Tuesday, April 13, 2010

[ZESTCaste] Perhaps, the most foolish article on Dalits I have read in recent times

 


This article will qualify to be - without anything else even remotely challenging it - the most foolish article ever written on any dalit topic among those posted in this network in recent times. If this Mountain chap is real, he is either having cheap fun or simply mad or a costable with writerly pretensions! I never thought this countercurrents is a great website but it is a new low in their utter unconcern for any standards. This article pretends to be an attack on Maoists- a necessary task- but actually insults Dalits. I don't remember reading anything more humiliating to Dalits than the following: "my Dalit comrades point out that 85% of India Dalits still believe in the one, unifying tenent of
Hinduism, varna/caste/color. Simply put, most Dalits believe they are being punished by God for sins in a previous life and their lot as "untouchables", Dalits, is Gods Will. If God willed your punishment  today with the promise of a better re-birth in the next life , than trying to lift yourselfs and your childrens lot above that of cleaning the communal toilets is going against Gods Will."
Outrageous! May be this author is worse enemy of Dalits than the types I guessed: a member of Communist Party of India (Marxist).
On 12 April 2010 16:29, Siddhartha Kumar <mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com> wrote:
 

http://www.countercurrents.org/mountain100410.htm

Why India's Dalits Dont Trust The Maoists

By Thomas C. Mountain

10 April, 2010
Countercurrents.org

India's Dalits really, really distrust the Maoist movement of India
and Nepal. As the Maoist movement begins to challenge for state power
in Nepal, and has struck a serious level of alarm in the ruling elite
in India, this question has important ramifications for the future of
south Asia.

The Dalit movement in India is the largest and fastest growing threat
to the status quo, followed at some distance by the Maoists.
Interestingly, almost all the Dalit leadership I know, mostly mid
level cadre in the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), India's third largest
national party and main force in the Dalit liberation movement, are
ex-Maoists.

When asked why they distrust the "Naxalites", the common term for the
Maoist movement, they point out, to start, the fact that almost all
the rank and file fighters in the Maoist movement are Dalits or
tribals and that almost all the leadership are "high caste". The
Dalits I know have had first hand experience with just how casteist
the "Naxalite"/Maoist leadership is.

When delving into the "political line" put forth by the Maoist
movement in India and Nepal, it is rare to find mention of
caste/varna, let alone any attempt to address caste/varna(color) in
any sort of historical perspective. It would seem that the Maoist
leaders would prefer to blend class with caste and avoid any dealing
with such a potentially divisive question.

The Dalit movement exemplified by the BSP cadre I know is firmly
rooted in organizing Dalits into community collectives and focused on
mobilizing Dalits in exercising their voting rights. When it is
pointed out that no ruling class has ever peacefully relinquished
their priviledges, i.e; through elections, my Dalit comrades point out
that 85% of India Dalits still believe in the one, unifying tenent of
Hinduism, varna/caste/color. Simply put, most Dalits believe they are
being punished by God for sins in a previous life and their lot as
"untouchables", Dalits, is Gods Will. If God willed your punishment
today with the promise of a better re-birth in the next life , than
trying to lift yourselfs and your childrens lot above that of cleaning
the communal toilets is going against Gods Will. Sounds like a
brilliant scheme for social control using a religion, Hinduism, in the
opinion of all the Dalits I know.

Taking into consideration just how mentally enslaved most Dalits
remain, moving the masses of Dalits from being so crushed and broken
to real liberation might take a series of steps instead of one giant
leap, or so my Dalit comrades seem to feel. Dalits may have to see for
themselves that casting a vote is not going to midwife any real
liberation for the rank and file. While acknowledging that a series of
trial and error may mark their struggle and that the Maoist scorn such
an approach, Dalits feel that if the Maoist movement continues to
ignore varna/caste while still dependent on Dalits to win power,
Dalits are doomed to see their struggle for equal rights and justice
betrayed by the new Brahmins, the leaders of todays Maoist movement.

One fact remains utterly non debatable and that is that India and
Nepal remain overwhelmingly a society of villages. Equally non
debatable is that in India and Nepal's villages, caste rules . How the
Maoist movement can hope to succeed without even addressing this issue
in any real way bodes ill for any hopes the Maoist movement offers any
real solutions to the most barbaric, inhumane system of human
oppression in the world, Apartheid in India and Nepal.

In a previous life Thomas C. Mountain was the publisher of the
Ambedkar Journal and a founding member of the Phoolan Devi
International Defense Committee
thomascmountain at yahoo dot com


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[ZESTCaste] Govt’s new dose for Dalits: 59 new homeopathy dispensaries

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-s-new-dose-for-Dalits--59-new-homeopathy-dispensaries/605580/


Govt's new dose for Dalits: 59 new homeopathy dispensaries
Surbhi Khyati Posted online: Tuesday , Apr 13, 2010 at 0505 hrs
Lucknow : The state government is ready to set up 59 new homeopathic
dispensaries in Dalit-dominated areas. The process of identifying the
sites has begun.
The dispensaries will be set up under the special component plan in 2010-11.

The aim is to provide alternative medicine which is effective and
cheaper in areas that have a higher density of Dalit population.

This is the first such initiative since 1997 — when 75 homeopathic
dispensaries were opened in the scheduled caste dominated areas.

Between March 21 and September 20, 1997, Mayawati had come to power a
second time in the state.

"The proposal for the new dispensaries was sent by the Department of
Homeopathy this year and it was approved by the Planning and financial
department of the government," said Dr BN Singh, Director, Homeopathy.

The districts have been asked to come up with detailed plans for the
dispensaries, which will be sent to the department for approval before
funds are sanctioned. "Once the proposals from districts come in, the
final number of dispensaries can change as per requirements," said an
official.

According to officials in the Department of homeopathy, a similar
proposal was sent in 2007-08 but it was not approved by the
government.

In the 2010-11 budget, around Rs 2.38 crore has been specifically
allotted for the dispensaries.

"Homeopathic treatment, which costs only Re 1, is a cheap and viable
option for the economically backward and the Dalits," said Rajesh
Tripathi, State Minister for Homeopathy. "The government feels the
necessity of paying more attention to the poor or backward people."

The state has 1,575 homeopathic dispensaries, of which 488 are in
Dalit-dominated areas. But most had been established in or before the
'90s.

In 2007-08, one dispensary was established in a tribal-dominated area
and in 2008-09, around 77 dispensaries and 5 new posts were created
for Dalit-dominated and tribal-dominated areas respectively. Uttar
Pradesh has one of the largest infrastructures of homeopathy in the
country, said Dr Singh.

Already, seven government and two private homeopathic colleges are
functional in the state. Two colleges in Gorakhpur and Aligarh are
under construction.

"All districts have one District Homeopathic Officer and this year we
are planning to create more posts and recruit officers in the district
homeopathic offices," said Dr Singh.


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[ZESTCaste] Relevance of B R Ambedkar in modern India

http://ibnlive.in.com/chat/kancha-ilaiah/relevance-of-b-r-ambedkar-in-modern-india/397.html

IBN Live Chat

April 14 Wednesday | 1600 hours, IST

Relevance of B R Ambedkar in modern India

Kancha Ilaiah
Dr. Kancha Ilaiah is a professor and former Head of the Department of
Political Science at Osmania University. A Dalit-Bahujan activist, he
is a prolific writer, having published in both Telugu and English. He
is the author of 'Why I am Not a Hindu: A Critique of Sudra
Philosophy, Culture and Political Economy', 'God As Political
Philosopher: Buddha's Challenge to Brahminism'.April 14 is the birth
anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian
Constitution. A champion of Dalit and Bahujan rights in the country,
Ambdekar devoted his life to fighting for the cause of the
underprivileged. In modern-day India, what is the relevance of
Ambedkar?


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[ZESTCaste] Over one lakh Ambedkarites to gather at Mhow on April 14th

 

http://www.zeenews.com/news618554.html

Over one lakh Ambedkarites to gather at Mhow on April 14th

Updated on Monday, April 12, 2010, 19:57 IST

Indore: Over one lakh followers are expected to gather at the birth
place of the architect of the Indian Constitution, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar
at Mhow near here on the occasion of his 119th birth anniversary on
April 14.

The ruling BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has made elaborate
arrangements to welcome large number of the followers congregating at
Mhow on the occasion.

For last two years, the event has been celebrated as 'Ambedkar Mahakumbh'.

Madhya Pradesh SC/ST Welfare Minister, Vijay Shah reviewed
preparations for the Mahakumbh and directed the officials concerned to
make arrangements for lodging and boarding of the followers coming
from various places.

The State Government has also declared a public holiday on April 14.

PTI

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[ZESTCaste] ‘Dalits to get free medical treatment’

http://www.financialexpress.com/news/-Dalits-to-get-free-medical-treatment-/605644/

'Dalits to get free medical treatment'
Agencies
Posted online: Apr 13, 2010 at 0908 hrs

PuducherryPoor Scheduled Caste people suffering critical ailments who
cannot get specialized treatment in the government general hospital
would be given medical assistance for treatment in corporate hospitals
in other states, welfare minister M Kandsamy said today.

Stating this during his reply to views of members of political parties
in the Assembly, he said the government would bear the entire
treatment cost of such patients, provided the maximum amount did not
exceed Rs three lakh.

The Puducherry Cooperative Urban Bank had been authorized to take up
general insurance business also. A survey would be launched to collect
details of the total number of domestic help, to include them as
members in the Building and Construction Workers Welfare Board here.

Workers now getting Rs 80 per day under the National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme (NREGA) would be paid Rs 20 more on lines of the wage
system adopted by the Centre, he said.


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[ZESTCaste] Whose Ambedkar is he, anyway?

 

http://www.ndtv.com/news/india/whose-ambedkar-is-he-anyway-19844.php

Whose Ambedkar is he, anyway?

Anant Zanane, Monday April 12, 2010, Lucknow

On April 14, the birthday celebrations of the Dalit leader will see a
clash of the titans in UP. Rahul Gandhi, who has steadily been trying
to win back the 20 percent Dalits in the state to his party, will turn
the dial to a new high. In the other corner of the ring, Mayawati, the
UP Chief Minister, will try to hold her ground with the voters who
have elected her to office.

Determined to show he's no rookie, Gandhi has booked Ambedkar Nagar,
the bastion of Mayawati's Bahujan Samjawadi Party, as the spot from
where he will flag off ten state-wide yatras. It's the Congress' most
lavish pre-election exercise in recent history. Trucks with stages and
high-tech audio-visual systems will roll ten Congress leaders into
different parts of the state to tell Dalits that the Congress stands
for them.

The key Dalit pockets of Ayodhya, Amethi, and Raebareili will be
visited by PL Punia, a prominent Congress Dalit leader. ''We are going
to cover every block and hold public meetings in every Assembly
segment. We will cover 40 Assembly segments per yatra. So this is a
massive exercise, and silently, we will extend our reach to the booth
level,'' says Punia, who is also the Congress MP from Barabanki.

Mayawati, who knows a thing or two about appropriating the Dalit
legacy, is going on the offensive as well. She started poking holes in
the Congress' preparations a few weeks ago with pointed criticism of
their posters that had no images of Dalit leaders. Blustering
Congress workers then ordered a reprint, and the new publicity
material shows Babu Jagjivan Ram and Ambedkar.

The Chief Minister is also staging large protests against the Women's
Reservation Bill, pushed through the Rajya Sabha recently at the clear
instructions of Sonia Gandhi. Mayawati argues that the Bill does not
reserve seats for Dalit women, and therefore, lets down the people of
UP.

And so BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary will become the first
stress-test of the next election, scheduled for 2012.

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[ZESTCaste] Help me clear I-T dues: Mayawati's dad to Pranab

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Help-me-clear-I-T-dues-Mayawatis-dad-to-Pranab/articleshow/5790463.cms

Help me clear I-T dues: Mayawati's dad to Pranab
Pradeep Thakur, TNN, Apr 13, 2010, 02.39am IST

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh CM Mayawati's octogenarian father Prabhu
Dayal has moved an emotional plea before finance minister Pranab
Mukherjee saying he wants to settle all his tax dispute cases in his
lifetime.

But the Income Tax Settlement Commission (ITSC) — where at least 17
applications of Mayawati's relatives, including those of her father,
mother, brothers and their wives, are pending — is believed to have
conveyed its preference to go by the roster basis of
first-come-first-served.

The settlement commission is currently hearing case applications filed
in 2003. Going by the number of cases pending before the Delhi bench
of the ITSC, 85-year-old Prabhu Dayal's turn may come around late 2011
or 2012, if the roster basis is followed.

After his failure to get his case listed for hearing at the
commission, Prabhu Dayal in his letter to FM said that as he is ailing
and hospitalized, hence, a compassionate view must be taken in his
case.

Dayal had approached the settlement commission along with his sons,
daughters-in-law and other relatives in 2006, agreeing to pay taxes as
demanded by the department after reassessment of their income for
previous years.

Sources said Mayawati's family members had deposited around half of
the Rs 12 crore tax demand raised by the department in the cases
pending before the commission. Later, the family expressed its desire
to pay the entire sum but wanted immunity from penalty.

However, the I-T department was not very keen to settle the cases at
the income reassessed initially. It wants reopening of all the case
files in view of the findings of CBI and I-T investigation in the
alleged disproportionate assets of the family.

The I-T department had even moved the Supreme Court in 2008 against
their cases being admitted before the settlement commission and wanted
them to be referred back to the assessing officers. However, the apex
court ruled in favour of Prabhu Dayal and the cases remained with the
commission for its consideration for settlement.

ITSC Bar Association president K P Garg told TOI that if the roster
basis is followed, Prabhu Dayal's turn would not come before the end
of 2011. But Garg defended the arrangement saying "cases are heard as
per priority and no injustice has been done to Mayawati's father".
Garg said old age should not make a difference here as most of the
aggrieved parties are old and desperate.

At the time of filing an application before the ITSC for settlement,
it is mandatory for an applicant to deposit the taxes demanded by the
department before the case is admitted. There are at least 900 cases
pending before the Delhi and Mumbai benches of the ITSC, Garg said.
The other two benches in Chennai and Kolkata have very few pending
cases.
The CBI too has an interest in the cases as it had registered
disproportionate assets case against the Dalit icon and her family
members. It had found during its investigation a large number of
immovable properties and "donations" valued at over Rs 12 crore. The
agency had frozen dozens of bank accounts belonging to family members
with crores of rupees as balance.


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[ZESTCaste] Rahul Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati clash tomorrow

 

http://www.ptinews.com/news/607449_Rahul-Gandhi-and-BSP-chief-Mayawati-clash-tomorrow

Rahul Gandhi and BSP chief Mayawati clash tomorrow

STAFF WRITER 12:40 HRS IST
Lucknow, Apr 13 (PTI) Congress and BSP are preparing to play their
Dalit card in Ambedkar Nagar on the 119th birth anniversary of
Babasaheb Bhimbaro Ambedkar tomorrow.

Tight security arrangements have been made in the district with AICC
general secretary Rahul Gandhi scheduled to flag off Chetna Yatra
(awareness drive) to mark 125 years of party's establishment, and BSP
planning to stage a demonstration against "wrong policies" of the UPA
government and "short comings" in the Women Reservation bill.

"Though the BSP has given a state-wide agitation call, the focus would
be more on Ambedkar Nagar district," sources in the party led by Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati said here.

On the directives of Mayawati, a battery of senior leaders, including
state cabinet ministers, will stage a demonstration, they said.

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[ZESTCaste] Maya has money for statues, not for slain jawans

 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/Story/92583/India/Maya+has+money+for+statues,+not+for+slain+jawans.html

Courtesy: Mail Today

Maya has money for statues, not for slain jawans
Aman Sharma
New Delhi, April 13, 2010

But the Uttar Pradesh chief minister has no money for the families of
the 42 Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) men from her state who died
fighting the Maoists in Dantewada on April 6.

The CRPF officers are seething after Mayawati also failed to be
present at the Lucknow airport when the bodies of the slain jawans
were brought from Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

Akhilesh Yadav, son of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, was
present on the occasion. One of the deceased was the son of his
personal security officer.

While Haryana, Uttarakhand and Tamil Nadu announced compensations
ranging from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 5 lakh for the families of the jawans
hailing from their states, Mayawati has not shown keenness to do so.

A majority of the jawans who died in the attack were from Uttar Pradesh.

"To my knowledge, there is no proposal of the UP government giving any
compensation to the families of the slain CRPF men," state home
secretary Mahesh Gupta said.

CRPF officers said this was insensitive.

"It is generally a compassionate step by the home state of a CRPF
jawan dying in action to give his family some help in the form of
money, job or honour. It should have been a proud occasion for
Mayawati to acknowledge the sacrifice of the 42 jawans from her state
and announce compensation for their families," a CRPF officer said.
"But we have been told she is not interested in giving any money to
the families." In comparison, Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh
Pokhriyal Nishank has

announced Rs 2 lakh each to the families of the seven jawans from his
state. Tamil Nadu has announced Rs 5 lakh each to the families of
three jawans.

On Monday, Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced jobs for widows
of the two deceased CRPF men who hailed from the state and Rs 25 lakh
each to the villages of the jawans for development work. He also
visited the bereaved families.

In contrast, Mayawati has not visited any of the UP jawans' families,
a CRPF officer said.

Another officer said she was not keen to give compensation as she
would have to pay a sizeable amount - maybe in excess of Rs 1 crore.

The UP government has done this before. "Last year, 12 CRPF men killed
in Maoistrelated violence were from UP but Mayawati gave their
families nothing," an officer said.

Home minister P. Chidambaram has, however, assured that by the
monthend, the families of all the 75 CRPF men would get Rs 38.6 lakh
as relief from the Centre and the Chhattisgarh government and a job to
one eligible member in the deceased jawan's family.

The home ministry is also considering a proposal from the CRPF that
its men killed in action be accorded "martyr" status as in the armed
forces. " If that happens, the home state would be obliged to
compensate the families of the deceased," an official said.

According to the home ministry official, Mayawati offers the least
compensation compared to all Maoist-affected states to paramilitary
men if they die in action in UP. "The government pays Rs 90,000 to the
family of a CRPF jawan who dies in action in UP. But Chhattisgarh,
West Bengal and Jharkhand pay Rs 13 lakh, which includes a group
insurance worth Rs 10 lakh, whose premium is footed by the state
government. Bihar pays Rs 2.5 lakh while Andhra Pradesh pays Rs 7.5
lakh," a source said.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit face missing, BJP still out to climb bandwagon

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Dalit-face-missing--BJP-still-out-to-climb-bandwagon/605576

Dalit face missing, BJP still out to climb bandwagon

Tarannum Manjul Posted online: Tuesday , Apr 13, 2010 at 0457 hrs
Lucknow : The BJP is all set to woo the Dalits — despite lacking a
single recognised Dalit leader.
The party has planned a campaign against the Ranganath Mishra
Committee's recommendation for SC quota reservation for Dalits who
converted to Christianity or Islam. Under the banner of the BJP's
Aarakshan Bachao Manch, its Dalit leaders are to travel across the
state.

The Manch has its agenda in place for the next five months. The first
programme — held in Lucknow on Sunday — was attended by national
general secretary Thavarchand Gehlot, along with national spokesperson
Ramnath Kovind and the national secretary Ashok Pradhan.

Diwakar Seth, state coordinator of the Manch, said, "We will initially
start with the mahanagars." This will be followed by programmes in
districts and then protests and dharnas at the tehsil level.

"We are opposing the Ranganath Mishra Committee report, which says
that Dalits who have converted into Islam or Christianity should also
be given reservation under the SC quota," he said. "We will tell
people what steps different BJP governments at the state and the
Centre had taken for them."

But the party's problem is the absence of recognisable Dalit faces in
the state.

The only name mentioned is that of former MP Ashok Pradhan, who is
little known outside Aligarh and Bulandshahr districts. The Manch is
relying chiefly on Rajnath Singh and party state president Ramapati
Ram Tripathi.

Party insiders, however, say this lacunae will not help to strike a
chord with the state's Dalit population.

"Gehlot is not well known even in the party," a senior leader pointed
out. "On Sunday, it was found that only senior workers knew who he
was. He too seemed to be finding it difficult to relate with the
people here."

Like Gehlot, Kovind too is an unknown face in UP.

The state BJP, he said, needs Dalit faces. "We have to fight against
the Congress and the BSP who are better placed in this aspect," he
added.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalits protest CM not addressing them during visit

 

http://www.newkerala.com/news/fullnews-88101.html

Dalits protest CM not addressing them during visit

Kakinada, AP, Apr 12 : Leaders of Dalits associations expressed their
strong resentment over Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah not
addressing the Dalits, who had gathered in large number at the
inauguration of the renovated Ambedkar building here today.

''We were happy that Ambedkar bhavan was given a facelift with the
local industrial units help at a cost of Rs 1.25 crore. Except
unveiling the Ambedkar statue and cutting the ribbon marking the
re-opening of the building, the Chief Minister did not address any
meeting.

''Dalit association representatives received shabby treatment in the
hands of security personnel. They were neither allowed to submit a
memorandum nor a patient hearing. In the name of Ambedkar, the Bhavan
is now given a corporate colour, keeping the dalits far away,'' Forum
for Dalit Studies Director P Arunkumar claimed.

Annoyed by Mr Rosaiah's attitude, SC Association leaders Siddhartha
Kumar and Surya Narayana walked out of the venue, blaming him and the
police.

Though ample time was there, the Chief Minister preferred to greet
only the corporate sector representatives for their liberal
contribution for the Bhavan renovation, they claimed.

He did not address any public meeting during the second and last day
of his tour of East Godavari district and devoted time mostly for
performing special poojas at Panchamukhi Anjaneya Swamy Temple and
receive the blessings of Astrologer and Vedic pundit Chinthabhatla
Ganapati Sastry at Samalkot, they alleged.

In his brief speech at the foundation stone laying function for the
autonagar at Rajahmundry, Mr Rosaiah underlined the importance of
autonagar in every town and reiterated his government's determination
in developing infrastructure such as seaports and airports for the
accelerated and planned growth of the state. At Kakinada, he declared
open the renovated Ambedkar Bhavan and inaugurated the Kakinada Branch
of the Aryapuram Bank in the main road.

--UNI

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