Monday, August 29, 2011

[ZESTCaste] India divided as caste census begins

http://www.smh.com.au/world/india-divided-as-caste-census-begins-20110826-1jedu.html

India divided as caste census begins
Ben Doherty, Chandigarh
August 27, 2011
India.

Rajinder Singh Negi, left, and Vikas Hooda, right, interview washerman
M. P. Kanaujia as part of a controversial caste census. Photo: Kate
Geraghty

For M. P. Kanaujia, there is no escaping caste. It defines him, and
has laid out his life's path.

Kanaujia - the name itself is his subcaste - is of the dhobi or
washerperson caste, and that is what he does, day in and day out, from
his ramshackle humpy at the end of a row of modest government
apartments in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh. ''My caste is
who I am,'' he says. ''We don't speak often about it, because
everybody knows.''

But it's relevant for the men who've come to visit today. For the
first time in 80 years, India is undertaking the herculean task of a
caste census.
Advertisement: Story continues below
The washerman Mp Kanaujia of the Dhobi caste irons clothes after
taking part in the caste census. Click for more photos
Indian caste census

The washerman Mp Kanaujia of the Dhobi caste irons clothes after
taking part in the caste census. Photo: Kate Geraghty

The washerman Mp Kanaujia of the Dhobi caste irons clothes after
taking part in the caste census.
The Grisb Chandra Bamrara family of the Brahmin caste in front of
their home in the north Indian city of Chandgrah.
Reshmi from the Chamav caste holds her census receipt after being
interviewed by one of the census teams in Chandgarh.
Vimla Devi is interviewed at her home in Chandgrah by data entry
operator Aman Preet Singh, centre, and enumerator Arun Kumar.
Asha Thakar of the Rajpur caste, left, is interviewed outside her
home in Chandgrah by enumerator Arun Kumar, centre, and data entry
operator Aman Preet Singh.
Ramdashi Kaur from the Scheduled Sikh caste is interviewed at her
front door in Chandgrah.
Census data entry operator Vikas Hooda, left, in Chandgarh with
washerwoman Premshila.
Rajinder Singh Negil left, and Vikas Hooda gather census data in Chandgarh.
Aman Preet Singh, left, and Arun Kumar gather census data in Chandgarh.
The census acknowledgement slip.

To most Indian Hindus, caste - a complex hereditary social hierarchy
that involves four main orders (varnas) and thousands of subcastes
(jatis) - is the foundation of religious and social identity.

But independent India has never asked its citizens with which caste
they identify. The last time such a survey was undertaken was in 1931,
under the British Raj. British administrators created a list, or
schedule, of the lowest castes.

Formally, the caste system has been abandoned under the Indian
constitution, but governments recognise that it persists. Since
independence, efforts have been made to level the playing field for
India's downtrodden castes, particularly the lowest strata, known then
as untouchables, now more commonly called Dalits.

Affirmative action programs reserve university places, government jobs
and even seats in Parliament for so-called scheduled or backwards
castes. This means that Mr Kanaujia is happy to nominate his. ''I
think it's a good idea, my daughter has just finished her schooling
and if this census helps with the quotas for backwards castes, there
might be more places for her to complete more education.''

''Old India'' has, for millennia, been stratified along caste lines.
Caste determined the clothes people wore, the food they ate (and with
whom), the jobs they could do and who they could marry. But ''New
India'' rails against such fatalist labels. Critics argue a caste
census will only entrench the social divisions the country needs to
dissolve.

''I am troubled at making caste the central point of all public
policies because this will damage the real fight in the society
between the haves and have-nots … irrespective of their religion and
caste identities,'' Rajindar Sachar, a retired chief justice of the
Delhi High Court, wrote recently. Many of India's urban elite reject
the idea of being tied to caste. But to pretend that it no longer
exists or matters is to ignore the realities of deeply ingrained
mores.

Newspaper matrimonial ads are still listed by caste, and to marry out
of one's caste is still a scandalous offence to many.

The government, reluctantly forced into the survey by backward caste
MPs, now argues if benefits are to be handed out on a caste basis,
they need to know how many of each there are.

But the 2011 caste census will also be a measure of India's burgeoning
but uneven economic development.

Every household will be asked for a range of economic data, from work
and income details to how many rooms their house has, if it has
electricity and running water and if they own an airconditioner, a
mobile phone, a car or a washing machine.

In the villages, caste still dominates. But city streets demonstrate
how urbanisation has worn down ancient convention. In Chandigarh,
Reshmi is a Chamar, a Dalit caste. Her neighbours are Brahmins, the
highest caste. Despite her family's status, Reshmi's husband has a
government job. Their house is, fundamentally, no different to that
next door. But she adds: ''Everybody knows our caste by what we eat
and what we wear. I am proud to say my caste, I have nothing to
hide.''

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/india-divided-as-caste-census-begins-20110826-1jedu.html#ixzz1WPvSfYZt


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[ZESTCaste] The Lokpal debate from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective

http://kafila.org/2011/08/27/the-lokpal-debate-from-a-dalit-bahujan-perspective/

The Lokpal debate from a Dalit-Bahujan perspective
August 27, 2011
tags: Anna Hazare, caste, Dalit-Bahujan, Dalits
by Shivam Vij

The video above shows a protest in Delhi demanding a Bahujan Lokpal
Bill, and protesting against Anna Hazare. This was hardly given any
coverage in the media. The video was made and uploaded by Khalid Anis
Ansari, who writes at the Round Table India:

A supra-parliamentary Jan Lokpal and a very interventionist and
unaccountable judiciary are a horror for the dalit-bahujan masses. All
said and done the legislature is most respectful of social diversity
as far as the three organs of government are concerned. The executive
is bad and the judiciary is the worst in this regard. So I am
presently in favor of taking the 'political' route than the civil
society one which is in any way a club of the chattering classes.
[Read the full post]

Given below is a note expressing a Dalit-Bahujan perspective on the
Lokpal debate. The note has been put out by DINESH MAURYA:

We want to submit some suggestions regarding the Government of
India's proposed Lokpal Bill. Like Anna's Lokpal Bill, our Lokpal
Bill, named as 'Bahujan Lokpal Bill', should also tabled in the
parliament and should be discussed in the same way as the other Bill.

We are demanding that following provisions should be taken into
consideration when making the Government's Bill:

1. Like the Public Sector (PSUs), private sector companies, NGOs,
Media groups should also be brought under the purview of Article 12 of
the Constitution as 'other authority', and also be brought under the
purview/jurisdiction of Lokpal.

2. Religious & Charitable Trusts, Maths, Mandirs, Waqf Boards,
Churches, Gurudwaras and other religious entities should also be
brought under the purview of the Lokpal Bill or a Religious Property
Acoountibility Bill, like the Judicial Accountibility Bill, should be
mooted.

3. Representation for all communities -Dalits, Backward Classes,
Adivasis, Religious Minorities etc- should be ensured in the Lokpal
Selection Committee.

4. The selection of Lokpal should be debated in a Joint Session of
the parliament and there should be discussion regarding his/her
qualifications, conduct, character and reputation in public.

5. Representation for all communities- Dalits, Backward Classes,
Adivasis, Religious Minorities etc- should be ensured in the
constitution of members, in the Central/States' Lokpal Acts.

6. The minimum number of members of Lokpal should be not less than
14 and this office should come under the purview of reservations so
that all communities would be represented.

7. The Head of Lokayukt should be appointed on a rotational basis
so that every social group is represented.

8. The term of office of the Chairperson/Head should not be more
than 2 years.

9. If it is proved that any member of the Lokpal is politically
biased, he/she should be suspended immediately. But the process for
removal should be similar to that adopted in the case of Justice/s of
HC/SC.

10. The power/office of the Lokayukt should be equal to the power
of a High Court.

11. The violation of or the non-implementation of the provision/s
for reservation and social justice should be treated as corruption and
for this the punishment should be same as that for corruption in an
economic sense.

12. The misuse of SC/ST/OBC funds should be treated as corruption
and for this the punishment should be same.

13. The definition of 'Corruption' should be expended and money
ammassed through cheating or fraud committed on illiterate citizens,
and in the name of faith should also be treated as Corruption.

14. The activity and conduct of Members of Parliament and Members
of Legislative Assemblies should not come under the jurisdiction of
the Lokpal.

15. The office and officers of Lokpal should come under the
jurisdiction of Right to Information Act.

16. The Lokpal and Lokayukt should be united through a Bill but
there should be equal respect for federal structure.

17. If there is conflict/contradiction between the provision of
Constitution of India and Lokpal, the provision of Constitution of
India should prevail.

18. The Lokpal Chairperson should be bound to disclose information
on his and his family's wealth and property and there should be an
audit of his wealth and property till after 10 years of end of his
term of office.

The concerns expressed in the note about sound reasonabe and important
to me and should be taken into account by both Team Manmohan and Team
Anna.

A 'Save the Constitution' rally was held recently in Delhi to voice
the concerns of Dalit-Bahujans on the proposed Lokpal Bill

There was also a press conference at the Press Club of India
yesterday, addressed by various leaders of Dalit-Bhaujan and minority
communities, which was again barely give any space by the "national"
media. Given below is the text of the press release issued by them:

Now Civil Society of Dalits, Backwards and Minorities rise for their rights!

New Delhi, August 26, 2011

The Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations-
Dr. Udit Raj, Sr. IAS -P.S. Krishnan, Peace Party leader- Yusuf
Ansari, Urdu Sahara Editor -Aziz Burney, Social activists – Shabnam
Hashmi, Mast Ram Kapur, Dilip Mandal, All India Christian Council
leaders- John Dayal, Bishop MS Screakriaf and Madhu Chandra, President
of Shoshit Samaj Dal Akhilesh Katiyar, Sr. Advocate Subba Rao, Gen
Secy of IJP- C. P. Singh, Fmr Minister- Ibrahim Qureshi, Prof Vivek
Kumar, Grand son of Maulana Azad –Firoj Bakht Ahmed, Prof. Akhter
Mehandi and many other such personalities have decided to urge the
government to include the demands of Bahujan Lokpal Bill while passing
the Lokpal law. It was also discussed that in the Constitution, there
is a fine and delicate balance between legislature, executive and
judiciary and if anyone of these transgresses its power, that will
disturb the balance and resultantly the Constitution will be affected.

The Govt. Bill which is pending for consideration before the
Standing Committee of the Parliament is not strong enough to book the
corrupt. The way the govt. is considering the features of all three
bills – Govt. Bill, Jan Lokpal Bil and NCPRI Bill, the suggestions of
Bahujan Lokpal Bill also be considered. We are of the strong opinion
that unless Corporate Houses, NGOs and Media are included in the ambit
of the Bill, there will not be much impact to check graft. In the
Lokpal Committee, the representation of Dalits, Backwards and
Minorities should be there, as it is in the govt. services. These
communities are apprehensive that if this committee is constituted
without giving them due consideration, it is more likely that dalits,
backwards and minorities' officers and leaders will be targeted on
pick and choose basis. Our society is not only caste ridden but at the
same time it is multicultural and religious also. So the
representation of each major community should be taken care of. The
corruption is more social in nature than political, therefore ,
without addressing it, there is no possibility to weed it out. On 24th
August, we organized a mammoth rally for our demands and unlike the
news of Anna Hazare, not a single electronic channel has telecast it.
Isn't this mental corruption? The presence of participants in Anna
Hazare's movement is not only exaggerated but telecast continuously.
There is plurality and diversity in the society and so our views
should have been also shown. In these circumstances, we demand
representation of these communities in the structure of Lokpal
Committee. There are many schemes for the upliftment of these
communities but due to rampant corruption, fruits are not reaching to
them and therefore, the Bahujan Lokpal Bill urges the govt. to
consider this also. Violation of reservation should be also treated as
an act of corruption.

Dr. Udit Raj said that there are misgivings that the Rally of 24th
August was against Anna Hazare agitation but that is not true. In so
far as corruption is concerned, we are also strongly opposed to it.
From our rally it was asked to the craftsmen of Janlokpal Bill why did
they not include Corporate Houses, Media and NGOs? Anna ji was asked
why he kept silent when North Indians in Maharashtra and Muslims in
Gujarat were targeted and brutalized? He was also asked to express his
views on reservation for dalits. If his civil society leaders are not
trusting the representatives who are elected by lacks of people then
how the honesty and impartiality of Lokpal can be guaranteed ? No
doubt there is too much corruption in politics but it is more by the
blessings of Corporate Houses. At least, there are checks on peoples'
representatives and that is seeking the mandate of people again and
again but those deterrents are not there in case of Lokpal. We have
asked for an appointment with the Prime Minister and Standing
Committee of Parliament to submit our Bill and so far that has not
been communicated. The Govt. is not treating us at par with Anna
Hazare Civil Society and this is proved by the fact that so far we
have not been consulted and nothing communicated to us.

And given below is a meorandum submitted to the Rajya Sabha by the
"Savidhan Bachao Andolan":

To,
Shri K P Singh,
Director,
Rajya Sabha Secretariat
201, Second Floor,
Parliament House Annexe,
New Delhi – 110 001

MEMORANDUM OF VIEWS AND SUGESTIONS ON LOKPAL BILL 2011 (BILL NO 39 OF 2011)

Sir,

This is in reference to the Newpaper advertisement No davp
31202/11/0019/1112, where in Parliamentary Standing Committee on
Personnel, Public Grievance, Law and Justice have invited views and
opinions on the Lokpal Bill that is posted on the website of Rajya
Sabha. I have read the bill in detail and my views and suggestions are
as follows:

(1) The heart of the Lokpal bill is to constitute a mechanism for
dealing with complaints of corruption against public functionaries in
higher places. However there are many instances of corruption by
functionaries in the corporate sector which had duped the public in
the past. To cite a few examples – Harshad Mehta scam, Satyam, Telgi,
Citibank scams and school admission donations. At the moment,
accountability is disproportionately inclined towards public
functionaries in comparison to corporate. Also the Right to
Information Act 2005 is not applicable in corporate or private
institutions. Hence it is suggested to include corporate and private
functionaries within the ambit of Lokpal Bill.

(2) As per the clause 17 (f) of the Lokpal Bill, the jurisdiction
of inquiry of Lokpal extends to the societies or associations or trust
that are wholly or partially funded or aided by the Government. While
this is a welcome move, the media is completely left out from the
ambit of the Lokpal Bill. 'Paid news' and 'Paid opinion polls' that
influence the public opinion is a bad precedent. Hence it is suggested
that media be brought under the ambit of Lokpal as it the fourth
pillar of democracy.

(3) As per the clause 17 (f) of the Lokpal Bill, the jurisdiction
of inquiry of Lokpal does not extend to societies or associations or
trust that are constituted for religious purposes. Large numbers of
people donate money in religious institutions which is managed by
these societies or associations or trust. Sadly, some of these
societies or associations or trusts have become safe havens of black
money which some people dispose off in the name of donation. The
societies or associations or trust have become richer day by day at
the cost of loss to the Government exchequer. Take the most recent
example of Sai Baba Trust where unaccounted crores of rupees and other
wealth were found after Sai Baba's death. And the trust itself is
worth Rupees 1.4 lakh crores as per media reports, which is 50 times
the annual budget of Government of India's flag ship program – Sarva
Siksha Abhyiyan. On top of that, majority (80 percentages) of the
population in India are Hindus, who worship in Hindu temples. However
many of these Hindu temples are controlled by the Brahmins, as is
their birth right, as prescribed by the Hindu religious scriptures.
Also the bylaws of these societies or associations or trust are
formulated in such discriminatory way that they directly or indirectly
exclude non Brahmi sections from their management. Isn't it strange
that Brahmins are entirely excluded from accountability to the public?
Hence it is suggested to include in the ambit of Lokpal such societies
or associations or trust that are constituted for religious purposes.

(4) The clause 4 (1) of the Lokpal Bill lists the members of
selection committee to recommend appointment of Lokpal. The selection
committee does not have representation from disadvantaged sections of
the society viz – women, SC, ST and minorities to safe guard their
interest. Hence it is suggested to include (a) Chairperson of National
Women's Commission, (b) Chairperson of SC / ST Commission and (c)
Chairperson of National Commission of Minorities in the Selection
Committee.

(5) The clause 2 (b) of the Lokpal Bill specifies that the Members
of the Lokpal should not exceed eight of whom fifty percent shall be
judicial member. There is no mention of inclusion of members from
disadvantaged sections of the society viz – women, SC, ST and
minorities communities as members in the Lokpal. The representation
needs to be in terms of proportions in the population and
recommendations made by various commissions from time to time. Hence
it is suggested that apart from fifty percent judicial representation
to include fifty percent representation for women, twenty five percent
representation from SC / ST and twenty percent for minorities in the
Lokpal.

(6) The clause 49 (1) of the Lokpal bill deals with offenses and
penalties when a false and frivolous or vexatious complaint is made
under the Act (Lokpal). Sometimes, it is seen that such a false and
frivolous or vexatious complaint is knowingly made against an SC / ST
functionary for harassment due to the prevailing societal prejudice.
Hence it is suggested that if such a false and frivolous or vexatious
complaint is made against and SC / ST functionaries then the relevant
clauses under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of
Atrocities Act), 1989 also need to be invoked and needs mention in the
Lokpal Bill. These clauses from the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989 could be clauses 3.1 (ix),
3.2 (i), 3.2 (ii), 3.2. (vi) and 7.

(7) I have my full concurrence to all the clauses and sub-sections
in the Lokpal Bill 2011 other than that mentioned above for
suggestions to improve upon.

(8) The suggested additions other than the clauses and
sub-sections in the Lokpal Bill 2011 are as follows:

a. It is observed that many a times the common man is connected
with lower level of public functionaries and suffers due to indulgency
in corrupt practices by any functionary. Hence it is suggested to
include the lower level of public and private functionaries in the
Lokpal Bill as well.

b. There needs to be a mechanism in which common man can blow the
whistle and indicate corruption. Hence a website to register
complaints and a common telephone number needs to be provisioned for
this purpose as a via media for the common man to indicate possible
corruption. Necessary clauses need to be included for the protection
of rights of such whistle blower.

c. There have been instances in the past where funds allocated for
the SC / ST subplan from the Government of India have been misused /
diverted for the use that have not benefitted these disadvantaged
communities. Take an instance of diversion of funds from SC / ST
subplan to the Common Wealth Funds. This is against the Planning
Commission guidelines. Hence it is suggested that diversions of funds
from the SC / ST subplan should come automatically under the preview
of Lokpal and the treated as offence under the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989. If required
then necessary amendments need to made under the Scheduled Castes and
Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989.

d. It has been observed that there are numerous cash flows during
the election time. The marginalized communities viz: women, SC, ST and
minorities that are the most disadvantaged and have less cash stands
deprived. Hence it is recommended that election expenses also be
brought under the ambit of the Lokpal Bill.

I am of the view that the Lokpal should not be above the Judiciary
and the Prime Minister and a separate mechanism similar to the
Election Commission needs to be constituted in the country. I trust
that there will be a favorable response to my proposition.

Yours sincerely
All Members
"Savidhan Bachao Andolan"


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[ZESTCaste] Dalit and Muslim help Anna end fast

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Dalit-and-Muslim-help-Anna-end-fast/articleshow/9777887.cms

Dalit and Muslim help Anna end fast
Indrani Basu, TNN | Aug 29, 2011, 07.13AM IST

The move is significant as the 74-year-old Gandhian had drawn
criticism from Dalits, with some even dubbing his movement as an
upper-caste endeavour. Similarly, Muslim leaders had also advised
community members to stay away from the movement.
NEW DELHI: For 12 days Anna Hazare became the rallying point for
millions of Indians. And on the 13th day when he broke his fast, it
was a moment of victory. History was made with its epitome of
inclusiveness. Two children - a Dalit and a Muslim - together held a
glass of coconut water and honey to Anna's lips.

The move is significant as the 74-year-old Gandhian had drawn
criticism from Dalits, with some even dubbing his movement as an
upper-caste endeavour. Similarly, Muslim leaders had also advised
community members to stay away from the movement.

But when eight-year-old Ikrah and five-year-old Simran helped Anna
break his fast, religious and caste lines were blurred. The moment
will remain immortalized in public memory with the young girls sat
patiently besides Anna since morning and conversing with him. "Get
well soon," said a concerned Ikrah to Anna, promising to pray for his
health.

The eight-year-old is the youngest of nine children living near the
LNJP colony. Her poor father, Shahbuddin Mewati, who has lost vision
in one eye, had courted arrest twice at Chhatrasal Stadium during this
movement. "We kept roza every day and also joined the protests. Twice
we opened roza at Parliament Street and Tughlaq Road police stations
and once at the Chhatrasaal. We are committed to the fight against
corruption because we face it every day. It is a people's fight and
everyone, including Muslims, must come forward. We are his sipahis,"
said Ikrah's uncle Mohd. Ahmed Saifi.

Coming from a modest background, this is the first time Ikrah joined a
public forum. "I want to be like Kiran Bedi," she told Anna. "She
helps people and so will I," she reportedly said. Later, she told the
media that Anna had asked her to study well and work for the country.

The other, Simran, hails from a Dalit family. Living in a jhuggi
cluster at Sunder Nagri, the five-year-old studies in Class I at a
private school. Dalits from the area have been visiting the Maidan
every day in small groups.

"For the past five days, I would go with different groups of women
from our village to join the protest. I feel proud that my daughter
has helped him end his fast. We got a call last night to bring her to
the ground. The government doesn't do anything and officials keep
demanding bribe from us because we are vulnerable. The NGOs helped us
a lot over the past 5-6 years," said Rekha, Simran's mother.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit backwardness blamed on fund diversion

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-backwardness-blamed-on-fund-diversion/179492-60-114.html

Andhra Pradesh
Dalit backwardness blamed on fund diversion
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express
Posted on Aug 29, 2011 at 11:22am IST

HYDERABAD: Funds allocated every year for the socio-economic
development of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes is being diverted
by upper-class officials to public-private partnership projects, D
Raja, member of the parliamentary committee on SC/ST welfare, has
said.

Speaking at a conference on 'SCSP and TSP with Media' conducted by the
Centre for Dalit Studies here on Sunday, he said Dalits and Adivasis
were living in the hope that they could see their communities'
socio-economic development in their lifetime if the Schedule Castes
Sub Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP), which were to have been
implemented since 1980, were taken up in right earnest at least now.

The diversion of funds, which Raja equated with corruption, was taking
place because Dalits and Adivasis had no voice, he said, and alleged
further that Dalits and Adivasis were not being given opportunities in
the projects as the projects were partially privatised.

'More than 50 percent of the funds are diverted every year.

Government officials, who are diverting the funds, are doing corruption.

They should be punished by the government," he said and urged the
government to accord serious consideration to the SCSP and TSP
(previously known as Special Component Plan) and other special
assistance provided by the Centre for Dalits and Adivasis.

Mallepally Laxmaiah, senior journalist and founder of CDS, said the
central and state governments were to allocate funds for SCSP and TSP
in proportion to the population of Dalits and Adivasis with priority
to education, public health and employment.

KS Chalam, former member of Union Public Service Commission, said
Dalits did not have land not only for their living but also for
burying the dead.

Dalits and Adivasis were only seeking their rightful share of the
nation's wealth and not of others, he said.

Allam Narayana, chief editor of Namaste Telangana, appealed to the
media to take up the Dalit and Adivasi cause.

K.Ramachandra Murthy, director of HMTV and chief editor of The Hans
India, said there was no unity among their representatives, who number
a few, in the government.

�Indian Journalists Union secretary-general Devulapalli Amar said
Dalits and Adivasis had had no strong leaders in the 64 years of free
India to represent them in the Assemblies or Parliament and to
question governments' misddeds such as diversion of funds.

S Vinay Kumar, chief editor of Prajashakti, also spoke.

Representatives of Dalits and Adivasis, and eminent mediapersons attended.

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[ZESTCaste] SC, ST atrocities case against SCB CEO

 

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/SC-ST-atrocities-case-against-SCB-CEO/articleshow/9780817.cms

SC, ST atrocities case against SCB CEO
TNN | Aug 29, 2011, 12.35PM IST

HYDERABAD: A Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) member has lodged a
police complaint against the SCB chief executive officer (CEO) S
Balakrishna for using "unparliamentary words" during the recent Board
meeting.

Marredpally inspector N Sudhir confirmed to TOI that a complaint was
received from SCB ward VIII member V Jai Prakash on August 26. "Based
on the complaint, we have registered a case under Section 3 (1) of the
SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against the Cantonment Board CEO
S Balakrishna and investigation is on," the inspector added.

A heated argument took place between the CEO and the ward member
during the Board meeting on August 22. When contacted, Jai Prakash
said, "He (CEO) abused me using unparliamentary words. Every word he
uttered is on tape as closed circuit TV (CCTV) has been installed in
the meeting room."

In the complaint, he stated that the CEO tarnished his image and
reputation; hence it warrants prosecution under the relevant laws. Jai
Prakash and the CEO got into an argument over CCTVs installed on SCB
premises.

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[ZESTCaste] House Committee to look into SC/ST promotion matters

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/house-committee-to-look-into-scst-promotion-matters/804417.html

House Committee to look into SC/ST promotion matters
PTI | 04:08 PM,Aug 29,2011

Ranchi, Aug 29 (PTI) Jharkhand Assembly Speaker C P Singh today
announced setting up of a house committee to look into the concerns
raised by an MLA with regard to promotions to officials under SC/ST
reservation.The announcement came after Jharkhand Janadhikar Manch MLA
Bandhu Tirkey raised concern over alleged violation of promotions to
ST/SC officials while promotional benefits were being given to
officials from general category in the state.Asking whether the 85th
constitutional amendment was being violated by ''ignoring'' promotions
to officials of SC/ST category, Tirkey demanded immediate adherence to
the act. PTI PVR

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[ZESTCaste] The times, they are a-changing, and its good to rebel (Opinion)

http://www.dnaindia.com/analysis/column_the-times-they-are-a-changing-and-its-good-to-rebel_1580422

The times, they are a-changing, and its good to rebel
Aditya Sinha | Sunday, August 28, 2011

Aditya Sinha

My eldest leaves India tomorrow. Not because of corruption or the
agitation against corruption, but to study abroad. Like many others
she's fascinated by the idea of living abroad (despite the Western
world's recession during the next few years); she's leaving also
because our colleges are by and large mediocre, barring a few where
entrance happens only if you have an impossibly high cut-off score or
if you're the child of a pushy newspaper Editor-in-Chief. Higher
education in the US remains the best in the world despite the
proliferation of sub-standard colleges offering ridiculous courses.
Most would probably agree that my Mrinalini has made the right choice
towards building a career and a life that she can be proud of.

And though there is nothing novel in the fact of a daughter leaving
home, it's still a heart-wrenching experience. She's never coming back
except to visit, though she'll probably skype with her mother nightly.
I can't give her any advice because she's exactly like me in that she
listens to no one. I don't worry about the choices she'll make —
academically or career-wise — because she's far smarter than I am. And
unlike my parent's generation, the thought that she might meet and
marry someone who is different does not bother me. (My mother might
object, but by now even she has realised that Mrinalini is an
unstoppable force of nature.)

Still, it's difficult to reconcile these thoughts with the image still
fresh in my mind of the purple-headed baby which one early winter
evening popped out of my wife in a South Delhi nursing home. Mrinalini
was forever wide-eyed with curiosity, and her head constantly turned
from side to side as if she constantly needed a 360-degree view of
reality as it unfolded around her; she was always reluctant to sleep,
perhaps afraid that she might miss out on the action. I certainly hope
she henceforth devotes her late nights to her textbooks.
Article continues below the advertisement...

Most of Mrinalini's teenaged years were spent in Chennai, a place that
really brings out the rebel in some people. Some of her prissier
schoolteachers were constantly at odds with her, perhaps because she
was a Delhi girl transplanted to a conservative town; and despite her
good marks they always complained about her wild ways, to the point
where my wife refused to meet any of Mrinalini's teachers and
delegated that thankless job to me. I was never unhappy about my
daughter's rebelliousness; it's a good default position for any
citizen to take, questioning authority, questioning society, and
questioning existing paradigms of knowledge. There's more life in a
rebel than there is in a cow.

You're perhaps wondering how it is that I dare put all this in the
public domain. The fact of the matter is that none of my three
children read newspapers even though my life has been devoted to
newspapers. I don't blame the younger ones because even I didn't start
seriously reading newspapers until university. And it isn't as if they
aren't fond of reading: each has a bookshelf, Mrinalini's being
partial to the mind-bending hipster Neil Gaiman.It's a sign of the
times: she gets all her information from the internet (yes, though my
column is on our website I don't think it's of much interest to her).
So while global media organisations and corporate executives scratch
their heads and ponder the future of the newspaper, I see it before my
eyes in my own house.

Although Mrinalini does not read newspapers (not even the Mumbai
behemoth whose sole purpose is to encourage women like her to spend,
spend, spend), she does know about a man named Anna Hazare. This does
not mean that youngsters like her who do not read well-pondered edit
pieces in self-serious newspapers have incomplete knowledge about the
proper functioning of a Constitutional democracy; it also does not
mean that going for a protest-picnic after following intense online
debate about a man who's finally taking corruption head-on is the only
correct way. It does, however, mean that public discourse is in the
middle of a long, tectonic change; that class-composition of our
society is in the middle of a long, tectonic change; that democracy
itself is in the middle of a long, tectonic change; and finally, that
the world as a whole is, well, you get the idea.

Of course, the biggest sign that the times are a-changing would be if
Mrinalini, after studying and living abroad, decided that India is the
new El Dorado and a place worth returning to in order to make a life.
That would not seem such a bizarre choice as it might have 25 years
ago. Most of all, it would be her choice, a choice that earlier
generations did not have. And wherever she goes, whatever she chooses
to do, in my mind she will always be the baby who, having just learned
to walk, could be heard running about exploring the house, her tiny
feet pattering on the mosaic floor.

— The writer is the Editor-in-Chief, DNA, based in Mumbai


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[ZESTCaste] Team Anna reaches out to Dalits, remembers Ambedkar

http://in.news.yahoo.com/team-anna-reaches-dalits-remembers-ambedkar-070428231.html

Team Anna reaches out to Dalits, remembers Ambedkar
IANS India Private LimitedBy Indo Asian News Service | IANS – Sun, Aug 28, 2011

New Delhi, Aug 28 (IANS) Facing criticism from Dalit groups for not
having representation from backward and minority classes, Team Anna
Sunday remembered B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian constitution,
and said they respect the statute.

Activist Anna Hazare broke his 13-day-long fast after drinking a
mixture of coconut water and honey offered to him by a Dalit and a
Muslim girl.

'The condition of farmers is bad. We have to give them justice.
Ambedkar put all this in the constitution but it not being implemented
in the parliament,' Hazare told the cheering crowds at Ramlila Maidan.

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal turned down allegations that their
movement was against the constitution. 'Some Dalits have said that we
are against constitution. I want to tell that we respect the
constitution and Ambedkar-ji,' he said.

'If Ambedkar was alive, even he would have liked to change the
constitution seeing people eating fodder and tax payers money being
stashed in Swiss bank,' he said.

Members of the backward communities have criticised the movement,
saying it does not have representations from all sections of the
society and have called for 'Bahujan Lokpal Bill'.

Kejriwal said that according to constitution, people were above parliament.

'Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar wrote the constitution of India and it says
we the people of India give this constitution... this means India and
its people were first and then came the constitution which gave birth
to parliament and then parliamentarians,' he said.

'People made parliament, so people are above parliament. Till now all
the laws made by parliament did not have involvement of people and it
is for the first time after independence that parliament has agreed to
make law according to people,' he said.

Kejriwal said that this should continue and people should have a say
in laws made in the future.


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[ZESTCaste] Now Civil Society of Dalits, Backwards and Minorities rise for their rights!

http://e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=news_section.Press_Release.Press_Release_2011.Now_Civil_Society_of_Dalits_Backwards_and_Minorities_rise_for_their_rights_20110826

Monday, Aug 29, 2011

Now Civil Society of Dalits, Backwards and Minorities rise for their rights!
- All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations -

New Delhi, August 26, 2011

All India Confederation of SC/ST Organisations
T-22, Atul Grove Road,
Connaught Place,
New Delhi-110001,
Tel: 91 11 23354841, 91 11 23354842

The Chairman of All India Confederation of SC/ST Organizations- Dr.
Udit Raj, Sr. IAS -P.S. Krishnan, Peace Party leader- Yusuf Ansari,
Urdu Sahara Editor -Aziz Burney, Social activists – Shabnam Hashmi,
Mast Ram Kapur, Dilip Mandal, All India Christian Council leaders-
John Dayal, Bishop MS Screakriaf and Madhu Chandra, President of
Shoshit Samaj Dal Akhilesh Katiyar, Sr. Advocate Subba Rao, Gen Secy
of IJP- C. P. Singh, Fmr Minister- Ibrahim Qureshi, Prof Vivek Kumar,
Grand son of Maulana Azad –Firoj Bakht Ahmed, Prof. Akhter Mehandi and
many other such personalities have decided to urge the government to
include the demands of Bahujan Lokpal Bill while passing the Lokpal
law. It was also discussed that in the Constitution, there is a fine
and delicate balance between legislature, executive and judiciary and
if anyone of these transgresses its power, that will disturb the
balance and resultantly the Constitution will be affected.

The Govt. Bill which is pending for consideration before the Standing
Committee of the Parliament is not strong enough to book the corrupt.
The way the govt. is considering the features of all three bills –
Govt. Bill, Jan Lokpal Bil and NCPRI Bill, the suggestions of Bahujan
Lokpal Bill also be considered. We are of the strong opinion that
unless Corporate Houses, NGOs and Media are included in the ambit of
the Bill, there will not be much impact to check graft.

In the Lokpal Committee, the representation of Dalits, Backwards and
Minorities should be there, as it is in the govt. services. These
communities are apprehensive that if this committee is constituted
without giving them due consideration, it is more likely that dalits,
backwards and minorities' officers and leaders will be targeted on
pick and choose basis.

Our society is not only caste ridden but at the same time it is
multicultural and religious also. So the representation of each major
community should be taken care of. The corruption is more social in
nature than political, therefore , without addressing it, there is no
possibility to weed it out. On 24th August, we organized a mammoth
rally for our demands and unlike the news of Anna Hazare, not a single
electronic channel has telecast it. Isn't this mental corruption?

The presence of participants in Anna Hazare's movement is not only
exaggerated but telecast continuously. There is plurality and
diversity in the society and so our views should have been also shown.
In these circumstances, we demand representation of these communities
in the structure of Lokpal Committee. There are many schemes for the
upliftment of these communities but due to rampant corruption, fruits
are not reaching to them and therefore, the Bahujan Lokpal Bill urges
the govt. to consider this also. Violation of reservation should be
also treated as an act of corruption.

Dr. Udit Raj said that there are misgivings that the Rally of 24th
August was against Anna Hazare agitation but that is not true. In so
far as corruption is concerned, we are also strongly opposed to it.
From our rally it was asked to the craftsmen of Janlokpal Bill why did
they not include Corporate Houses, Media and NGOs? Anna ji was asked
why he kept silent when North Indians in Maharashtra and Muslims in
Gujarat were targeted and brutalized? He was also asked to express his
views on reservation for dalits.

If his civil society leaders are not trusting the representatives who
are elected by lacks of people then how the honesty and impartiality
of Lokpal can be guaranteed ? No doubt there is too much corruption in
politics but it is more by the blessings of Corporate Houses. At
least, there are checks on peoples' representatives and that is
seeking the mandate of people again and again but those deterrents are
not there in case of Lokpal.

We have asked for an appointment with the Prime Minister and Standing
Committee of Parliament to submit our Bill and so far that has not
been communicated. The Govt. is not treating us at par with Anna
Hazare Civil Society and this is proved by the fact that so far we
have not been consulted and nothing communicated to us.

For more information, please contact:
Abhishek Katiyar
(Media Inchange)


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[ZESTCaste] Orissa to amend Act for keeping reservation in contract jobs

 

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/orissa-to-amend-act-for-keeping-reservation-in-contract-jobs/802631.html

Orissa to amend Act for keeping reservation in contract jobs
PTI | 09:08 PM,Aug 26,2011

Bhubaneswar, Aug 26 (PTI) In a bid to ensure reservation to members of
scheduled tribes and scheduled castes in contractual appointments, the
state government was taking steps to amend the existing Orissa
Reservation of Vacancies in Post and Services (For SC and ST) Act,
1975. This was stated by ST & SC Development, Minorities Backward
Classes Welfare minister L B Himirika in the assembly while replying a
debate on an adjournment motion. "A high level committee under the
chairmanship of the chief secretary was constituted to suggest the
state government on the possible amendments," the minister said.
Stating that the government was taking steps to get views of the law
and general administration departments on certain issues relating to
proposed amendments, Himirika said that an amendment Bill would be
introduced in the assembly after getting approval from the cabinet. In
order to ensure that the provision of reservation be implemented while
making contractual appointments, Himirika said the amended act would
also have provision of non- reservation on base posts. There would be
no diversion of posts in event of non-availability of candidates
belonging to ST and SC categories, Himirika pointed out that the
government might go for special drive to fill up such posts. Earlier,
participating in the debate, Congress members alleged that candidates
belonging to ST and SC categories were deprived of getting jobs as
there was no provision of reservation while making contractual
appointments.

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