Latest News Update: Jan 19, 2010

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

[ZESTCaste] No govt commitment on quota in pvt sector: Wasnik

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/No-govt-commitment-on-quota-in-pvt-sector--Wasnik/569101

No govt commitment on quota in pvt sector: Wasnik

Express News Service Posted online: Tuesday , Jan 19, 2010 at 0354 hrs
New Delhi : Social Justice Minister Mukul Wasnik on Monday denied that
the government had committed on providing reservation in the private
sector and underlined that it was in favour of "affirmative action" on
the issue.
"The government has not made any statement that reservation will be
given in the private sector. It has talked about taking affirmative
action and has asked the private sector to fulfil its social
responsibility in this direction," Wasnik said while addressing a
conference of editors.

Wasnik said in case of reservation the government had suggested
affirmative action by the private sector and added that industry
bodies like CII, ASSOCHAM and FICCI had adopted a code of conduct for
corporate sector that their members followed voluntarily. He added
that the issue presently was with a coordination committee under the
Prime Minister's Principal Secretary and another committee under the
Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion. "The two committees are
taking the issue forward."

Interestingly, contrary to what Wasnik said on Monday, the Congress
manifesto for the 2008 Lok Sabha elections had talked about providing
reservation in the private sector and private educational
institutions. In fact, the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of UPA-1 too
had promised quota in the private sector.

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

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] SC's poser to Mayawati on Dalit statue row

http://www.ptinews.com/news/475866_SC-s-poser-to-Mayawati-on-Dalit-statue-row

STAFF WRITER 19:38 HRS IST
SC's poser to Mayawati on Dalit statue row

New Delhi, Jan 19 (PTI) The Supreme Court today asked the Mayawati
government in Uttar Pradesh why the apex court should not intervene
when "astronomical and inconscionable" amounts of public money is
being spent on construction of the Rs 2,600-crore rpt crore memorials
and statues of Dalit icons in Lucknow.

A bench of Justices H S Bedi and A K Patnaik disagreed with the
argument of senior counsel Harish Salve appearing for the state that
courts cannot interfere in such matters as it was purely an executive
function.

The apex court asked the government whether it should remain a silent
spectator if public money for instance meant for construction of
primary schools or hospitals is diverted for errecting such memorials.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (2)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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

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

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Teenage Dalit girl gang-raped

http://www.hindu.com/2010/01/19/stories/2010011956841000.htm

Other States - Gujarat

Teenage Dalit girl gang-raped

Special Correspondent

AHMEDABAD: A Dalit girl (17) was allegedly gang-raped by four persons
in Limdi in Surendranagar district in the Saurashtra region of
Gujarat.

The police said on Monday that the girl, a 12th standard student in
Limdi, suffered the trauma on January 11, but did not disclose it to
anybody till Sunday, when she broke down and narrated the incident to
her relatives and some local social workers.

Acting quickly, the police arrested three of the alleged rapists and a
woman who was instrumental in taking the girl to a desolate spot where
the four men, already dead drunk, were waiting. The girl too was
forced to consume alcohol and was raped by the four. One of the
accused, the only non-Dalit among them, was absconding.

The police said the girl was checked by the Gandhi hospital in Limdi
and was later referred to the Ahmedabad civil hospital for psychiatric
treatment as she reportedly had lost her mental balance due to the
trauma.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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] Seven Dalits injured in attack

Tamil Nadu

Seven Dalits injured in attack

D. Karthikeyan

MADURAI: Seven Dalits, including a 55-year-old woman, were injured in
an attack, allegedly by caste Hindus, over a temple entry row in
Uluthimadai village in Virudhunagar district. A group of Dalits, led
by Muthupandi, union secretary, Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, had
gone to the Muniappaswamy temple on January 15.

They were denied entry by a priest. This led to a wordy duel between
the priest and Muthupandi. When the Dalits tried to enter, they were
attacked with sickles and wooden logs. Panchammal and six others were
injured and are undergoing treatment.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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] Only my visit to Dalit houses were highlighted: Rahul Gandhi

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_only-my-visit-to-dalit-houses-were-highlighted-rahul-gandhi_1336519

Only my visit to Dalit houses were highlighted: Rahul Gandhi
PTI

Tuesday, January 19, 2010 13:30 IST

Bhopal: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said that only his
visits to Dalit houses across the country were highlighted, although
he went to places inhabited by people of all classes.

"The media talks only about my visits to the houses of Dalits, and
chooses to ignore the other places where I go," he told reporters
yesterday at a press conference here.

The young leader arrived in Gwalior yesterday on a two-day visit to
the state to widen the base of Youth Congress and the students wing of
the National Student's Union of India here.

"I had gone to four colleges and a tribal hostel, but the media
highlighted only my visit to the hostel," the Gandhi scion said.

In Bhopal, Rahul was impressed by the optimism shown by students
living in a tribal hostel, where he made an unannounced and an
unscheduled visit.

"I thought that if such students can be full of optimism, then there
is no doubt that the future of India will be bright," Rahul said.

He told reporters that the students were full of optimism even though
the parents of most of them were simple labourers.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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] Jats demand inclusion in OBC category

http://in.news.yahoo.com/20/20100117/1416/tnl-jats-demand-inclusion-in-obc-categor.html

Jats demand inclusion in OBC category

Twitter Delicious Myspace Digg Stumble Upon Facebook Sun, Jan 17 10:15 PM
Bhiwani (Haryana), Jan 17 (PTI) Demanding inclusion of the community
in the OBC category, both at the Central and state level, members of
the Jat community today attended a meet here organised by the Akhil
Bhartiya Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti. Community members from
different parts of the state met at the local Jat Dharmshala and
decided to agitate till they get reservation.

State president of the body Hawa Singh Sangwan said, "We lost
''reservation'' due to carelessness of few leaders of the community,
and today''s gathering was just a trailer to show the Centre that now
the community will not be misled and take their right of reservation".

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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] Govt in favour of 'affirmative action' in pvt sector

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-in-favour-of--affirmative-action--in-pvt-sector/568783/

Govt in favour of 'affirmative action' in pvt sector

Agencies Posted online: Monday , Jan 18, 2010 at 2037 hrs
New Delhi : Government on Monday said it was in favour of "affirmative
action" for backward classes in the private sector but refused to
commit on having quotas for them.
Addressing the Social Editors Conference, Minister for Social Justice
and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik said, "government has not made any
statement that reservation will be given in the private sector. Though
it has spoken about taking affirmative action on the issue and has
asked the private sector to fulfill its social responsibility in this
direction."

The minister added that "in case of reservation, only affirmative
action was suggested to private sector by the government for giving
the backward classes better opportunities. My ministry had started
consultations and currently there is a committee under Department of
Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) and also a coordination
committee under Prime Minister's Principle Secretary, which are taking
the issue forward".

Wasnik said industry bodies like CII, ASSOCHAM and FICCI have adopted
a code of conduct for corporate sector on the issue, which their
members voluntarily follow.

To a query on whether the government will take any steps on
reservation for backward communities in the media, Wasnik quipped that
"it is something where only (media) you can do something on this, I am
unable to answer this question."

On the issue of sub-categorisation of castes, the minister said his
ministry was "looking at various issues involved. It is not on the
backburner, it is an important issue and we will look at all
dimensions".

He also said the government will soon take a decision on filling up
the post of Chairman of National Commission for Backward Castes. The
body has been headless since the last four months.

"It is a priority area for us and shortly a decision will be taken on
it," Wasnik said.

The minister also accepted that except for Jammu and Kashmir and
Himachal Pradesh, majority of states have not been able to
rehabilitate manual scavengers.

"The states where problem (of rehabilitating scavengers) persists
include Meghalaya, Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Orissa, Tamil Nadu and Uttarakhand.
As per latest reports, Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh are the
two states which have completely rehabilitated people involved in
manual scavenging," Wasnik said.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (2)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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] NBC/WSJ poll: Attitudes on race

http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2010/01/18/2176748.aspx

NBC/WSJ poll: Attitudes on race
Posted: Monday, January 18, 2010 12:00 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Barack Obama, Polls
From NBC's Mark Murray
A year into the presidency of the nation's first African-American
president, a majority of Americans (63%) say that race relations in
this country have stayed the same, according to a new NBC/MSNBC/WSJ
poll. Only 20% believe they've gotten better, and 15% believe they've
gotten worse.

That's a change from our Jan. 2009 NBC/WSJ poll, when a plurality
(45%) said Barack Obama's election improved race relations, when 39%
said it didn't change things, and when 13% said it made race relations
worse.

"Everything is back to where it was -- if you're white or African
American or Hispanic," said Democratic pollster Peter D. Hart, who
conducted the survey with Republican pollster Bill McInturff. "The
euphoria has disappeared."

The full NBC/WSJ poll will be released tomorrow night beginning at
6:30 pm ET. But these numbers on race are being unveiled now, pegged
to today's Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, as well as tonight's MSNBC
special program "Obama's America -- 2010 and beyond," hosted by
MSNBC's Chris Matthews.

In another question, 72% said that race relations are good in the
United States, which is up considerably from 2007 (when 58% said that)
and 1995 (when only 34% said that).

But there's a racial divide here: While 72% of whites now say that
race relations are good, a slightly smaller percentage of African
Americans -- 64% -- say the same thing.

On affirmative action, 49% believe that it is needed to counteract
past discrimination against minorities, versus 43% who think
affirmative action programs have gone too far. Not surprisingly,
African Americans (81%) and Hispanics (69%) support affirmative action
more than whites (41%) do.

The poll was conducted Jan. 10-14, and it has an overall margin of
error of plus-minus 3.1%.

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

New Members 1

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

__,_._,___