Latest News Update: Feb 7, 2010

Sunday, February 7, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Varun equates Pawar with Ravana, Mayawati with Surpnakha

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Varun-equates-Pawar-with-Ravana-Mayawati-with-Surpnakha/articleshow/5543266.cms

Varun equates Pawar with Ravana, Mayawati with Surpnakha
IANS, 6 February 2010, 08:20pm IST

LUCKNOW: In an apparent reference to Union food and agriculture
minister Sharad Pawar, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Varun Gandhi
Saturday equated him with mythological demon king Ravana and said
Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati is his sister Surpnakha.

"A pair of brother and sister is responsible for the inflation in our
country. While the Ravana is a minister and sits in Delhi, his sister
-- a chief minister -- sits in Lucknow," Varun said, addressing a
rally in the Shikarpur town in Bulandshahar district, around 400 km
from Lucknow.

Varun accused the two leaders of being "mainly responsible" for
inflation in the country and said that both "indulge in blame game
when it comes to containing inflation."

The young BJP leader had last year courted controversy for his
communally incendiary speeches against the Muslim community.

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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati for mechanism to record arrival of all Pak-origin people

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_mayawati-for-mechanism-to-record-arrival-of-all-pak-origin-people_1344437

Mayawati for mechanism to record arrival of all Pak-origin people
PTI

Sunday, February 7, 2010 13:51 IST

New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati today voiced concern
over absence of any mechanism to register arrival of Pakistani-origin
people travelling on other countries' passport with the local
intelligence and said some such elements could indulge in
anti-national activities.

"It has come to light that people of Pakistani-origin but travelling
on other countries' passport are not supposed to inform local
intelligence authorities about their arrival. Such travellers may be
exploiting the absence of any such mechanism to take part in
anti-national activities," Mayawati said in her speech circulated at
the Conference of chief
ministers on Internal Security here.

Mayawati, who did not participate in the conference, also said in her
speech that states like Assam, Tripura and West Bengal are responding
to only a few ratification requests of alleged Bangladeshi migrants.

"In the context of terrorism, I would like to attract the attention
towards illegal Bangladeshis who are settled in large numbers in the
state in areas close to Delhi.

"They call themselves native of Tripura, Assam or West Bengal but when
sent for ratification the authorities of these state respond to only
10 per cent of queries which is a hindrance to effective action
against them," Mayawati said.

She said there were loopholes in security infrastructure of Mathura
Oil Refinary and Narora Nuclear Plant, handled by CISF, which have
been raised with the Centre.

Mayawati came down heavily on the Centre for not releasing money for
various proposals sent by the state government on security-related
issues.

"The state government is investing in roads in Naxal- affected areas
for smooth movement of security forces. A request of Rs 729 crore was
sent to Centre in September 2009 but it has not been cleared...special
rehabilitation programme in Naxal-affected areas (is) of Rs 84 crore
but only 8-9 crore (has been) cleared which is very less," she said.

The chief minister said the state government has sent a proposal of Rs
1503 crore for building road infrastructure near Indo-Nepal border
which has not been cleared by Centre.

She complained that Centre gives funds for modernisation of police
force but it is declining every year.

"Compared to the state budget of Rs 7235 crore for police about Rs 100
crore is negligible...the state had demanded Rs 555 crore for modern
weapons. It should be cleared as soon as possible," she said.

Mayawati said state police is not getting slots for advanced commando
training at central institutes.

She said the Centre's modernisation scheme gives funds for weapons but
not for ammunition. "The scheme allows purchase of new vehicles but no
replacement is possible (and) it should be incorporated in the
scheme," she said.

Mayawati said more than two lakh posts have been created in police
force which will be filled soon in a transparent manner.

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[ZESTCaste] State data on atrocities against SC/ST has discrepancies: Wasnik

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/State-data-on-atrocities-against-SC-ST-has-discrepancies--Wasnik/576582

State data on atrocities against SC/ST has discrepancies: Wasnik

Express News Service Posted online: Sunday , Feb 07, 2010 at 0241 hrs
Gandhinagar : Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul
Wasnik said on Saturday that discrepancies have been found in the
records maintained by the Gujarat government and the Central
government related to atrocities registered against the members of
Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes(ST) in the state.
After his meeting with the state officials in Gandhinagar on Saturday,
the minister said while addressing mediapersons that the Central
government would crosscheck the data with the state government.

He added: "We have observed that figures of atrocities registered
against the SC/ST persons in the state vary with our records. We are
doing a tally with the government and finding out the reasons behind
it."

Contrasting the Gujarat government's claim of having no manual
scavengers in the state, the Union Minister said scavengers from
Gujarat were rehabilitated through various self-employment programmes.
Wasnik revealed that nearly 149 manual scavengers out of 8,740 (as per
the state government data) are yet to be rehabilitated under the
scheme.

Wasnik told The Sunday Express that as the instances of manhole
workers' deaths were reported in the state, the Centre has asked the
state government to provide social security to workers.

He said: "A Central committee has also spoken to Mallikarjun Kharge,
the Minister of Labour and Employment, to look into the death of
manhole workers. As for manual scavenging, the state needs to look
into the matter deeply."

Wasnik, who is also a member of the special committee set up by the
Centre to work on the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955 and the
Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989, came up with some solutions to the
problems faced by sanitation workers in Gujarat.

He said the state government has been asked to update workers' details
including their number, education, work profile, income and death on
the social justice and empowerment department's website.

According to Wasnik, the Central government is working to start a
toll-free number for the workers of the backward communities to
address their problems. The government would also introduce subjects
of civil rights and atrocities against backward communities for public
service examinations and train the workers on the laws related to
them.

The committee members including Wasnik and Additional Secretary of
Social Justice and Empowerment Sangita Gairola

appealed to the state government to sensitise policemen and civil
servants towards the atrocities against the backward class workers.

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[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar statue to be unveiled on Jan 30

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/48924/ambedkar-statue-unveiled-jan-30.html

Ambedkar statue to be unveiled on Jan 30
Srinivaspur, Jan 25, DH News Service:

Arrangements are being made to unveil Dr B R Ambedkar statue at a cost
of Rs 9.5 lakh in front of mini Vidhana Soudha.

Minister for Social Welfare G K Venkatashivareddy will unveil the
statue on January 30. Legislator G K Venkatashivareddy will preside
over the programme. Railway Minister for State K H Muniyappa, former
chief minister K D Kumaraswamy former minister Dr G Parameshwar, Zilla
Panchayat president M Srinivasan and others are special invites.

Legislative Council Chief Whip Dr Shivayogi Swamy, members Y N
Narayanaswamy, D S Veeraiah, Nazeer Ahmed, V R Sudarshan, Karnataka
Water Supply and Sewerage Board and Muzarai Welfare Board President
Krishnaiaha Shetty, Legislator M Narayanaswamy, R Varthur Prakash, Y
Sampangi, Amaresh, B M Srinivas, Taluk Panchayat President B M
Srinivas, Town Municipal Council President B M Prakash will the chief
guests.

Retired Joint Director and writer K Narayanswamy, Shivagange Adhima
Cultural Centre President Kotiganahalli Ramaiah, Thanjavur South India
Cultural Centre member and Folk singer Pichalli Srinivas, Janapada
Academy Member and
litterateur Gollahalli Shivaprasad, Nadoja Award Recipient
Muniventkatappa will be felicitated on the occasion.

Deputy Commissioner N Prabhakar, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive
Officer Rangarao, Assistant Commissioner K S Peddappaiah,
Superintendent of Police Phanindar Singh, Tahsildar B S
Manjunathaswamy will also be present. Various benefits will be
distributed on the occasion.

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[ZESTCaste] 'Jobs to dalits is pvt sector's social duty'

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/%5Cjobs-to-dalits-is-pvt-sector%5Cs-social-duty%5C/384822/

'Jobs to dalits is pvt sector's social duty'

Q&A: Mukul Wasnik, Union Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi February 7, 2010, 0:47 IST

Positives like dalit music and literature should be promoted while
reservations for the community can continue, Union Minister for Social
Justice and Empowerment, Mukul Wasnik, tells Sreelatha Menon

Are you satisfied with what industry has done so far on affirmative
action for dalits?
In the last few years, a dialogue has been started and industry bodies
like Assocham, Ficci and CII have adopted a code of conduct for their
members for providing jobs to dalits. A group of officers headed by
the secretary, Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion, is
looking into the matter.

But dalit groups say all this has not translated into action on the ground.
These goals can be monitored and one level of the government is looking at them.

What do you personally feel about quotas for dalits in the private sector?
When these chambers adopt the steps that they have promised to, we
will see how far they are able to go. As for me, I think it is a
social obligation that the private sector has to fulfil. We will
follow what they do. A large number of people aspire for a place in
the private sector. I think it should be through persuasion. Industry
has to adopt measures voluntarily.

You recently said you were disappointed with the manner in which
industry had almost ignored the incentives the government provided it
for giving jobs to the disabled.
I didn't say I was disappointed. A scheme was started to encourage
employment of the disabled in the private sector. Under the scheme,
employers' contribution to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the
Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will be paid by the
government for the first three years. We expected that industry would
come forward and a large number of people would get jobs. But reports
so far don't indicate that this scheme has been availed of in the
manner we had expected. So, in the last session of Parliament, some
questions were raised and I had a brief discussion with officials to
find out the reasons.

Was it because of lack of awareness?
I don't think so. Former finance minister P Chidambaram had announced
the scheme in the Budget and met a number of organisations. EPF and
ESIC also publicised the scheme and wrote to their member companies.
So, awareness is very much there. The deprived sections have huge
aspirations and want to get their rightful place in the society in
every field.

But the Congress has been in power most of the time. So, don't you
think it is too late in the day to address this now?
I don't think so. This government was the first to enter into a
dialogue with the private sector. Close to 45 million families have
got employment through the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme,
which is largely benefiting SCs/STs.

There is criticism that the quota system has brought complacency among
dalits and prevented excellence.
That is wrong. A large number of people have risen to the top due to
reservations.

It is said that the same families have been benefiting from quotas.
There is no plan to check this.
Reservations are aimed at giving a place to dalits not because of
their economic backwardness but because they are victims of social
stigma. So, the idea of a creamy layer is not acceptable. There is
political empowerment through election of dalits in Parliament,
Assembly, local bodies and panchayats, which leads to social and
economic empowerment. Due to quotas, dalits are able to send
representatives to Parliament and other elected bodies and this has
given them a political voice that can be heard. We still hear cases of
atrocities against dalits. So, the stigma continues.

The cases continue to be large in number. What is the reason?
Two years ago, 35,000 cases were filed under the Prevention of
Atrocities Act, of which 30,000 concerned SCs and 5,000 tribals. This
is the state of affairs. This is because of discrimination. This is
due to a mindset and we have to change this.

What has the government done to provide jobs for SCs?
This government (the previous UPA government) carried a special drive
to fill 60,000 vacancies left by the previous government.

Being called a dalit is still considered derogatory. Quotas harp on
the stigma suffered by dalits. Why doesn't the government think of
emphasising their positive legacies like dalit literature, music,
folklore, even cuisine? There is hardly any programme for that. The
private sector could contribute.
This is a good suggestion. We will discuss this and something should
be worked out.

The government's policy for senior citizens does not address their
need for cheap medicines and food. What are your plans?
We are in the process of reviewing existing policies and programmes.
We will soon come out with a programme. We know it is urgently needed.
The earlier policy yielded an Act for senior citizens, which was
notified by 22 states. Tribunals are being constituted and in Kerala
they have even started registering cases. Ten years have passed since
the law and we will now review it. Today, if there are 75 million
senior citizens, this figure will be 175 million by 2020. The category
of people who are 80 and above is also increasing rapidly. Their needs
will be different.

Do you propose to talk to the health ministry on the matter of
subsidised medicines for conditions typical of the old? Many diseases
remain undetected and there is no system of outreach to detect
diseases in old among the poor.
We are reviewing our policy. We will take all suggestions . These
things need to be addressed when we have a new policy.

You are in the process of overhauling the Disabilities Act. What is the purpose?
The final shape of the Act will be ready next week.We have tried to
change the Disabilities Act, 1995, to match the UN Convention on
Persons with Disabilities. Discussions are on and there will be a new
Act soon.

You used to head the Youth Congress. What do you think about the
changes that are being introduced by your successor, Rahul Gandhi.
I think if there is a system of nomination, it is bound to be
questioned. But if a person is democratically elected, he is more
powerful, which benefits the organisation. So, Rahul Gandhi has put
the organisation in a democratic mould. Now, decisions of elected
leaders will be much more acceptable. Those holding offices in the
Youth Congress will have more authority. It will attract people from
all sections of society, especially in this period of knowledge
explosion and the spread of the media.

The government is not implementing the NGO (non-government
organisation) policy or facilitating their role in development.
Our ministry may do something for capacity-building of NGOs soon. We
are preparing a capsule and will reach out to NGOs. Some support can
help draw out the best in them.

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Sunday, February 7, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Varun equates Pawar with Ravana, Mayawati with Surpnakha

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati for mechanism to record arrival of all Pak-origin people

[ZESTCaste] State data on atrocities against SC/ST has discrepancies: Wasnik

[ZESTCaste] Ambedkar statue to be unveiled on Jan 30

[ZESTCaste] 'Jobs to dalits is pvt sector's social duty'

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