Tuesday, July 19, 2011

[ZESTCaste] State told to abolish untouchability

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bhubaneswar/State-told-to-abolish-untouchability/articleshow/9275771.cms

State told to abolish untouchability
Debabrata Mohapatra, TNN | Jul 18, 2011, 11.17pm IST

BHUBANESWAR: The National SC and ST Commission on Monday ordered the
state government to chalk out a strategy so that the age-old practice
of untouchability could go once and for all. The commission issued the
directive when the chief secretary and DGP appeared before it at New
Delhi in connection with a recent incident, involving atrocity on some
Dalit girls at a village near Puri.

"The commission has asked us to prepare a strategy to eradicate
untouchability from the state. We would prepare the report within 15
days and submit it to the commission," chief secretary B K Patnaik
said.

"Police is taking all steps to maintain amity in those pockets, which
are vulnerable to untouchability. We have already started
sensitization programmes with the help of the district administrations
at different places," DGP Manmohan Praharaj said.

Recently, the commission came down heavily on the state government for
doing little to protect a group of Dalits, who bore the brunt of upper
caste people after three lower caste girls entered a temple at
Ranapada near Puri last year.

The upper caste people allegedly humiliated the girls by describing
them as untouchable'. It snowballed into a major controversy with the
upper and lower caste people indulging in a brawl. Police had arrested
a number of people belonging to the upper caste for suppressing the
Dalits.

A delegation led by commission's chairman P L Punia visited the
village last month and interacted with the victims. Punia's visit had
kicked up a controversy as a section of the media reported that Punia
entered the shrine, breaking an age-old ban on the entry of Dalits
into the temple. However, the police had denied reports of Punia
entering the shrine.

Earlier this year the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) pulled
up the state government for failing to tackle bonded labour and child
labour practices in the state.

Voicing concern that the bonded labour system still prevails in many
districts, the NHRC found fault with the district collectors and SPs
concerned in failing to safeguard the rights of the poor people,
mostly in rural areas.

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[ZESTCaste] Marathi magazine set to print 1,000th issue

http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_marathi-magazine-set-to-print-1000th-issue_1566599

Marathi magazine set to print 1,000th issue
Published: Sunday, Jul 17, 2011, 16:30 IST
By Dinesh Thite | Place: Pune | Agency: DNA

Between 1990 and 1995, when about 300 Marathi magazines went out of
print, there was one team in Pune that decided to doggedly continue
the publication of their magazine, Srushtidyan. This magazine that was
considered the pioneer of Marathi science journalism, survived the
worst and is now all set to see its 1,000th issue.

After 1990, with the advent of private television channels, the
reading habit of people gave way to watching television. The change
led to the demise of many popular magazines. Amidst these changes, the
chances of the survival of magazines that popularised science were
even rare. Even a reputed science publication of the biggest
publishing company could not also survive in the changing environment.
But in Pune, a group of science enthusiasts working with quiet
determination and eventually suffering financial losses continued the
publication of Srushtidyan, a science monthly in Marathi.

Srushtidyan, which literally means knowledge of nature, has a long
history that culminates in a milestone on July 22, when the 1,000th
issue of the magazine would be published. It is the 84th year of the
magazine started on January 1, 1928. It has survived the Second World
War, change of ownership and rapidly changing social and cultural
milieu in the country after independence.

The magazine was started by GR Paranjpe, a faculty of physics in the
Institute of Science in Mumbai (which was then called the Royal
Institute of Science). Paranjpe went to Germany for higher education.
But he returned during the First World War as Germany did not want
citizens of British Empire in their country.

During his stay, Paranjpe had seen the advantages of science and
technology that Europe was enjoying. So, on his return he started
initiatives for popularisation of science in India. Publishing a
Marathi magazine for the purpose was a part of those efforts.

In the first editorial, Paranjpe had said 'days of worrying after
watching the development of Western world and our ignorance of those
scientific subjects, are over. So, we are launching Srushtidyan to
start action'.

Right from the initial period, notable scholars in the field of
science and technology contributed to the magazine. In the early days,
scientist Dinakar Karve, the son of Maharshi Dhondo Keshav Karve, was
one of the contributors.

The magazine's content has always been rich to be published as a book
with compilation of articles. One writer wrote a series of articles
Adhunik Shastrasambhar (modern weaponry) during the Second World War.
The articles were later published as a book.

The tradition of articles in the magazine leading to books still continues.

A science writer and a faculty in University of Pune's (UoP) physics
department, Sanjay Dhole believes that he became an established
science fiction writer because of Srushtidyan. Most of his stories
first published in the magazine were then published in a book format.

The magazine's editor, Nirnanjan Ghate, who has been working with the
magazine for more than four decades, says the financial support
provided to the magazine by the Mahatma Phule Museum and by MLA Girish
Bapat has been crucial for its survival.
Ghate says there is a need to have more subscribers. The magazine is
useful for students and schools can contribute to the cause. At
present, there are 700 subscribers, mostly students, parents and
schools.

In spite of the challenges, the magazine has survived over the decades
and continued its endeavour of propagating science and technology in
Marathi language. Medha Ujjaikar, whose M Phil research is about the
magazine, concludes, 'Srushtidyan has created Marathi terminology of
science.'

The magazine was also awarded by the Maharashtra Foundation in 2000.
For good reason, as reaching a 1,000-issue milestone is a rare
achievement for a magazine anywhere in the world.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit minor girl raped

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/dalit-minor-girl-raped/754723.html

Dalit minor girl raped
PTI | 02:07 PM,Jul 12,2011

Gonda (UP), July 12 (PTI) A Dalit minor girl was allegedly raped by a
man in Kumhara village following which she became pregnant, police
said today.The victim is a student of Class VIII.An FIR was yesterday
registered against Sahdev (26) on a complaint of Jagprasad, father of
the victim, at Coloneganj police station.In the complaint, Jagprasad
said that he came to know about the rape, when he went for a medical
check up of his daughter and doctors confirmed her pregnancy,
Superintendent of Police D C Mishra said.The police is probing the
matter and has launched a man hunt to nab the accused.

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[ZESTCaste] Income certificate limit for SC/ST up to Rs 2 lakh

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/175517/income-certificate-limit-scst-up.html

Income certificate limit for SC/ST up to Rs 2 lakh
Bangalore, July 11, DHNS :

The State Government has decided to increase annual income limit to
obtain income certificate from Rs 40,000 to Rs two lakh for SCs and
STs and from Rs 40,000 to Rs 44,000 for others, Social Welfare
Minister A Narayanaswamy said on Monday.

A NarayanaswamySpeaking to reporters here, he said the step was taken
as the cost of living has gone up considerably over the years. The
Centre too had recently directed State governments to increase the
income limit for issuing income certificates.

However, the Income Certificates can be used only for educational
purposes and not for availing various welfare programmes being
implemented by the State government, he added.

The Minister said a large number of SCs and STs had become ineligible
to obtain Income certificates as the income limit was very low. The
government's move will benefit nearly 15 lakh people belonging to
these communities. The plan is also on cards to further increase the
income limit in this regard for those belonging to other communities,
especially to OBCs, he added.

Release of prisoners

Narayanaswamy, who is also the Minister for Prisons, said the
government would recommended to Governor H R Bhardwaj to release 105
prisoners for good conduct, on the occasion of Independence Day.

Prisoners were selected on recommendation from district advisory committees.
"We will send the list as per the rules. It is he Governor's
prerogative to release them or not," he said, in reference to the
Governor rejecting a similar recommendation earlier.


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[ZESTCaste] Ministry opposes state funding of poll

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/177185/ministry-opposes-state-funding-poll.html

Ministry opposes state funding of poll
Ajith Athrady, New Delhi, July 17, DHNS:

The Ministry of Law and Justice has opposed a demand from a section of
society for full state funding of elections to prevent candidates from
using money power, citing "economic and financial scenario".

However, the ministry is in favour of state funding only for poor
women candidates from Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other
Backward Classes nominated by only national level or state level party
to begin with.

As per the cabinet note put up by the ministry on state funding issue,
" the state funding can be considered only for SC, ST and other
backward classes women candidates having an annual income less than Rs
5 lakh with a stipulation that she does not have movable or immovable
property in value of more than Rs 22 lakh."

The note said the income and assets of both spouses would be
calculated and taken together to determine the eligibility. While
exact modality of funding and its expenditure would be worked out in
consultation with the Election Commission and Finance Ministry, both
states and Centre can share the expenditure of the funding on 50:50
basis," says the note.

The ministry, which is working on amending the Representation of
People Act to prevent criminals from contesting elections as well as
stop pumping of black money, will also take up the issue of state
funding of women SC/ST candidate in the Cabinet.

The issue is likely to come up before the Cabinet soon before
forwarding it to Parliament for its approval, sources in the Ministry
told Deccan Herald. The issue of state funding of elections has been
pending since long as the government as well as the Election
Commission failed to take any decision owing to lack of consensus
either at government level or among political parties.

A multi-party parliamentary committee under the chairmanship of
Indrajit Gupta of the Communist Party of India (CPI) , constituted to
study this issue in 1999, had recommended the creation of separate
election fund for which the Centre may contribute at the rate of Rs 10
per elector (about Rs 600 crore) annually.

The state governments taken together can contribute proportionately Rs
600 crore per annum to the fund, it had said.

No consensus
Later, in 2006, when the poll panel held a meeting of all the
recognised political parties and representatives of the state
governments, it failed to reach a consensus as the states refused to
give their share of amount and they wanted the entire amount for
funding to be borne by the Central government.

Subsequently, the Election Commission again wrote to the Law Ministry
asking it to take proper decision in a bid to cleanse the present
electoral system.


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[ZESTCaste] Dalits gain traction; govt plans preferential purchases from SC, ST businesses

http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-07-18/news/29787323_1_dalits-supplier-diversity-disadvantaged-businesses

Dalits gain traction; govt plans preferential purchases from SC, ST businesses
Naren Karunakaran, ET Bureau Jul 18, 2011, 01.48am IST


MUMBAI: Scheduled castes, or dalits, who make up about 180 million of
1.2 billion Indians, are usually seen as a homogenous entity.

Not anymore. The dalits are splintering. And interestingly, our
public-policy processes are beginning to respond to some of the new
challenges. In recent times, dalit enterprise, in all its hues, has
gained traction and heft. It is revealing unique entrepreneurial
skills, products and services; it is also announcing, in a way, the
emergence of the dalit elite.

It is a class thrown up by, but distinct from, the burgeoning dalit
middle-class, which has been engendered over the years by reservations
in education and public sector jobs. Of course, the bulk of dalits
continue to battle difficult circumstances, with about 60% of such
households still depending on wage labour for subsistence.

"You can see prosperity among a fraction of dalits, but the real
situation is grim," says Anand Teltumbde, civil rights activist and
grandson of Babasaheb Ambedkar.

http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=9264063

Demarcations among dalits are now visible and pronounced. Quaintly, it
is akin to, though not identical to, what is happening among black
Americans in the US. Eugene Robinson, a Pulitzer Prize-winning writer,
in a recent book, Disintegration, describes the breaking up of the
black community into four parts: "the mainstream middle-class; the
abandoned underclass; the transcendent elite; and black immigrants and
those of mixed-race heritage".

While trends among dalits in India go along similar lines, what is
pertinent is that India is beginning to borrow from the US policy
responses to this hierarchy. This is especially true with regard to
support mechanisms for disadvantaged entrepreneurs. Supplier diversity
— a system of enforcing purchases from disadvantaged businesses — is
one such tool in the support kit.

A few weeks ago, Uday Kumar Varma, secretary, ministry of micro, small
and medium enterprises (MSMEs) met Karen G Mills and her team at the
US Small Business Administration (SBA) in Washington DC. He was trying
to get a fix on an American law that channelises a considerable amount
of federal contracts to SMEs and disadvantaged enterprises.

RESERVATION ROAD

In 2010, according to SBA, US federal contracts worth $98 billion were
awarded to SMEs and disadvantaged businesses; of this, $34 billion of
contracts went to businesses run by African- Americans and other
minorities. Mills, appointed by US President Barack Obama, is pivotal
to the new economic push by the American administration, focused on
job creation. As in the US, MSMEs in India are critical to employment.

Indian MSMEs employ 59 million people across 26 million units and
account for 45% of all manufacturing output, according to government
data. On June 24, while announcing the US SBA's numbers, Mills said:
"...when the federal government gets contracts into the hands of small
businesses...they have the opportunity to grow and create jobs, and
the federal government gets access to some of the most innovative and
nimble entrepreneurs".

India now wants to take this road. The ministry of MSMEs, working in
tandem with the ministry of social justice and empowerment, has put
together a plan for preferential purchases from MSMEs, and also from
businesses owned by scheduled castes (dalits) and scheduled tribes.

"Last month, the prime minister told a meeting of state ministers of
welfare and social justice that the rollout is imminent," says Mukul
Wasnik, minister for social justice, indicating that the possibility
of the plan getting stuck in policy meanderings is remote.

"The new scheme proposes 20% of all government purchases be reserved
for SMEs; within this, a 20% sub-quota is proposed for units owned by
scheduled castes (SCs) and scheduled tribes (STs)," says Varma. If it
becomes law, the concept of supplier diversity will finally make its
formal appearance in India, though in the public sector for starters.

"It's not prudent to make it mandatory right away. We propose a
threeyear, graded, gradual approach to achieving the goal," explains
Varma. "We have to tread carefully, address possible supply
bottlenecks and capacity constraints."

The initiative is not just about purchases from SMEs. It is expected
to foster the creation of an entire ecosystem, complete with mentoring
and capacity building process, as in the US. "Progress and impact will
have to be measured each year," he says.

CAPITAL CRUNCH

The measure can make a difference to the 120,000 companies owned by
SCs across India. According to the fourth census of MSMEs, for
2006-07, they make up 7.7% of the 1.55 million MSMEs; ST-owned
companies account for another 3%. Tamil Nadu has the maximum number of
SCowned units (18,100), followed by Karnataka (17,000), and Uttar
Pradesh (14,100).

"These numbers indicate only those units registered with district
industries centres across the country," explains G Sajeevan from the
office of the development commissioner in the MSME ministry. This
census puts the number of unregistered MSMEs at 24.5 million.

Since the ministry of MSMEs is reluctant to divulge details of the
plan, it remains to be seen if the Indian move will be as nuanced as
the American one. In the US, access to capital is a key plank of the
initiative. The SBA has extended loans worth $53 billion to 113,000
small firms.

The Small Business Investment Company (SBIC) programme, for instance,
is critical to the initiative and swarms of small US firms have
benefitted over the decades. In 1969, SBIC, for instance, invested
$300,000 in a small chip manufacturer with 200 employees and a
turnover of $500,000.

Today, that manufacturer, Intel, employs 86,000 people and its
revenues exceed $40 billion. In India, many of the governmentsponsored
financial institutions supporting SCs and STs remain stuck in a time
warp, unable to capture and react to the rapid changes in dalit
dynamics. "These institutions, unfortunately, are still in the papad,
agarbatti-making and poultry support mode," laments Chandra Bhan
Prasad, a dalit writer and activist.

The failure of the state and industry to address a key issue in
entrepreneurship, access to capital, is of concern, especially when
the vast majority of dalit entrepreneurs are struggling to stay
afloat. The still wet-behind-the-ears Dalit India Chamber of Commerce
and Industries (DICCI), a grouping of dalit entrepreneurs, along with
a clutch of the dalit elite, are looking to raise a venture capital
fund to address this critical issue.

PRIVATE SECTOR ROLE

This meeting of minds among the top end of dalit entrepreneurs augurs
well. These are businessmen buying up coal mines in Indonesia, setting
up sugar plants in Africa, presiding over infrastructure companies,
exporting garments to fashion streets of Europe and the US, and
building coal and even solar-thermal power plants.

http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com/photo.cms?msid=9264097

While this small set of first-generation dalit entrepreneurs has hit
big time without much support from the system or the government, they
wouldn't want the newer lot to run out of steam. Measures in supplier
diversity can only strengthen their hands.

In the US, alongside the SBA initiatives of the federal government,
the private sector too has set an example in supporting businesses
owned by black Americans, women and other minorities. In 2007, for
instance, telecom company Verizon Communication paid $3.1 billion to
diverse suppliers for goods and services.

The emergence of DICCI as an advocacy pivot is making some headway,
but much remains to be done. Milind Kamble, the moving spirit behind
DICCI, sold his plush flat a few years ago to help fund a trade fair
of dalit enterprises, the first ever.

After some prodding, he says: "I would have spent over Rs 1 crore of
my personal money in DICCI's numerous activities in recent years."
Kamble is the chairman of Fortune Constructions, a Rs 100-crore
Pune-based infrastructure company. Lately, the Centre for the Advanced
Study of India at the University of Pennsylvania has been supporting
DICCI in its many endeavours, especially with knowledge inputs and
networking opportunities.

And it is yielding results. Some sceptics criticise DICCI as a ghetto.
But its members, over 1000, are already spying and exploiting business
opportunities among their ranks, to start with. Kamble, for instance,
buys all his cement pipes from Everest Spun Pipes, a Rs 35- crore
Pune-based company run by Avinash Jagtap, a dalit.

In Mumbai, Ashok Khade of Das Offshore, a marine infrastructure
company, is negotiating an overseas joint venture with Bhagwan Gawai
of the Dubai-based Saurabh Energy, which has interests in petroleum
trading, logistics and marine engineering. They first met barely a
month ago at a DICCI meeting.

"I can easily take Khade to Eastern Europe and Africa," says Gawai,
who finds merit in an organisation like DICCI for the present. In the
long run, he would like his brethren to also go beyond the confines of
community and country, and explore global opportunities, just as he
did.


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[ZESTCaste] ‘AIIMS flouting policy on reservation for SC/ST'

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article2237805.ece

NEW DELHI, July 18, 2011
'AIIMS flouting policy on reservation for SC/ST'
Staff Reporter

The Forum for Rights and Equality demands a probe, action against the guilty

The Forum for Rights and Equality, AIIMS, has written to the Institute
director Prof. R. C. Deka stating that the premier organisation has
been flouting the government policy of reservation for Scheduled
Castes and Scheduled Tribes (SC/ST) in the recruitment/selection for
B.Sc and M.Sc. nursing courses.

"This is rather painful and disheartening to note that the process of
infraction of government policy of reservation for SC/ST that has
gravely affected the faculty, resident and the MBBS
recruitment/selection respectively has now engulfed the B.Sc. and
M.Sc. nursing course of AIIMS," noted the letter.

"A look at the prospectus (August 2011 Session) page 6 reveals that 18
seats of M.Sc. Nursing has been divided into 14 unreserved and four
Other Backward Castes. There is no reservation for SC/ST. Also of the
60 seats for B.Sc. (Honours) Nursing has been divided - 39 unreserved,
seven SC, four ST and 10 OBC. The number of seats for SC/ST ought to
be nine and five respectively as per their entitlement prescribed in
the prospectus itself," noted the letter.

The letter further notes that the prospectus categorically mentions
under the title 'Reservation of Seats' -- 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent
of the seats are reserved for candidates belonging to the SC/ST
communities respectively.

"It is also significant to note that there is no mention of OBC
reservation in the paragraph on page 6 of the prospectus. The record
reveals that the aforesaid denial of reservation started at a time
2009-2010. We are surprised at how AIIMS can allow such violation and
request the AIIMS director to immediately put the process of admission
on hold pending the due correction being made in terms of protecting
the Constitutional rights of SC/ST and awarding them the entitled
number of seats," noted the Forum.

"We demand that a time-bound inquiry be conducted to fix the
responsibility and strict action taken against the guilty," demanded
the Forum.

AIIMS spokesperson Dr. Y. K. Gupta, however, pointed out that the
Institute follows the Government reservation policy for all
selections.


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[ZESTCaste] Houses allotted for SC/STs misused

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/houses-allotted-for-scsts-misused/168626-60-119.html

Bangalore
Houses allotted for SC/STs misused
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Jul 19, 2011 at 11:22am IST

BANGALORE: The Social Justice Committee that inspected various places
has found that the houses that were allotted by the BBMP for SC and ST
have been misused; they have other occupants.

The release from BBMP said that the Committee which visited Jogupalya
found that there are no SC/ST beneficiaries who are eligible to claim
the houses sanctioned under the 22.75 per cent scheme for the
economically weaker section.

However, the executive engineer (EE) of the ward has called for the
tender to construct 46 more houses.

The design is also approved.

The Committee under the chairmanship of K Mahesh Babu inquired about
the same, but did not get a satisfactory answer.

They have requested the BBMP commissioner to freeze the tender which
was called for constructing these houses and also take action against
the officials involved.

During the inspection of Sevanagar 59 people were identified as
beneficiary for houses.

But the committee found the houses had been allotted to other people instead.

The concerned officials failed to answer.

In Devarajeevanahalli, 285 houses had been sanctioned for SC/ST beneficiaries.

The EE had informed, that construction of 75 houses was complete.

The committee also inspected 47 houses that are under construction at
Doddannanagar.

The committee members included Uday Kumar, Lokesh Nayaka and
Saraswathamma, Rajeshwari among others.

The previous Standing Committee for Social Justice had announced to
construct 10,000 houses for the economically weaker section.

The Palike has a corpus of `477 crore for the welfare schemes in the
budget (2010-11).

Approximately 22.75 per cent of funds has been earmarked for the SC/
ST community as per the law.

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[ZESTCaste] Free computer course for SC-ST job seekers

 

http://www.dailypioneer.com/354161/Free-computer-course-for-SC-ST-job-seekers.html

Free computer course for SC-ST job seekers
July 18, 2011 11:04:28 PM

PNS | BHUBANESWAR

The fourth batch computer course training for the educated SC, ST
youth of Odisha, who are in search of jobs, was on Saturday
inaugurated by Director of Employment cum Director, Employment Mission
Arabinda Padhee here in the State capital. The programme is organised
by the Coaching cum Guidance Centre for SC-ST, Government of India in
the Ministry of Labour and Employment. One hundred educated SC and ST
job seeking youth have been admitted to the free 'O' level computer
training course being imparted through the extension centre of DOEACC
Society, an autonomous scientific society of the Department of
Information Technology, Government of India. The trainees include 65
SC youth (Male-42, Female-23) and 35 ST youth (Male-19, Female-16).
While T Santhanam, assistant director, rehabilitation was the guest of
honour, National Hardware Informatics Centre business chief also
participated.

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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati govt to face CBI probe in health scam

 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/site/story/mayawati-govt-to-face-cbi-probe-in-health-scam/1/145391.html

Mayawati govt to face CBI probe in health scam
Piyush Srivastava | Lucknow, July 19, 2011 | Updated 10:22 IST

The Uttar Pradesh government is likely to face the CBI heat in
connection with the NRHM scam and the subsequent murder of deputy CMO
Dr Y. S. Sachan.

The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court on Monday asked the
state government why the CBI shouldn't be asked to investigate the
alleged scam and told it to file the reply on July 25.

Though the court had, on July 14, ordered a CBI inquiry into Sachan's
killing. His family had pleaded the probe would be meaningless unless
it was juxtaposed to the NRHM scam. It is believed that the Rs
1,000-crore scam has led to the murder of two CMOs in the family
welfare department - Dr V. K. Arya in October 2010 and Dr B. P. Singh
in April 2011 - before Sachan was killed in jail on June 10 this year.

Justifying the family's demand, Sachan's wife Malti said: "I believe
my husband was killed because of the NRHM scam, in which many
ministers of the Mayawati government are involved. After parking
crores of rupees elsewhere, these politicians ordered the killing of
the two CMOs and my husband to derail the investigation. So the murder
case cannot be solved without getting to the root of the scam and
identifying the actual beneficiaries of the corruption."

Sachan, arrested on April 7 in connection with the NRHM scam, was
found dead under mysterious circumstances in an under-construction
bathroom of the jail. Chief judicial magistrate Rajesh Upadhyay, who
conducted a judicial probe into the incident, categorically stated
that Sachan had been murdered. Earlier, the state government had
blamed Sachan for hiring professional killers to eliminate the two
CMOs.

"They were killed by professionals when they tried to probe the NRHM
scam, which had been committed by Sachan," cabinet secretary Shashank
Shekhar Singh had said.

The family's counsel, Prince Lenin, told the bench - comprising
justices Pradeep Kant and Ritu Raj Awasthi - that even the cabinet
secretary had admitted the reason for all three murders was the NRHM
scam. Since the state agencies could not be expected to question their
political masters, he said only the CBI should be entrusted with the
investigation.

"Sachan's murder case has been handed over to the CBI, but the scam
has wider repercussions. The money involved was allocated to the state
by the Centre. Instead of spending it wisely, the government embezzled
it and deprived the people of health services. It also led to the
murder of two CMOs and a deputy CMO. The state government has
recognised the scam. It was the apparent reason for Sachan's arrest.
The police have also arrested Dr A. K. Shukla, the health department
CMO, for his involvement in the same scam," Lenin told the court.

"Our point is that most senior officers are involved in the scam.
Chief minister Mayawati had also removed two senior cabinet
colleagues, family welfare minister Babu Singh Kushwaha and health
minister Anant Kumar Mishra, on moral grounds after the murder of the
second CMO. There are obvious indications that they are involved in a
series of crimes which culminated with the murder of Sachan. This is
the reason I am requesting the court to these cases together," Lenin
pleaded.

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[ZESTCaste] Rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-14058814

17 July 2011 Last updated at 23:16 GMT

Rape and murder in Uttar Pradesh

A spate of exceptionally brutal rapes in the northern state of Uttar
Pradesh has shocked India. Many of the victims were young girls. The
BBC's Geeta Pandey reports from Lucknow.

For Sarika, 16, it was like any other day when she went out to the
fields for her evening ablutions with her friend Chhaya.

It was a cold February evening and it was pitch dark. "I was feeling a
little scared so I wanted to get back quickly," she tells me.

On the way back, she says, she was attacked by Shivam and three other
men from the village.

"Shivam grabbed my hand and asked me to marry him. I said: 'No, how
can I marry you? We live in the same village, you are like my
brother.' I kicked him and tried to run away.
Continue reading the main story
"Start Quote
Roop Rekha Verma

These cases are so brutal - we thought such things happened only
in novels and films"

Roop Rekha Verma Activist

"With the help of his friends, he dragged me to a secluded area and
began to assault me with knives and axes. I was conscious for some
time, but once they cut me on my head and neck, I fainted. When I
became conscious, I was in hospital."

Sarika shows me her injuries - a fist-size wound on her scalp, her jaw
which has been sewn together, her right hand which had to be
re-attached, her right earlobe from where big chunks are missing, and
long scars on her arms.

Shivam has been arrested, but the others are still free. One told the
BBC he had been wrongly accused.

A terrified Sarika and her family have abandoned their home and land
in Fatehpur district's Udrauli village to stay with relatives in
another village nearly 45km (30 miles) away.
'Crimes escalating'

The assault on Sarika is one among the hundreds of rapes and attempted
rapes this year in the state.

"It's a very difficult situation here," says Roop Rekha Verma of Sajhi
Duniya (Shared World), a Lucknow-based organisation which works with
women.
Sarika shows her wounds Sarika sustained multiple injuries

"There is a lot of violence: Crimes are escalating; gender problems
are increasing; girls are being attacked, both in rural and urban
areas," she says.

Uttar Pradesh is India's most populous state with 200 million people.
It is also home to a staggering number of poor - official statistics
show more than 60 million people here live on less than $1.25 (75p) a
day.

Poverty also makes a community more vulnerable. Many victims were
raped or assaulted when they went to the fields because, like millions
of Indians, they have no access to toilets at home.

Uttar Pradesh has always had a high rate of crime, but it is the
viciousness of the recent attacks that has stunned people most.

"These cases are so brutal that we wouldn't have believed that they
could happen - we thought such things could happen only in novels and
films," Mrs Verma says.

SR Darapuri, vice-president of the People's Union for Civil Liberties
(PUCL) in Uttar Pradesh, says most of the rape victims are poor women
and girls in remote villages. Many, he says, are low-caste Dalits
(formerly known as "untouchables").
Continue reading the main story
RECENT RAPE CASES

20 June - Salia, 11, is raped and killed on her way back from
school. A 23-year-old villager is arrested and confesses
19 June - A 35-year-old woman is gang-raped by five men inside her
home. Afraid she will identify them, the men burn her to death
17 June - A 14-year-old girl is stabbed in the eye by her two
attackers when she resists their attempts to rape her
10 June - Sonam, 14, is raped and murdered, allegedly by police.
Her body is found hanging inside a police station
5 February - 16-year-old Sarika's ears are cut and one hand cut
off when she resists her attackers

Anger and grief over India murders

"I analysed the rape figures for 2007 and I found that 90% of victims
were Dalits and 85% of Dalit rape victims were underage girls," he
says.

"It is well known that until not very long ago, in certain areas of
the state's southern Bundelkhand region, new brides of Dalit farmhands
had to sleep with their rich, high-caste landowners on their wedding
night."

Mr Darapuri says the practice no longer exists - but Dalit women and
girls remain vulnerable to predators.

Even though Uttar Pradesh's Chief Minister, Kumari Mayawati, is a
Dalit woman and caste discrimination has long been outlawed,
campaigners say the state's largely patriarchal society still uses
feudal structures to ensure that women remain marginalised and
oppressed.
Election issue

Campaigners say another common theme in these rape cases is that most
of the attackers are people with money and often political influence
too.

The recent rape cases - and press coverage - have put the state
administration under pressure. The timing is crucial - state elections
are due in a few months.
Sarika's family has moved to another village Sarika's family has
received high-profile political support

Earlier this year, Rahul Gandhi, an MP for the Congress Party which is
in opposition in Uttar Pradesh, visited Sarika and her family and
vowed to get them justice.

Last week, he visited the family of 14-year-old girl Sonam, who was
allegedly raped and murdered by the police inside a police station.

Party leaders say crimes against women will be a major issue in the polls.

"There's a huge crisis of confidence: The general perception is that
women are most insecure here," state Congress leader Rita Bahuguna
Joshi told the BBC.

Mrs Joshi is appalled that Ms Mayawati has not visited any of the
victims or their families. "She should have gone to some of the places
where these crimes took place. She should have visited the victims.
The least a woman leader can do is express genuine sympathy."
'Taboo'

Mrs Joshi says "at the moment, Uttar Pradesh is one of the worst
places to be a woman".

Her claim is borne out by official statistics. According to National
Crime Records Bureau figures for 2009, 1,759 women were raped in the
state. That is almost five rapes a day.

Officials, however, say that is not bad for a population of 200 million.

"We are the largest state in terms of population, but if you take the
percentage of rapes, we are number 28th in the country," Inspector
General of Police GP Sharma told the BBC, stressing that the incidence
of rape in the state was very low.

The statement has incensed activists.
Continue reading the main story
"Start Quote
GP Sharma, senior police officer in Uttar Pradesh

We have taken up the issue of training of policemen... so that
they are more responsive to women "

GP Sharma Inspector General of Police (Crime)

They say statistics do not reveal the real picture and only a tiny
fraction of the crimes are reported and registered. In traditional
Indian society, virginity before marriage is cherished and rape
carries great stigma.

"In society, there are taboos about making a complaint, a woman going
to a police station, about a woman talking about her rape," Mrs Verma
says.

Mr Darapuri, who is a retired police officer, says the police also
keep the figures down.

"The police do not want to register cases because they have been told
by their political bosses to keep the crime figures low."

For every case that gets registered, he says, at least nine go unrecorded.

"The official statistics released by the National Crime Records Bureau
are just the tip of the iceberg. I get daily calls about atrocities,
including rapes, and in a majority of cases, police do not register
them."

Mr Sharma admits that under-reporting of crime is a problem, but
insists the government is working to address it.

"We have taken up the issue of training of policemen, we are working
on their gender sensitisation so that they are more responsive to
women. The state has 200,000 policemen; we have started new
recruitment to double their numbers."

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mayawati has announced a month-long campaign
focusing on crimes against women.

She has promised swifter convictions in rape cases and says she will
tour the state in August to reassure women they are safe under her
rule.

But Sarika says Ms Mayawati's words mean little to her until all her
attackers are caught and punished.

"I want them to be caught. The way they have ruined my life, I want
their lives ruined as well.

"I want the death penalty for them so that people realise what will
happen to them if they commit a similar crime. People should be made
afraid. Otherwise, they will do what was done to me."


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit murdered by relatives

 

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5296960

17/07/2011
Dalit murdered by relatives

Ballia (UP), Jul 17 (PTI) A dalit was allegedly murdered today by his
relatives in Ganeshpur village in Maniyara police area here, police
said.
Ramnath Turha (50) was killed over a minor dispute by his relatives,
who hit him with sticks and rods, they said.
The police have arrested three accused in this connection.
PTI CORR ABN PG

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[ZESTCaste] Police foil Dalit family''s suicide attempt

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/police-foil-dalit-familys-suicide-attempt/758537.html

Police foil Dalit family''s suicide attempt
PTI | 07:07 PM,Jul 18,2011

Rajkot, Jul 18 (PTI) Police today foiled a Dalit family's mass suicide
attempt near a civil hospital here. Manu Solanki alongwith his wife
Ganga and three daughters Deepti, Shilpa and Mittal today attempted to
immolate themselves in public near Ambedkar's statue at the busy civil
hospital chowk, but were prevented by the cops present on the spot,
police said. Solanki was locked in a land dispute with another
community and was getting constant threats of murder and kidnapping of
his family members by the rival group, police said. He had also
approached Police Commissioner Geetha Johri nearly a week back and
threatened to commit suicide alongwith his family members if police
did not take action. However, when no action was taken in this matter,
Solanki said he had no option but to this step alongwith other family
members. Police today assured that necessary action, police added.PTI
VJA PAM

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