Monday, January 31, 2011

[ZESTCaste] No disqualification till conviction, says Maya

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/No-disqualification-till-conviction--says-Maya/744012

No disqualification till conviction, says Maya
Express News Service Posted online: Mon Jan 31 2011, 09:14 hrs
Lucknow : Disagreeing with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) S Y
Quraishi's suggestion that a person against whom charges have been
framed for an offence, which is punishable with imprisonment for five
or more years, should not be allowed to contest elections, Chief
Minister Mayawati said that such a provision could be misused, and
argued for disqualification from contesting election only after
conviction by court. She favoured a law to stop criminalisation of
politics and wanted the law to have no scope for misuse.

Mayawati was speaking at the Regional Consultation for Electoral
Reforms, organised jointly by the Election Commission of India and
Union Law Ministry at the Dr B R Ambedkar Auditorium here. Quraishi
and Union Law Minister M Veerappa Moily were also present. This was
the first time since Mayawati became the CM in 2007 that she spoke
from a non-BSP platform.

The CEC expressed concern over criminalisation of politics and
appreciated Mayawati for her reported decision to deny ticket to
criminals in elections.

Terming the ECI's decision to seek opinions for electoral reforms as a
commendable step, the CM said there is need to ban exit and opinion
polls which tended to influence the electorate. "The logic behind such
poll is that it is freedom of expression. But this is freedom of
misinformation," Mayawati said.

She underlined the need for reviewing the anti-defection law. "If any
MP or MLA joins another party, he should contest the election again,"
she said. Mayawati said the national president of a political party
should be empowered to recommend to the EC cancellation of membership
of MPs and MLAs who change party. After disqualification, the EC
should immediately hold elections in their constituencies.

Favouring the idea of the state funding elections, she said this would
help curb criminalisation of politics. However, the CEC described the
idea of state funding "dangerous".

The CEC highlighted various issues related to electoral reforms. He
said there should be a ban on transfer of employees six months before
and after elections in any state. He sought suggestions to develop a
protection system for officers who face victimisation after elections
despite their good work. He also underlined the need for empowering
the ECI to deregister political parties.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit killings: Upper castes to pay for stir?

 

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/dalit-killings-upper-castes-to-pay-for-.../744111/

Dalit killings: Upper castes to pay for stir?
Agencies Posted online: Mon Jan 31 2011, 14:00 hrs
New Delhi : The Supreme Court today asked the Railways and the Haryana
government to assess their financial losses due to the disruption in
rail and road traffic following a stir against booking of some upper
caste people in the Mirchpur dalit killings case.

A Bench headed by Justice G S Singhvi directed Northern Railway's
general manager to instruct his senior officials to file an affidavit
quantifying the loss suffered by the Railways.

It also asked the Haryana government to evaluate and apprise the court
about the loss suffered by the state exchequer due to the blockade of
road traffic from Jind to Delhi during the 11-day stir organised by 12
'khap' panchayats.

The Bench also issued notices to the Centre and the state government
and sought their responses within two weeks.

While seeking details of the financial loss suffered by the Haryana
government, the Bench also asked the state and railway authorities to
apprise it of the steps taken by them for the free flow of rail and
road traffic.

Villagers had been protesting the booking of 98 members of their
community in the case relating to the killing of 70-year-old Tara
Chand and his teenaged daughter Suman at Mirchpur village in Hisar on
April 21 last year.

Demanding a fresh probe into the dalit killings, upper caste people of
Mirchpur and other adjoining villages in Hisar district had brought
the rail and road traffic to Delhi via Jind to a grinding halt earlier
this month.

Members of the pre-dominant Jat community had been sitting on railway
tracks at Julani village near Jind railway station since January 15,
disrupting railway traffic on the Jind-Jakhal section of the
Delhi-Ferozepur route.

The protesters had also been blocking road traffic in Jind and other
places of the state, besides locking the Haryana roadways bus depot in
many places.

Normalcy was restored in the troubled districts on January 26
following talks between leaders of the protesters and Haryana Chief
Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda in Kaithal.

Hooda assured Bhag Singh Jalabh, convenor of the 41-member committee
constituted by Sarvjatiya Sarvkhap Mahapanchayat, to look into his
grievances that many of the upper caste people had been falsely
implicating in the case.

A Delhi court had on January 9 directed the Haryana government to move
all the 98 accused from Hisar jail to Tihar prison since their trial
was transferred to a court in Delhi following a Supreme Court order.

The protesters had been demanding that the probe be held by a Special
Investigation Team (SIT) either at Rohtak or Hisar and the accused be
lodged in either of the two jails.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits from Mirchpur village start dharna demanding security

 

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Dalits-from-Mirchpur-village-start-dharna-demanding-security/Article1-656170.aspx

Dalits from Mirchpur village start dharna demanding security
Press Trust Of India
Hisar, January 29, 2011
First Published: 20:05 IST(29/1/2011)

A number of Dalit families uprooted from Mirchpur village near in
Hisar, which saw the killing of two Dalit members allegedly by upper
caste people nearly 10 months ago, on Saturday started an indefinite
dharna here to press for their security and rehabilitation. The
families had left the village
due to fear of attacks on them by Jats and are now living in separate
places in Hisar.

Though Jat protesters withdrew their agitation after a meeting with
chief minister Bhupender Singh Hooda, the fear of attack continues to
haunt the Dalit families.

The Dalit families submitted a memorandum to the district
administration on Friday evening demanding rehabilitation and jobs for
them.

They said that they would not return to the village now. Some of the
Dalits families are staying in a farmhouse owned by Ved Pal Tanwar,
president of Non Jat organization, in Hisar.

Jat-Dalit confontration had started on April 21 last year when a mob
of Jat community torched several houses of Dalits at Mirchpur in which
Tara Chand and his disabled teenaged daughter Suman were killed and
several others Dalits were injured.

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[ZESTCaste] Family assaults woman for marrying outside caste in Bihar

 

http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report_family-assaults-woman-for-marrying-outside-caste-in-bihar_1500461

Family assaults woman for marrying outside caste in Bihar
Published: Saturday, Jan 29, 2011, 14:01 IST
Place: Ballia (Bihar) | Agency: PTI

A Dalit woman was assaulted and her hair clipped off by family members
after she married a man from a different caste against their wishes,
police said here today.

"20-year-old Savita married a youth from a different caste at a temple
on January 26 against the wishes of her family members following which
they assaulted her and chopped off her hair," superintendent of police
Ram Swaroop said.

Acting on an FIR lodged by Savita, her mother and brother were
arrested, he said.

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[ZESTCaste] Rs 12,000 crore to develop SC/ST lands: Minister

 

http://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-135365.html

Rs 12,000 crore to develop SC/ST lands: Minister

Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, Jan 28 : The government is spending Rs 12,000
crore to develop the agriculture lands belong to the Scheduled Castes
and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) in Andhra Pradesh, Rural Development
Minister Dokka Manikya Vara Prasad said.

Participating in the government-sponsored Rachabanda Programme at
Charlagudipadu Village in Guragala Mandal of the district, he said the
government had taken all steps to develop the agriculture lands, owned
by the SC and STs .

The government has released Rs.2,500 crore for the welfare schemes of
SC and STs he said and added the construction of interior roads in the
SC, ST and BC colonies under the Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment
Guarantee Act.

Infusing courage into the frustrated rain-affected farmers, the
Minister asked them not to commit suicides and instead avail the
benefits being provided by the government.

The government had waived crop loans to the tune of Rs 12.9 crore in
Gurajala Mandal itself, he informed.

--UNI

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits leave Mirchpur village fearing Jat threat

http://www.dailypioneer.com/314231/Dalits-leave-Mirchpur-village-fearing-Jat-threat.html

Dalits leave Mirchpur village fearing Jat threat
January 31, 2011 6:26:49 PM

Alkesh Sharma | Hisar

Nearly a dozen Dalit families have left Mirchpur village in the last
15 days as last year's violence in the village has come back to haunt
them. It was here that a 70-year-old, Tarachand and his
physically-challenged daughter, Suman, were killed in an attack by the
dominant Jat community in April last year.

The fear of violence from Jats, who have over the past 12 days staged
protests demanding the release of those arrested for the incident and
called off stir last Thursday after the intervention of Chief Minister
Bhupinder Singh Hooda, still looms over Dalit families.

"The State Government has failed to punish the culprits accused of an
arson attack on Dalit families in April last year. The Government is
playing vote bank politics and does not want to offend the Jat
community as they are in a majority in Haryana," Gulab Singh, a Dalit
a villager, told IANS.

"We have lost all faith in the police and the Government. Leave aside
the question of staying in Mirchpur, we do not want to live anywhere
in Haryana. We make an appeal before the Government to rehabilitate us
somewhere outside this State," stated Singh.

"We are still getting threats from Jats. They are pressurising us to
take back our complaints," Sheela, another Dalit, camping outside
Mirchpur village with her family, said. In Mirchpur violence case, 98
Jat youths were arrested and are in a jail in New Delhi.

Ved Pal Tanwar, a representative of the Non-Jat Association, Haryana,
said: "So far the State Government has failed to ensure the safety of
the Dalit families of Mirchpur. They have given only verbal assurances
of safety and jobs, but actually nothing has happened. They are left
with no option than to leave Mirchpur."


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[ZESTCaste] Dalits demand their due

http://www.hindu.com/2011/01/29/stories/2011012951240300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Ongole Printer Friendly Page Send this Article to a Friend

Dalits demand their due

Staff Reporter

Round-table held under the aegis of CPI(M)-led KVPS

They demand an end to diversion of funds

ONGOLE: Concerned over the Union and State governments' alleged
non-fulfilment of the constitutional obligation of allocating and
spending in proportion to their population, a round-table held under
the aegis of the CPI(M)-led Kula Vivaksha Porata Samiti on Friday
decided to fight for their rights.

The conference, attended by functionaries of dalit bodies affiliated
to the TDP, the CPI and the frontal organisations of the CPI(M),
decided to hold a survey in all dalit hamlets ahead of the Budget
session of the State Assembly to project the fund requirement for
civic amenities, including internal roads, drinking water, burial
grounds and street lighting.

"We are going to lay a siege to the Assembly coinciding with the
Budget session demanding fund allocation as per the Constitution and
put a full stop to diversion of funds," KVPS district secretary A.
Malyadri said.

Funds allocation

The meeting adopted a resolution moved by the CPI(M)-led Agricultural
Workers' Union district secretary Pentiyala Hanumantha Rao pressing
for allocation of Rs. 270 crores for the welfare of dalits in the
district.

The meeting was attended by, among others, CPI(M) district secretary
J. Anjaiah, TDP SC wing district secretary K. Ravichandra and CPI-led
Dalit Hakkula Porata Samiti (DHPS) district secretary K. Subba Rao and
Mala Mahanadu district secretary D. Sivaji.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalits on indefinite strike

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Dalits-on-indefinite-strike-/articleshow/7387814.cms

Dalits on indefinite strike
Bhaskar Mukherjee, TNN, Jan 30, 2011, 08.31am IST

HISAR (HARYANA): Days after the end of the protest by Jats over the
shifting of the trial as well as the accused in the Mirchpur violence
case from Haryana to Delhi, now 80 Dalit families who fled Mirchpur
when the Jat agitation started are holding an indefinite dharna
outside the mini secretariat here.

The families are living in the camping site provided by Gair Jat
Sangathan at a farm house near Hisar. "Who would take care of them?
Who would hear their voice as their number is quite less as compared
to the Jats," said Sangathan president Ved Pal Tanwar.

Suresh Balmiki, one of the persons sitting on dharna while talking
about the plight as well as the demands, said, "They (Jats) have used
pressure to make the government accept their demands. But who would
guarantee our safety and security? We want that the accused in the
Mirchpur violence case are punished." Satyavan Balmiki who left
Mirchpur along with wife Reena and two sons, Pankaj and Devendar said,
"We feared that we would be attacked by the Jats. Give us work and
social security."

DC Yudhbir Singh Khyaliya said, "We are gathering information about
their demands and would then take a decision."

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[ZESTCaste] Maya's no to disqualification of criminals

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Mayas-no-to-disqualification-of-criminals/articleshow/7393938.cms

Maya's no to disqualification of criminals
TNN, Jan 31, 2011, 01.13am IST
LUCKNOW: Chief minister Mayawati on Sunday outrightly rejected chief
election commissioner (CEC) S Y Quraishi's suggestion that candidates
with criminal antecedents should be disqualified from contesting,
saying that this could lead to misuse of law for this purpose and
consequently jeopardise the interest of democracy.

"I am of a firm view that nobody should be barred from becoming an
election candidate without conviction. Any such provision in the law
could be misused and would prove to be a ploy against political
detractors," Mayawati said while addressing a conference on electoral
reforms here at the Bhimrao Ambedkar auditorium of Dr Ram Manohar
Lohia National Law University.

The conference was attended by Union law minister Veerappa Moily,
chairman of State Advisory Council S C Mishra and legal luminaries
drawn from different parts of the country.

The CM's remark came soon after the CEC suggested, "I am in favour of
debarring candidates from contesting polls against whom charges are
framed." In support of his contention, Quraishi said that after a
person is imprisoned, his rights to movement, freedom and earning are
not allowed.

"Why can't we then bar criminals from contesting elections which is
not even a fundamental right," he said.

However, Quraishi found support for his contention in the concluding
session of the conference in which Uttarakhand chief minister Ramesh
Pokhriyal 'Nishank' fully endorsed his view point, saying that
criminals and mafia should be kept out of the electoral process.

Quraishi also suggested formulation of a code of conduct for
electronic and print media and direct election of chief ministers and
prime minister by the people, instead by legislators and MPs.

Mayawati, on the occasion, was also opposed to the CEC's view point
that the Central government funding of elections is a dangerous
proposition.

Quraishi said this is dangerous because this would burden the
government with a huge expenditure and at the same time, there would
be use of illegal money in elections.

Mayawati said that the entire election expense of political parties
should be borne by the Centre, as this would lead to free and fair
elections and also prevent criminalisation of politics.

The electoral reforms, she further said, should be done in a manner in
which the weakest sections of the society, particularly dalits, could
exercise their voting rights freely and fearlessly.

In this context, she referred to the contributions of Bhimrao Ambedkar
and said that the scope of his mission was widened by her mentor and
BSP founder late Kanshi Ram, who transformed politics by creating a
political party centred on marginalised sections of the society. She
said she herself is dedicated to this cause.

Earlier, addressing the conference, Veerappa Moily said that electoral
reforms are necessary as the democracy cannot be sustained on ills
plaguing it. "No doubt that the country has made a stride forward, but
even better political management is needed with an emphasis on probity
in public life by keeping criminals at bay," Moily said.

Fifth in the series, the conference, sponsored jointly by the Union
law ministry and the Election Commission as a part of nationwide
exercise to gather views on electoral reforms, will culminate on a
two-day national consultation in New Delhi on April 2 and 3. So far,
it has been held in Bhopal, Kolkata, Mumbai and Guwahati. After
Lucknow, it is proposed to be held in Chandigarh and Bangluru.

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Sunday, January 30, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Dalit lady attacked

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/Dalit-lady-attacked-/articleshow/7387555.cms

Dalit lady attacked
TNN, Jan 30, 2011, 12.41am IST

THENI: Petrol bombs were hurled at a 55-year-old dalit woman on
Thursday night following a month-long caste clash over the use of a
common burial ground in Koolayanur village near Bodinayakanur in Theni
district. A four-member gang entered Chinnaye's house on Thursday
night and hurled petrol bombs at her, burning her back and face,
police said.

The dispute arose over the death of 70-year-old Raju on 2nd January.
Although Koolayanur village had separate burial grounds for both
dalits and non-dalits, the plot was converted into a common ground
recently to bridge the divide between the two groups. However, the
non-dalits never allowed the dalits to cremate their dead in the
common ground. On December 22, 2010, the officials called for a peace
meeting at the village office where they had asked the dalits not to
use the common burial ground. An agreement was soon signed in the
presence of officials without explaining the issue to the dalits.

The youth in the village, however, were against this. When they were
talking Raju's body to the common burial ground, the non-dalits
stopped them. Police intervened and arrested 13 dalits, inlcuding
Raja, a youth who led the procession. Although the issue was resolved
with the help of police, the non-dalits were waiting to take revenge
on Raja. On 27th January, four persons allegedly entered the house of
Raja and hurled petrol bombs at his mother Chinnaye. The neighbours
rushed her to the Madurai government hospital where she is undergoing
treatment now. Police have registered a case and investigation is on.

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[ZESTCaste] My open letter to so-called “Dalits”

http://sabhlokcity.com/2011/01/my-open-letter-so-called-dalits/

My open letter to so-called "Dalits"
On January 29, 2011, in Call for action, Reservations/ Affirmative
Action, by Sanjeev Sabhlok

The "Dalits" are not slaves – they should wake up and throw away their chains!

I am sick of hearing that the "Dalits/Harijans/SCs" have been
oppressed in the past and so INNOCENT non-oppressors must COMPENSATE
them today. That is a shoddy argument that beggars belief, but forms
part of the reservations rigmarole which has condemned India to
mediocrity, and led to the exodus of (most) Indians capable of
standing on their own feet in the face of world-level competition.

This disease of affirmative action has spread even into 'gender'
matters, such as reservations for women. The thinking capacity of
Indians is worsening with each passing day, till the point is now
close when they won't be able to distinguish the right from the wrong,
good from bad, evil from greatness.

What is particularly galling is that the "Dalits/Harijans/SCs" are
themselves at the forefront of this ridiculous demand for continued
reservations. I wrote a detailed article on this subject but
apparently not many people have read it. Please read it. It clarifies
why reservations are FUNDAMENTALLY wrong and UNJUST, and offers a
clear way out of this mess.

But let me put out a CLEAR message to my so-called "Dalit" friends
today. I say "so-called" because it is THEY who call themselves
Dalits. I don't call them such names nor see them differently from ANY
other human being.
MY OPEN LETTER TO SELF-PROCLAIMED "DALITS":

Dear Friends!

If you know me by now, you'll also know that I treat EVERYONE around
me as an EQUAL HUMAN BEING. People are different in talent and
capacity, but being equal humans, each deserves the same level of
regard – and political rights.

You also know by now that I have no engagement with any religion. I do
retain, however, some affinity for many Hindu philosophical concepts
and those of Buddhism (plus some affinity with good things from all
religions). In any event I do know some things about Hinduism. This
one thing is clear beyond the slightest iota of doubt: that the idea
of a hereditary caste system does not form part of the original
conceptions of Hinduism and was introduced much later, as a
distortion.

Let me make it clear, that as a FREE human being (no less, no more), I
have discarded ALL religion and take on, as a guide to my thinking,
only what I decide is right. I discard all garbage; all rubbish; all
false ideas. I don't care for blindly obeying anyone who is living or
dead. I ONLY trust in myself. That is because as a human being I THINK
FOR MYSELF. Because I am a human and not a sheep, nor a coward afraid
of 'big names' or 'scriptures'.

You, my good friend, are NOT a slave. Please note that when you
advocate the false and flawed socialist policy of reservations (based
on the nonsensical idea of 'social justice'), you become PARTY TO THE
CRIME and INJUSTICE that this represents. By doing so, you also
connive with (rather than challenge) the FALSE system of caste that is
NOT part of Hinduism as it was and should be. Indeed, by accepting and
acknowledging your caste, you become a slave to the distortions of
history.

TODAY PLEASE BECOME A FREE MAN. Yes, today, not tomorrow. Not when you
have squeezed out more undue benefits from the 'reservations' system
for yourself and your children, but TODAY.

TODAY if you are an honest man (or woman) nothing stops you from
freeing yourself from the caste system but you, yourself. You are your
own greatest enemy today. None other but you are holding you back. No
living or dead man is blocking your freedom.

Personally speaking, I would be deeply offended if in a race in the
Olympics or in a match in the Wimbledon I was given additional points
(or a special handicap) just because of my 'caste'. That would destroy
my confidence in myself totally. I want to know HONESTLY how I fare in
this world after my best efforts. I don't want to be molly-coddled. I
am NOT a TODDLER needing a pat on my back. I am a MAN.

Today I challenge you to grow up into a MAN (or woman), and stop being
a SELF-IMPOSED slave. I challenge you to become a free human being –
capable of thinking for yourself. If you are a man (or woman) and not
a slave, you will THROW OUT YOUR CHAINS – RIGHT NOW.

If, however, it is sheer GREED for reserved seats that makes you stick
to a FLAWED version of Hinduism, then you are CONTEMPTIBLE and deserve
the calumny that is often attributed to your caste by ignorant fools.
You can't have your cake and eat it too. You can't claim to want to be
treated with respect, but want reservations too.

If you are SERIOUS about gaining self-respect, you will REJECT
HINDUISM OUTRIGHT, RIGHT NOW – or at least any version of Hinduism
that treats you with contempt. REJECT YOUR CASTE. REJECT YOUR
RELIGION. Rise ABOVE these things. If you are bothered that a
"Brahmin" priest doesn't let you enter a temple then BUILD YOUR OWN
TEMPLE!!!

The Upanishads say: Tat Tvam Asi. You are it. You are the God so for
God's sake! get some self-respect into your bones.

Join me today in freedom. Become a free human being. Lead your own
life: choose your own destiny.

If anyone dared to judge me on my 'caste' (which I once had) I would
SPIT on that person. I care to be judged by my acts, by my
contributions. I want to be ONLY an ORDINARY human being. That is
creditable enough – if I rise to the standards expected of a good
human.

If I can kick my so-called 'caste' with my shoes and break ALL
shackles to my thinking capacity, then why do you want to stick to
your stupid 'caste'? SPIT ON IT. THROW IT AWAY.

Reject it outright. Right now!! And having done that, learn about the
ways of freedom. Critical thinking is the foundation of freedom. Read
The Discovery of Freedom (still a draft).

Then learn how, as citizens of FREE India we can ensure that all our
children are educated effectively. Read Breaking Free of Nehru
(Chapter 6 in particular) on how this can be done. And when you –
FINALLY -understand the meaning of freedom and want a free India, then
JOIN THE FREEDOM TEAM. Together, we will transform India's policies to
ensure that EVERY child is educated in the best possible way.

After that is done, let all people in India compete on merit and let
the best win.

Let's oppose reservations tooth and nail, equally as we demand freedom
for everyone and expect them to behave with self-respect.

Your sincerely,

Sanjeev Sabhlok

29 January 2011


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[ZESTCaste] NCSC again suggests date for review of Dalit schemes

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/NCSC-again-suggests-date-for-review-of-Dalit-schemes/743764

NCSC again suggests date for review of Dalit schemes
Virendra Nath Bhatt Posted online: Sun Jan 30 2011, 07:19 hrs
Lucknow : For the fourth time in three months, the National Commission
for Schedule Castes (NCSC) has suggested a date to the UP Government
for a review of the various schemes for the welfare of Dalits and
their security. The commission has suggested February 8 for the
exercise this time.

"The commission has communicated the date to the UP government and we
are waiting for their consent. On the past three occasions, the UP
government cited one or the other problem and requested for another
date. Let us see what is their response this time," said PL Punia,
commission chairman, who is also Congress MP from Barabanki.

Asked if the UP government seeks another postponement, Punia said, "If
the UP government says they do not believe in the Indian Constitution,
then the commission can do nothing. We will make a mention of the
conduct of the UP government in our report which is submitted to the
President of India every year. The commission may also public the
record of our communication with the UP government on this matter."

Punia alleged that the UP government was reluctant on the review as it
would expose the pathetic state of affairs prevailing in UP, be it
rampant corruption in the implementation of the welfare schemes for
the SCs or the incidents of atrocities on Dalits under the BSP rule.

According to Punia, UP topped in incidents of atrocities on Dalits at
the national level and this was confirmed by the figures furnished by
the state government to the National Crime Records Bureau. However,
the UP government had claimed that it was incorrect. "The fact is that
poor Dalits have to seek the intervention of courts for lodging FIRs
against their tormentors," he said.

During the proposed review, the commission would ask the state
government to furnish information about matters including the status
of reservation for SCs in state services and utilisation of funds from
the Special Component Plan, Punia said.


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[ZESTCaste] Defying Manu: Rise of the Dalit capitalist

 

http://www.tweetington.com/2011/01/defying-manu-rise-of-dalit-capitalist_29.html

Saturday, January 29, 2011
Defying Manu: Rise of the Dalit capitalist

Recently, a group of 30 Dalit entrepreneurs, many of whom are
manufacturers, visited the Planning Commission at the invitation of
its deputy chairman, Montek Singh Ahluwalia. The meet was
unstructured; the hosts content to watch the new phenomenon the Dalit,
quintessential underdog, embracing entrepreneurship and becoming a
capitalist or at least, setting up small-scale industries. Meanwhile,
the Dalit visitors were elated at the reception they got.

Almost all of them are first-generation entrepreneurs. Just a couple
of decades ago, they were neither well-endowed nor well educated. Only
a few had benefited from government schemes. Each one had a
rags-to-riches story.

Three decades ago, Rajendra Gaikwad was a fogger in a pesticide
company. Today, he has an ISO-certified company G T Pest Control Pvt
Ltd., which operates in Punjab, Maharashtra, Goa and Delhi and employs
400 people. Further afield, it also operates in Singapore and has
plans to enter Malaysia and Thailand.

Then there is Kalpana Saroj, who made headlines a few years ago when
she took over Kamani Tubes Ltd. Right now, she is in the process of
putting the company back on the rails.

Ratibhai Makwana's Gujarat Pickers is a large polymer distributor. His
nephew, Jeetu Makwana produces monofilament and multifilament yarn
twine tape.

The 30-strong group's activities are strikingly diverse. Their range
of products includes hi-fi sound systems and home theatre, sugar,
spirit and ethanol, cement products, automobile parts, garments and
knitted garments, printing machines. Some others are in construction,
the services sector, garment export and handicrafts, etc. Their visit
to the Planning Commission was a message to the power elite that they
exist. Before leaving Delhi, they threw a party that became a media
event.

What next? Milind Kamble, chairman of the Pune-based Dalit Indian
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI), says the 1,000-member body
is largely confined to western Ind! ia but p lans are afoot to open
chapters in other states. DICCI's Punjab chapter is to be inaugurated
in March.

Two inferences are inescapable. First, the development is nothing
short of a minor revolution. That these entrepreneurs are a
microscopic minority in a community known its poverty and deprivation
cannot diminish their significance. They have proved that India now
offers enough opportunities, irrespective of caste and creed, to make
it in life with hard work. The Dalit entrepreneurs appear to have
understood and grabbed the new opportunities offered by economic
reform since 1991.

Second, Dalit capitalism a term coined by activist Chandra Bhan Prasad
is no transient phenomenon. The spirit of entrepreneurship initiative,
hard work, ambition, etc is well-entrenched in the Dalit community.
There is increasing evidence of this from a survey carried out by
Devesh Kapur of Pennsylvania University's Centre for the Advanced
Study of India.

Too often do policymakers treat capitalism as a system of economics
and finance. Too often do they ignore its potential for social
transformation. The truth is the tenets of the market and Manu Smriti
cannot coexist. When the market's influence increased after 1991, the
Dalits did not wait for the state to guide them towards
entrepreneurship.

Dalit capitalism today is akin to the origins of a mighty river. The
spirit of adventure will find its own course, the journey will take a
long time and it will be turbulent. What is certain is this - the
Dalit capitalist will be an effective catalyst in ending the
community's mental bondage that is the belief they are inferior, their
plight is linked to birth and that the government alone can raise them
up.

(The author is a fellow at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies.)

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