Latest News Update: Dec 11, 2009

Friday, December 11, 2009

[ZESTCaste] An interview with Dalit Activist Ram Kumar (new blog post @ www.blog.insightyv.com)

"Assault on any Dalit is almost never an attack on individual but targeted
towards entire Dalit community" <http://blog.insightyv.com/?p=967> An
interview with Ram Kumar

By *Gomathi Kumar & Sanjay Kabir*

*[image: ram-kumar]*

Ram Kumar (b. 1963) is UP based Dalit activist with 30 years long experience
of grassroots activism. Born in a poor family, he lost his father at the age
of five. His father, a communist activist, was brutally murdered by brahmin
landlords for raising voice against them. Ram Kumar grew up at his maternal
uncle's home at Kanpur. After his graduation, he started working full time
with communist groups and later joined Vinod Mishra led CPI (ML). He worked
with Kisan Mazdoor Sangh and led many struggles. As a result he was put
behind bars for quite some time under false charges. However, in 1984, he
was thrown out of CPI (ML) together with another prominent Dalit leader
Lakhpat for challenging the party leadership on the question of caste and
the problems of Dalits. Since then, he has been in forefront of many
grassroot struggles and has led various campaigns to secure forest rights,
land rights, labour wages and Dalit rights . At present, he is the
coordiantor of state level network of Dalit organisations called Dynamic
Action Group (DAG) and is one of the leading voices of Dalit movement in
North India.

Read more… » <http://blog.insightyv.com/?p=967#more-967>

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

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Brave Gujarati girl's brilliant academic record -FYI

Dear donors and friends,

Here is the brilliant academic record of this brave girl. Though it is confidential, I could not resist sharing with you.

If she doesn't reserve our help who else? Pleadse note that, this academic brilliancy is despite all her sufferings at home due to poverty and humiliations she suffered at the hands of her own teachers.

When read newspaper reports about her bravery (I sent all those links earlier), I was thrilled. Due to her bravery, all six culprits (some with PhDs) are behind bars now. Though they victimized many girls from rich and influential families none were dare to take on them due to their influence in Modi's government. Those girls came out only when this brave girl showed a way.

She fought a brave fight and sent them all to jail.

Doesn't she deserve the bravery award Govt of India gives every year? Let us see?

I urge you to help us to help this brilliant brave girl.

Thanks to Brother Kirit for immediate response.

(sensitive details are blocked)

With regards

Ben Kaila

From: KIRIT PARMAR <kirit11@yahoo.com>
To: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 2:54:00 AM
Subject: Re: Gujarati Girl's details

Respected Sir,

Information are as follows;

1.	Name	:-	?????
2.	Father's Name	:-	?????
3.	Mother's Name	:-	?????
4.	Complete address	:-	????? ????? TALUKA-????? DIST-MAHESANA PIN CODE-384120
5.	Qualification	:-
	S S C (10^TH STD.)	:-	87.42%
	HSC (12^TH STD)	:-	70% (SCINECE STREAM)
	PTC (TEACHER TRAINING)	:-	86.80%

Thanks Sir, if you still any further information please let me know,

With respected regards
KIRIT PARMAR

From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
To: KIRIT PARMAR <kirit11@yahoo.com>
Sent: Fri, December 11, 2009 3:59:08 PM
Subject: Gujarati Girl's details

Dear Kirit,

I am trying to get some help for this girl an influential person. He may have some contacts in Gujarat and would like to know the details of the girl. Let us see how he can help her.

Can you send me the following details:

1. Name

2. Father and mother's name

3. Complete address with telephone

4. Qaulifications (starting from 10th grade): School/college, marks obtained, total marks etc

5. Any other relevant info

Please send me ASAP. I will not share with anyone other than whom I trust.

Awaiting your early reply.

Thanks

Ben

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

An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society.

-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar

Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org

From: KIRIT PARMAR <kirit11@yahoo.com>
To: Professor Alladi Sitaram <sitaram.alladi@gmail.com>
Cc: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>; Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
Sent: Wed, December 9, 2009 8:32:40 PM
Subject: Re: donation

Respected Sir,
Thank you very much for your support.

In this age you are still active in field, I feel respect for you.

Once again thank your very much for your help.

With kind regards
Your sincerely,
KIRIT PARMAR

From: Shiva Shankar <sshankar@cmi.ac.in>
To: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
Cc: Professor Alladi Sitaram <sitaram.alladi@gmail.com>; Kirit Parmar <kirit11@yahoo.com>
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 8:04:13 AM
Subject: donation

Dear Benjamin,
Professor Sitaram, our longterm friend and benefactor, would like to contribute to help the young teacher in Gujurat who was raped by her teachers. I think you should send out a general appeal, and also information about where the cheque must be posted and in whose name.
Shiva.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Parenting Zone: Find useful resources for a happy, healthy family and home

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Brave Gujarati girl - facts from another source

Dear Donors and friends,

Please read the floowing mail from Mr Raghu Rangarajan. Without my knowledge, he did his research and sent me this info.

Thanks, Mr Raghu, for the information. It is always good to be verified.

Thanks again for the info and for your contribution.

I hope, more people come forward to help this brave and brillient girl.

Yes, as you have suggested, FFEI will consider giving her brother a scholarship this year, though it is a partly amount.

I would like to have his information as well.

Can you both (Kirit and you) get me his info, please?

With regards

Ben

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

An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society.

-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar

Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org or www.ambedkarscholarship.org

From: RAGHAVAN RANGARAJAN <raghavan@prl.res.in>
To: benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com
Sent: Thu, December 10, 2009 9:32:24 PM
Subject: Re: your mail

Dear Benjamin,

Pl. include Rs. 5000 as a contribution from my family for the case below.

Regards,
Raghu Rangarajan.

On Fri, 11 Dec 2009, RAGHAVAN RANGARAJAN wrote:

> Dear Benjamin,
>
> I have spoken to two friends who have recently met the girl from Patan PTC who was molested by her teachers. They corroborate the report by Mr. Kirit Parmar that you had sent earlier.
>
> She did get 83% in her PTC (primary teachers course) but has no job. She is working as a labourer and has enrolled for a BA (may be part time/correspondence) She is keen on a job but close to her home ie in Visnagar, Mehsana, Unjha, etc. She would be open to any job not necessarily that of a primary teacher. She does not know English and is not computer literate. She is intelligent and firm in her resolve and has the support of her family. She is being encouraged by a doctor and a police inspector - I believe the latter may be her inspiration for joining the police force as an officer.
>
> If you wish to support her with some finances you can decide whether to give it as a lump sum or as an Ambedkar scholarship for her BA. She could be encouraged to move from the Ambedkar Open Univ course (as mentioned in Mr. Kirit Parmar's report) to a regular college (unless she prefers studying via correspondence). We could also support the brother's education as a way of supporting the family. In any case if you need more information let me know.
>
> We should also use our contacts to help her get a job in the areas I mentioned above. Mr. Parmar mentioned in his report that she is in a computer course which will help her in getting a job. One of my friends had offered her a position in Ahmedabad but she would not like to be so far away from home. I presume she is young - the PTC course is a two year course that one does after Std. 12 and qualifies you to teach in a primary school.
>
> Regards,
> Raghu Rangarajan.
>
> Raghavan Rangarajan
> Theoretical Physics Division
> Physical Research Laboratory
> Navrangpura
> Ahmedabad 380 009
>
> Office: Room 457
> Phone: o) (079) 2631 4457
> r) (079) 2686 0165
> m) 0 98254 30023
>

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, for the world and for each other

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Misra panel wants quotas for minorities

http://www.livemint.com/2009/12/11001827/Misra-panel-wants-quotas-for-m.html

Posted: Fri, Dec 11 2009. 12:56 AM IST
Home

Misra panel wants quotas for minorities

The National Commission for Religious and Linguistic Minorities,
formed in March 2005, has proposed that 15% of posts in "all cadres
and grades under the Central and state governments" be earmarked for
minorities

Santosh K. Joy

New Delhi: A panel headed by former chief justice Ranganath Misra has
recommended wide-ranging affirmative action, including quotas for
Muslims, Christians and other religious minorities in educational
institutions, government jobs and employment programmes, and suggested
that the scheduled caste (SC) net be made "fully religion-neutral".

Also See Quota Conundrum (Graphics)

Within the 15%, the commission suggested that 10% be set aside for
Muslims, in line with their 73% share in the total minority
population. If there aren't enough Muslims to fill the 10%, the
vacancies can be filled by members of other minorities, but in no case
by the majority community, it said.

"Yet, should there be some insurmountable difficulty in implementing
this recommendation", the commission suggested carving out an 8.4%
sub-quota for such religious minorities within the 27% reservation for
other backward classes (OBCs). The 8.4% is in line with an estimate of
religious minorities as a proportion of the OBC population. Within the
sub-quota, 6% should be earmarked for Muslims and the remainder for
other religious minorities, it said.

Mint reviewed a copy of the commission's recommendations, which have
not yet been made public by the government. Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh said on Wednesday that the report would be presented in
Parliament during the current session, PTI reported. Newspaper Mail
Today ran a story about the recommendations on Thursday.

The five-member commission was appointed in March 2005 during the
first term of the Congress party-led United Progressive Alliance
government. The report was submitted on 22 May 2007.

"Since the minorities—especially the Muslims—are very much
under-represented, and sometimes wholly unrepresented, in government
employment , we recommend that they should be regarded as backward in
this respect...," the commission said.

The panel recommended that at least 15% of seats in all non-minority
educational institutions be earmarked by law for the minorities, with
10% going to the Muslims. Minority candidates who can compete with
others and secure admission on their own merit shall not be included
in the 15%.

It proposed that a 15% share be set apart for the minorities—with 10%
going to the Muslims—in government schemes such as the Rural
Employment Generation Programme, Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojna and
Grameen Rozgar Yojna, among others.

In addition, the panel recommended amending the Constitution (Schedule
Castes) Order, 1950, which originally restricted the SC net to Hindus
and later was opened to include Sikhs and Buddhists, but still
excludes Muslims, Christians, Jains and Parsis, among others.

The commission recommended that the order be "wholly deleted by
appropriate action so as to completely de-link the scheduled caste
status from religion and make the scheduled castes net fully
religion-neutral like that of the scheduled tribes."

This recommendation of the commission is, however, not unanimous. Asha
Das, member-secretary of the commission, gave a note of dissent. The
Constitution Order was religion-based and, "therefore, the condition
of religion" should not be deleted, Das said in her note.

The Misra panel consisted of Tahir Mahmood, former chairman of the
National Commission for Minorities; Anil Wilson, former principal of
St Stephen's College, Delhi; and Punjabi scholar Mohinder Singh, apart
from Das and Misra.

"We have found no indication whatsoever in the Constitution...of an
intention that scheduled castes must remain confined to any particular
religion or religions," Mahmood said in a rejoinder endorsed by Misra,
Wilson and Mohinder Singh.

The recommendations of the commission, likely to tabled in Parliament
together with an action taken report by the government, are set to be
strongly opposed by the main Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"It is not only unconstitutional, but it would also encourage
conversions. We would oppose any move towards reservations for Dalit
Christians and Muslims," said BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar.

Some social scientists also disagree with the recommendations.

"Reservation is not a poverty alleviation programme. There could be
many other ways to enhance the condition of a deprived community,"
said Vivek Kumar, associate professor at the Centre for the Study of
Social Systems at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University. "The
reservations for Dalits are in place by virtue of their qualitative
and structural position in the Hindu class system for ages and is best
not to be diluted by moves like this."

Kumar also warned that the implementation of the suggested quotas
could trigger a backlash and "may prove counterproductive for the
greater aim of maintaining amity among different strata in the
society, which is a must for any social progress".

Minority communities have for long sought such affirmative action.

"The plight of a Dalit is due to the larger social status and is
irrespective of the religious considerations. We strongly feel that
justice to minority Dalits and backwards are close at hand and cannot
be denied for long," said Babu Joseph, a spokesperson for the Catholic
Bishops Conference of India.

Graphics by Sandeep Bhatnagar / Mint

santosh.j@livemint.com

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

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] SC-ST panel in disarray with bickering leaders

http://beta.thehindu.com/news/states/karnataka/article62971.ece

SC-ST panel in disarray with bickering leaders
Bageshree S.

K_MURALI_KUMAR Office of the Karnataka State Commission For Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes, Nrupatunga Road, Bangalore. Photo: K.
Murali Kumar
The Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes is a classic example of how a special body set up for the
welfare of Dalits can end up being little more than a symbolic
presence.

The commission seems to be in disarray as internal differences are
cropping up and people at the helm have priorities beside the work of
the commission.

The sprawling premises of the commission on Nrupathunga Road, for
which the government pays a rent of Rs. 1.5 lakh per month, often
wears a deserted look barring a handful of clerical staff. Commission
chairperson Nehru C. Olekar has held no more than one meeting since he
took over in January, 2007, as revealed by a Right to Information
application by Rajanna, a former Panchayat member in Kebbepalya in
Yeshwantpur Hobli.

Being a sitting MLA from Haveri, Mr. Olekar is seen by some Dalit
groups as being too busy with work in his constituency to concentrate
on his job as the head of the commission.

What is further vitiating the atmosphere is the open animosity between
Mr. Olekar and the lone member of the commission, M. Kumbayya. In
fact, Mr. Olekar simply dismisses all allegations about his neglecting
his responsibilities in the commission as stemming from "instigation"
by the member.

In his letter to the Chief Minister on October 1, 2009, Mr. Olekar has
accused Mr. Kumbayya of indulging in corrupt practices, intimidating
people and "bringing a bad name to the commission". He has asked the
government to remove him from the post.

Mr. Kumbayya, on the other hand, flatly denies all these allegations
and claims that he has "on his own initiative" taken up several cases
of atrocities and inspection work and brought credibility to the
commission, which is otherwise dysfunctional.

The government is yet to appoint a second member for the commission,
and Mr. Olekar and Mr. Kumbayya are the only two nominated people to
the commission. With them looking in opposite directions, the plight
of the commission can only be imagined.

Mr. Olekar insists that he has been able to handle his work as MLA and
as head of the commission with dexterity. "I am here every Thursday or
Friday to hear cases in our special court," he says.

According to the statistics provided by him, he has held 48 sittings
in the State so far to hear cases related to SC/ST issues. Of these,
36 were scheduled in Bangalore. Of the 36, 23 were held and the others
adjourned for various reasons. Rudimentary mathematics indicates that
one sitting every week since he took over nearly three years ago
should add up to much more than 36 sittings!

Interestingly, among all the commissions set up by the government, the
SC and ST commission has the unique distinction of having sitting MLAs
officiating as heads. The first commission chairperson, Anjanamurthy,
was MLA from Nelamangala and served from January 2003 to March, 2004.
The post had remained vacant from then, until Mr. Olekar was appointed
in 2007.

"The government has neglected SC-ST Commission entirely and it shows
firstly in appointing a politician to the post, while it should be a
non-partisan person like a retired magistrate. This kind of neglect
amounts to an atrocity in itself," says Basavaraj Kowthal, convenor of
the Human Rights Federation for Dalit Liberation, one of the
organisations demanding a re-haul of the commission and its
functioning.

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

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] HC asks banks to have quota at officer level

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/HC-asks-banks-to-have-quota-at-officer-level/articleshow/5324613.cms

HC asks banks to have quota at officer level
TNN 11 December 2009, 04:05am IST

CHENNAI: Recommending representation for SC/ST officers in the higher
echelons of nationalised banks, the Madras High Court has directed at
least five nationalised banks to follow the rule of reservation for
promotion of SC/ST candidates to officer ranks. A division bench
comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice CT Selvam, citing a
central government memo dated August 13, 1997, said: "When the
Constitution has given an extra protection to the underprivileged
communities so as to ensure equal opportunities as guaranteed by the
Constitution, the banks are not justified in sleeping over the matter
of providing reservations in promotions for a decade with no good
reason to offer."

The petitions and appeals were filed by the SC/ST employees
associations of various nationalised banks, seeking a direction to the
banks to provide reservation in promotions to officers from scale I to
scale VII as per the instructions issued by the Centre.

The banks, however, said promotion to officer grade is on the basis of
merit-cum-seniority, to which reservation policy cannot be made
applicable. They claimed that reservation is applicable only in the
first instance where promotion is from the clerical grade to the
lowest rank in the officer grade. The rule of reservation will not
apply even to the next scale of middle management level in scale II
position, they said. They also argued that the efficiency of
administration of banks would suffer if the reservation policy is
followed.

Rejecting the arguments, Justice Dharma Rao, writing the judgment for
the bench, said: "We are unable to understand such a sweeping and
generalised argument advanced on the part of the banks, as if all the
employees belonging to these underprivileged classes are inefficient
and not suitable for promotion. When the Union of India has directed
the banks to follow the rule of reservation in promotions in all
cadres, as early as in the year 1997, there is no impediment for the
banks to implement the same. However, for no better reason to be
appreciated, the banks are adamant in not implementing the office
memo."

Citing the bleak picture of only a very few SC/ST officers occupying
high positions, the bench said, "this defeats the very purpose of
reservation enshrined in the Constitution. We must remember that even
the SC/ST candidates, who are now serving in officer cadres, have been
promoted only by virtue of their long service and merit and not by
availing themselves of the rule of reservation in promotions, as has
been provided for under Article 16(4A) of the Constitution."

It then directed the banks to implement the rule of reservation for
promotions to all cadres in the banking sector, within eight weeks.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Mom Power: Discover the community of moms doing more for their families, for the world and for each other

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Telangana assets will be divided amicably, say activists

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Telangana-assets-will-be-divided-amicably-say-activists/articleshow/5324893.cms

Telangana assets will be divided amicably, say activists
Subodh Ghildiyal, TNN 11 December 2009, 03:26am

NEW DELHI: Assets distribution between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana is
likely to be a friendly affair as the brains behind the statehood
movement say they don't want anything more than the parameters laid
out for new states.

Telangana proponents feel that despite not asking for anything over
the entitlement of new states, the region would be much better off
than it is as part of integrated Andhra Pradesh. The main grudge is
that the state funnels back fewer resources than it should.

Dr Jayashankar, a key brain behind the campaign under TRS, said, "We
don't want a drop of
water extra than what is entitled to us and we don't want a wattage of
power than what is our rightful share. It would be decided by
tribunals as is the norm for states. After all, we are nodding to the
process adopted by 14 new states which were formed before Telangana."

Water, power, coal, jobs, central funds for backward development are
some of the fronts on which it is expected to gain.

Godavari and Krishna, two big sources of water, flow through Telangana
which remains a parched pocket. At the same time, coal is abundant in
the region while its share in power is much less.

According to figures collated by Telangana activists, Bachawat award
entitled 811 TMC of Krishna water to AP, of which Telangana gets less
than 100 TMC. But as a new state, its share would be governed by
catchment area (69%), cultivable area in river basin (71%),
geographical area and population (42%). The groundwater level of
catchment area is lower in Telangana and rainfall is scant while
regional backwardness is high. As per calculations, the water share of
the new state would shoot up.

Telangana is said to be getting less than 20% water from Godavari
while it has 70% catchment area. "Any of the laid out parameters would
get Telangana at least 40% water," said a leader.

What has led to strong resentment among locals is the fact that
Telangana contributes around 50% to state exchequer but less than 20%
is spent back on the region. Its backwardness attracts central funds
to Andhra Pradesh which are not funnelled to its development but used
in coastal and Rayalaseema regions.

Telangana sits on the entire coal stock of AP but the power situation
here remains grim.

The employment situation is as lop-sided. Sources said while there are
around 11 lakh jobs in government and aided institutions, the share of
the backward region is only 2.5 lakh while it should be six lakh as
per GO-610. The GO has not been implemented after 20 years.

Here, an interesting change may happen. The Mala-Madiga tussle for
Dalit quota benefits has led to demands for sub-categorisation, with
Madigas saying Malas have cornered disproportionate share of SC
reservation. However, since Madigas are more in Telangana, the new
state is expected to see their share in jobs go up.

With Telangana appearing more real than ever, those at the vanguard of
the statehood movement feel the shift of governance to locals would
change the situation. The biggest reason for the lop-sided
distribution of resources is the fact that only three chief ministers
from the region have ruled AP in last 53 years, and their total tenure
was six years.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Two get lifer under SC/ST Act

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kanpur/Two-get-lifer-under-SC/ST-Act/articleshow/5323916.cms

Two get lifer under SC/ST Act
TNN 10 December 2009, 10:20pm IST

KANPUR: The special court of the SC/ST Act of Kanpur Nagar on Thursday
convicted two persons for committing murder of a Dalit and sentenced
them to life imprisonment, along with a fine of Rs 20,000 on each.

The presiding officer, S K Pandey, in his order observed that half of
the fined amount (Rs 40,000) be given to the complainant as
compensation.

The sentenced persons were identified as Shiv Kumar Pahari and Puttan,
both residents of Gwaltoli area. They were charged by the police under
section 302 of IPC and section 3-2(5) of the SC/ST Act.

According to prosecution officer, Pradeep Saxena, the accused -- Shiv
Kumar Pahari and Puttan -- had hacked to death one Rakesh alias
Babloo, a resident of their locality on May 17, 2004, in broad
daylight. Pahari was trying to get an illegal power connection through
an electric pole. In that process, he disconnected the power line of
the complainant, Binda Devi's house. Binda's son, Rakesh objected to
this, which resulted into heated arguments between the two parties.

Pahari brought a sharp-edged weapon from his house and attacked
Rakesh. Co-accused, Puttan helped him in committing the offence. He
struck several blows on the neck of Rakesh, who died on the spot.

During the arguments, prosecution officer apprised the court that
Pahari was a habitual offender and police had earlier slapped the
Goonda Act on him.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group Start a New Topic

MARKETPLACE

Going Green: Your Yahoo! Groups resource for green living

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] How Long Casteism?

http://www.countercurrents.org/ghista101209.htm

How Long Casteism?

By Garda Ghista

10 December, 2009
World Prout Assembly

Hyderbad, India: The Times of India on December 7 reported that Dalits
in Gujarat are banned from Hindu temples. Yet, they are Hindu, isn't
it? If they are banned from their own Hindu temples, then why on earth
should they remain Hindus? Better they become Buddhist, Christian or
Muslim. Tragically, even by converting to one of these other
religions, they remain Dalits. We have here in India such a thing as
Dalit Christians and upper caste Christians. Is it not mad? If I tell
this to friends back in America, their jaws will drop in disbelief.

In a study conducted by the Ahmedabad-based Navsarjan Trust in
conjunction with the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies at
University of Notre Dame, Indiana, Dartmouth College at the University
of Michigan and the Robert F. Kennedy Centre for Social Justice and
Human rights, Wash. D.C., covering 98,000 Dalits from 1,655 villages
in Gujarat, 97 percent of respondents say they do not feel able to
enter a Hindu temple. Ninety-five years ago Gandhi invited a Dalit to
his ashram and immediately others stayed away and donations dried up.
Did nothing change in 95 years? Even at satsangs and kathas Dalits are
not permitted to sit on couches and chairs with the upper castes. No
one tells them. It is just understood. The same study documents 99
different forms of untouchability still practiced in Indian villages.
According to retired JNU Professor Ghanshyan Shah, Dalits face
untouchability primarily in religious affairs. In fact, Hinduism is
the origin of the caste system.

Another form of untouchability continues in Gujarat specifically,
which is that Dalits have to drink tea in separate cups from the upper
castes.. The non-Dalits keep a separate tea cup for Dalits outside
their house. This outrage has been continuing for centuries, it seems,
the only difference being that earlier the cups were made of clay and
today they are made of steel. If it is in public, Dalits are given tea
in disposable cups, while non-Dalits get tea in ceramic cups. Dalit
women are not allowed to touch the vegetables at the bazaar. The
vegetable man will see what she wants, then he throws them into the
hollow of her saree. There's more. Some higher caste people will tell
you that not once in their life did they shake hands with a Dalit

The same census tells us that Dalit children are shamed at mid-day
meals by being forced to eat separately. Children from higher castes
avoid taking lunch with Dalits. Dalit children are banned from
participating in any school cultural events. The Valmiki untouchable
caste children are made to clean the school toilets. What is appalling
is that adults, millions of them all over India, from the higher
castes, will claim that there is no more casteism in India. Yet, if
any of the above instances happened in America, you can be sure that
parents would be filing law suits against the school. Not only that,
they would win in court and receive millions of dollars in damages. In
certain ways, such as dropping depleted uranium weapons and weapons
from manless drones on defenseless, helpless villagers, America is
certainly an uncivilized country. But what do we call this kind of
discrimination found in India today? It is just like the racism of the
early 20th century in America, where blacks were marching on the
streets of Mississippi and Alabama for justice and whites were busy
declaring that racism doesn't exist in America. So in this regard,
India is no different than America was 80 years ago.

Recently Tehelka magazine published news telling about a new Dalit
organization in Kerala called Dalit Human Rights Movement (DHRM).
According to the report, they were holding regular study circles at
which they would sit and discuss all the teachings of Dr. Ambedkar.
The goal was to raise social and political consciousness among Dalits.
Suddenly on September 29th the Kerala police arrested scores of DHRM
members and many others have gone underground. The police claim that
the DHRM members have terrorist links. But what is the reality? We
don't know for sure. But we do know that any time an oppressed segment
of the population tries to stand on its feet and demand dignity, the
forces in power, the forces that keep them oppressed, immediately
trounce on them and crush them until they are once again fearful and
silent. But for those who long for a just society, a society based on
social equality, it is most painful to listen to their silence. On
this issue, the propounder of Neohumanism, Shrii Prabhat Ranjan
Sarkar, says:

"Feelings of differentiation are a great impediment in the spiritual
practice for the Infinite. The feeling that a particular person is a
Muslim, another a Hindu, yet another a Brahmin-caste, and the fourth a
capitalist, are mean thoughts. When every living being is a
manifestation of the Supreme Consciousness, how can you know yourself
without shedding these differentiating feelings?"

After centuries of casteism in India, still we have millions here who
feel superior to others based on their caste alone. They may be
scoundrels and thieves, they may be corrupt to the core. But the only
thing that matters here is the name, which indicates the caste. It is
a mad country, this India. Then those higher castes proceed to inflict
all sorts of indignities and sufferings on the lower castes. Yet is it
not comical? Because if we stop to reflect a bit on biological and
anthropological facts, we are bound to admit that all of us originated
from monkeys. All of us, higher castes, lower castes, Dalits,
Christians, Muslims, Hindus, Americans, Germans – all of us evolved
from monkeys. So then, for those who have studied a bit of biology in
their school days, is it not mad that they place so much importance on
caste? Do we have Brahmin monkeys and Dalit monkeys then? The actual
commonalities of human beings are that all have the same biological,
instinctive traits of love and affection, pleasure and pain, hunger
and thirst. Realizing these commonalities that cross all oceans, all
national borders, we should consider that the time has come to
relegate caste to the history museum.

Why is there no discussion in our mainstream media about something
called social synthesis, about people from all walks of life coming
together and feeling close to one another? It is time now that we view
each person as a flower in a garden full of hundreds of varieties of
flowers, all forming a one gloriously beautiful bouquet. Those who
love humanity should be publicly encouraging these flowers, some
vastly different in appearance or race or sect, to mix freely with one
another, and above all to marry and merge, so that those who are
adamant to remain only with their own caste will become helpless to
find their own caste due to huge numbers of intermarriages and
children becoming casteless. We should welcome a future in India where
racial and sectarian injustice becomes an unknown entity, where
microscopic differences between human beings will no longer be
noticed, and where only one family is recognized, called the human
family. Let us again recall the words of Shrii Prabhat R. Sarkar:

"The subterranean flow of love and affection exists in all hearts
alike. Every person cries out in pain, everyone feels pleasure when
there are occasions of joy and happiness. Maybe in different
geographical, cultural, social and other environments, the lifestyle
of different human groups may vary; maybe, a few special psychic
traits in those groups may assert themselves, but fundamentally, their
mental existences flow along the same channels of ideas and
consciousness. Containing the same cosmic momentum and under the same
cosmic inspiration, they all have set out for a tryst with the same
Destiny."

Garda Ghista is a freelance journalist and founding president of the
World Prout Assembly, an organization dedicated to transferring
economic power from corporations to the common people and to fighting
injustice in every sphere of life. She can be reached at
wpaeditor@gmail.com

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

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Rape of Dalit minor: SC/ST panel to reopen case

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Rape-of-Dalit-minor--SC-ST-panel-to-reopen-case/552729

Rape of Dalit minor: SC/ST panel to reopen case
Amrita Chaudhry Posted online: Friday , Dec 11, 2009 at 0124 hrs
Moga : The Punjab State Scheduled Caste Commission has decided to
reopen the case of a minor Dalit girl, of Ramuwala Kalan village,who
was allegedly raped by some villagers in August 2008. The victim gave
birth to a girl in April this year.
Though a case was registered by the Moga police at the Mehna police
station in April, it was later "closed" after the parents of the
victims said they did not want to pursue it. They had also refused to
identify the culprits.

Dalip Singh Pandhi, member of the Commission, said since the girl was
minor the case could not be closed by the police or any other agency.

"It is the duty of the district administration to pursue the case and
find out if there has been any political pressures to close the case,"
he added.

The commission has asked Director General of Police Paramdip Singh
Gill to send the file of this case to them to conduct an independent
investigation.

"The DGP has assured that the police will conduct DNA tests of the
victim's baby and the suspects, including son of a local Congress
leader whose name figured during the initial inquiry," he added.

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

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/