki will be probed. A senior official said,
"We will verify the matter but it seems that the dispute is personal
and not caste-based."

The matter has been referred to the office of Ranpur mamaltadar.

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[ZESTCaste] BSP sacks Kanchal, Bansal and Anna

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/71431/India/BSP+sacks+Kanchal,+Bansal+and+Anna.html

BSP sacks Kanchal, Bansal and Anna
Farzand Ahmed
Lucknow, November 18, 2009

Upset over the defeat of the BSP candidate at the hands of Congress
from prestigious Lucknow [West] Assembly seat in the recently held
by-elections, party supremo Mayawati ousted three influential leaders
on the charges of 'anti-party activities'.

BSP was placed third in the by-elections from Lucknow [West]. The
defeat at the hands of Congress was 'shocking' for Chief Minister
Mayawati whose party had swept the by-elections winning nine of the
eleven seats. One had gone to Congress and another was won by an
independent.

The leaders sacked on Wednesday included influential trading community
leaders Banwari Lal Kanchal, Sandeep Bansal and Arun Kumar Shukla
alias Anna alleged to be a don.

Announcing the sacking of the three after the review of party
performance in the by-elections, state party chief Swamy Prasad Maurya
said while Kanchal and Bansal had worked against the official
candidate, Anna, known for his criminal history, failed to reform
himself and continued to indulge in criminal activities.

Anna was given BSP ticket in the last Lok Sabha polls after he had
promised that would reform himself. Anna was also made in-charge of
the Lucknow [West] constituency this time.

While Kanchal had joined BSP from SP, Bansal was a ranked leader of UP
Vyapar Mandal. Kanchal had also resigned as SP Rajya Sabha member
before joining BSP.

Maurya said there was no place for selfish characters, party saboteurs
and persons with criminal background in BSP.

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[ZESTCaste] Caste politics on campus

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/Caste-politics-on-campus/articleshow/5244886.cms

Caste politics on campus
TNN 19 November 2009, 02:46am IST

BANGALORE: Jnanabharathi campus spreads wide and serene, but the
atmosphere here is still charged. Two days of anger spilled over into
Wednesday, with students continuing to boycott classes and raise their
voice for justice.

Their object of anger continued to be V-C N Prabhu Dev, and they
refused to give any memorandum to in-charge registrar Puttaraju. "We
want either the V-C or a higher education department official to meet
us. This would be the fourth memorandum we are submitting and nothing
has been done about it. This time, we want the university to act on
our demands," the students said.

They said a special officer from the higher education department was
expected to set right the problem on Wednesday, but failed to turn up.
This led to the protest, with a few even boycotting classes.

They demanded to know the reason for the delay in allowing the new
appointees to take charge. "Having academicians as registrars is
always better. And the newly-appointed registrars are good. Our
university has a bad image. Each time we stage a protest, the V-C is
in Delhi. It's too much of a coincidence," a first-year BA student
said.

University Law College student Surya Mukundaraj said only a few
classes are running. "There's too much of caste politics here. Even
the hostels are a mess. There has been no hostel upgradation," he
added.

Students said they will continue to stage their protest till the V-C
returns from Delhi, and felt the matter could spill into next week.
"The V-C is coming on Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday are
holidays. He will only look into the matter, hopefully, on Monday."

A university official told The Times of India: "No one is preventing
the new registrars from taking charge. The in-charge registrar is
holding the post for today. When the V-C returns on Friday evening, a
further decision will be taken."

V-C DENIES CHARGES

Acting registrar N Puttaraju has issued a press release on behalf of
V-C N Prabhu Dev, denying charges that he is promoting his caste.
Terming these allegations "baseless", he said: "Based on the request
of the principal secretary and higher education department, a panel of
three names belonging to OBC, SC and GM was sent to the government for
appointment of registrars."

Puttaraju said some vested interests "who are inimical to the reforms
taken up by the V-C are responsible for these allegations without any
basis".

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