Friday, October 14, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Dalits on strike for allowance

http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullNews.php?headline=Dalits+on+strike+for+allowance+&NewsID=305602

Dalits on strike for allowance

Added At: 2011-10-13 11:04 PM

Last Updated At: 2011-10-13 11:04 PM


HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

SIRAHA: The Dalit community of Sitapur VDC, Siraha have started a
hunger strike at the Lahan-based VDC contact office from today
demanding action against VDC secretary Bibekchandra Karki, whom they
allege misappropriated government-provided social allowances for the
last three years.

According to Ramlal Ram, a hunger strike participant, s of the hunger
strike, Karki has misused the allowances of 70 persons amounting to
about Rs 1.68 million from 2064 BS to 2067 BS.

"We had asked him to provide us the social allowances we were entitled
to many times, but as he ignored us, we were compelled to resort to
this move," said Jitani Pasaman, another hunger-striker.

"We had also complained in writing to the district administration
office and district development committee but to no avail, said
Chandrkalawati Ram.

Every month, the government disburses social allowances under
different headings, like for single women, senior citizens, senior
dalit citizens and dalit children, but the dalits complain Karki has
not provided those amounts for the last three years. The strikers have
urged CDO Narayan Prasad Bidari of Siraha to come to their strike site
and heed to their demand by Friday.


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[ZESTCaste] Mirchpur votes half-heartedly

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mirchpur-votes-half-heartedly/859611/

Mirchpur votes half-heartedly
Chitleen K Sethi Posted online: Fri Oct 14 2011, 00:32 hrs

Mirchpur(Hisar) : Mirchpur, the infamous village in Narnaund that has
been in the news for the last one year, registered a low voter turnout
in the Hisar bypoll on Thursday. The low turnout is being attributed
to none of the contesting candidates having visited the village during
the run-up to the bypoll.

The only sign that elections are taking place was visible in the
village school, where the presence of extra security and a hum drum of
people marked polling by Jat voters. The voting percentage, however,
remained about 50 per cent — much less than the constituency's average
of over 68 per cent.

Separate booths had been set up in areas, where majority of the voters
were Dalits. In three such polling stations set up, the numbers of
votes polled were even less — by 4 pm, Dalits had polled only about 36
per cent votes.

The village had hit national headlines in April 2010 when an elderly
Dalit, Tara Chand, and his physically-challenged daughter were burnt
to death after a crowd of the dominant Jat community burnt down
balmisi houses in a fit of rage. The incident brought AICC general
secretary Rahul Gandhi to the village, as also several other state
leaders.

However, in the run up to the elections, the candidates chose to
ignore the village fearing a dilution of the Jat and non-Jat vote
bank. "None of the contestants wanted to be associated with either of
the two groups, as the matter has been politicised a lot," said a
local.

Following a stark caste divisions in the village, the villagers had
held a panchayat meeting, in which it was decided that the issue will
not be allowed to be politicised any further. The Jats of the village
are unhappy with both the Congress and the Indian National Lok Dal for
having not done enough for the over 100 Jats who were arrested
following the incident. The Balmikis, on the other hand, are nursing a
grudge that majority of these accused have managed to go scot free.
They have been alleging that they continue to be ostracised by the
Jats.

A special trial court will hear arguments on the sentence of the 15
found guilty for the Mirchpur deaths on Friday. As many as 82 of the
accused were released after the court said that it has found nothing
against them. While three of the accused were found guilty under
Section 304 of the IPC, 12 will get off with lighter sentences.


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[ZESTCaste] Mayawati to inaugurate 685-crore Noida memorial park today

 

http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/mayawati-to-inaugurate-685-crore-noida-memorial-park-today-141006

Mayawati to inaugurate 685-crore Noida memorial park today

NDTV Correspondent, Updated: October 14, 2011 12:50 IST

New Delhi: At Rs. 685 crore, it is an expensive dream. But Uttar
Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati has pulled out all stops to ensure
that it becomes a grand reality and at 5 pm today she will arrive by
helicopter to inaugurate the Rashtriya Dalit Smarak in Noida and a
stone's throw from Delhi, the seat of power. To make it a smooth
affair, 2,500 policemen have been stationed.

The memorial is meant to honour Dalit icons and has over two dozen
huge statues of Mayawati, her mentor Kanshi Ram and Dr BR Ambedkar,
among others. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief will first cut a
ribbon and then is expected to address about 40,000 party workers. A
special helipad has been set up at the Apeejay School ground in
Noida's Film City for the CM's helicopter to land and take off.

The Noida administration, out to impress "Behenji," has left no stone
unturned for a grand opening of the park. High-tech LED lights and
fountains are in place and a special security force will permanently
guard the memorial.

The administration expects between 50,000 to 70,000 people from across
UP to gather and the arrangements are massive. There are a total 2,500
policemen stationed at two locations. This includes nine Provincial
Armed Constabulary (PAC) companies, 175 traffic policemen, 50 women
cops, 1050 police constables, 184 sub-inspectors, 25 Station House
Officers (SHO), 15 Superintendents of Police (SPs) and seven
Additional SPs.

Then there are anti-sabotage units, bomb disposal squads, NSG teams,
local intelligence units, and the members of the CM's security. Fire
services have been stationed.

But Noida residents might not share Behenji's proud smile. Traffic
woes have already begun with huge jams being reported. Traffic is
being diverted at several places ahead of the inauguration - including
at the Film City crossing and Mahamaya flyover. More traffic
diversions have been announced between 3pm and 7pm. (Traffic mess in
Noida, read police advisory here)

Noida saw long traffic jams throughout the day yesterday too with
several important stretches partly blocked to allow last-minute
renovation work.

Residents in fact have had Mayawati's memorial park is built on a land
that initially housed a public park. When work first began on
Mayawati's dream memorial in 2008, Noida residents were upset as they
were denied access to the park. Then, over 6000 trees were cut.

Angry residents moved the Supreme Court. An initial enquiry ordered by
the Environment Ministry found several environmental violations. And
the fact that the memorial was coming up close to the Okhla Bird
Sanctuary further complicated matters. But in December last year, the
Supreme Court cleared the project with a rider - not more than 25
percent of the total 84 acres could be paved, the rest would have to
be planted with trees.

Several other appeals in court have challenged Mayawati's decision to
use taxpayers' money to fund her mega memorials. Many of those remain
unsettled. Accusing Mayawati of having a feudal mindset, Opposition
parties have alleged that she has spent crores of rupees of public
money for installing statues of her family members. "After statues of
Dalit icons like Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram have been set up at several
places, Mayawati is out to install statues of her parents," Congress
spokesman Subodh Srivastava said.

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