Latest News Update: Dec 18, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati Tramples Opposition’s Charges

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Mayawati-Tramples-Oppositions-Charges/articleshow/11162250.cms

Mayawati Tramples Opposition's Charges
TNN | Dec 19, 2011, 04.39AM IST

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati defended her family and
party leaders against the corruption charges levelled by the
opposition.

The Bahujan Samaj Party chief said her rivals are making baseless
charges because they do not have any issue against her government in
the assembly election. She said people have to choose between BSP's
good governance on one hand and the misrule of Congress, goonda raj of
SP and communalism of BJP on the other.

"People need to exercise their franchise judiciously for the future of
the state," Maya said while addressing a large crowd at BSP's Muslim,
Kshatriya and Vaishya brotherhood convention here on Sunday.

Mayawati answered the opposition charges one after another. To the BJP
leaders, who have accused her family members of running ghost
companies for money laundering, she said they should to leave it to
the Income Tax department to find out such companies.

In reply to Rahul Gandhi's description of her government as an
elephant (election symbol of BSP) which feeds on currency notes, Maya
said Congress has lost its mental balance, that's why they are imaging
a money-eating-elephant. She also came down on Rahul for supporting
the FDI in retail sector.

"Traders (Vaishya community) should see that Rahul favours FDI in
retail, which, if implemented, would render crores of people jobless
and destroy small and cottage industry in the state," BSP chief said.

Describing the Congress as the fountainhead of corruption, Mayawati
said: "The number of scams under the UPA government expose the
corruption of the Congress."

Taking on the Samajwadi Party, she said traders have not forgotten how
mafia and criminals used to extort money from them under Mualyam's
rule. She also raised the issue of black money and said that neither
the Congressled UPA government nor the BJP-led NDA government did
anything to bring back black money stashed in foreign countries. This,
Maya said, proves that leaders of both the parties have accounts in
tax havens abroad.

Mayawati also blamed 40 years of Congress rule for the backwardness of
the state and large-scale migration of workers and labourers from UP
to other states for livelihood. Now, she said, Rahul Gandhi calls UP
migrants as beggars.

In comparison, Mayawati said, her government not only took action
against criminals and corrupt but also established the rule of law by
taking action even against her party leaders. Raising the issue of the
division of states, she said her government passed the resolution to
divide UP into four parts for better administration and development
but the Centre has not responded to it.

Demanding quota for poor among upper castes to woo Kshatriyas,
Mayawati said that her government has brought the best land
acquisition policy in the country and has worked for the all round
development of the state. "UP got first prize for high agriculture
productivity and urban management.

The state would be self sufficient in electricity by 2014 due to the
projects initiated by my government," she said. Mayawati accused the
Centre for neglecting UP. "I had recommended a separate bench of
Allahabad high court at Meerut in west UP and requested the Prime
Minister to take up the issue of floods in rivers originating from
Nepal but nothing has been done," she said.

The BSP chief described the right to food law proposed by the UPA
government as a promise which will be forgotten after elections. She
also gave a slogan to her party workers for the coming election -
"Chhadh Vipakhsi Ki Chhati Par, Button Daba Hathi Par".

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Maya praises babus from party platform

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Maya-praises-babus-from-party-platform/articleshow/11162228.cms

Maya praises babus from party platform
Rajiv Srivastava, TNN | Dec 19, 2011, 04.36AM IST

LUCKNOW: Chief minister Mayawati, while addressing a rally on Sunday,
singled out two IAS officers from her secretariat,Navneet Sehgal and
DS Mishra, for special praise, making several retired and serving
administrative services officers cringe.

"A lot of work has been done in the power sector under the supervision
of Navneet Sehgal. UP is expected to get adequate power supply by
2014," Mayawati said, adding, "Main unke vikas ke karyon mein yogdaan
ke liye haardik aabhar prakat karti hoon (I express my deepest
gratitude to him for his contribution in the development works)."

Maya was addressing a Thakur-Muslim-Vaishya Bhaichara Sammelan at Rama
Bai Rally Sthal. While retired and serving officers said they were not
surprised by this, they saw it as politicization of bureaucracy, a
process that began under Mayawati's predecessors.

"The whole institution has lost its meaning in the state over the past
decade or so," said a serving IAS officer of UP cadre, adding, "The
bureaucracy is equally responsible for this politicization of the
system.""These things have become the order of the day," said another
ex-bureaucrat, who retired as principal secretary, adding, "With
police often serving political interests, Uttar Pradesh would be
nothing less than a failed state if the menace grips the bureaucracy
too."

Reacting to this, a retired agriculture commissioner R K Mittal said,
"Why only she, similar cases have happened during the tenure of
Mulayam Singh Yadav as well."

"Several IAS and IPS officers were known as Samajwadi agents during
Mulayam's regime," said another retired bureaucrat.

Just before the 2007 assembly elections, the Election Commission
removed then chief secretary NC Bajpai, director general of police Bua
Singh along with a few other IPS officers for allegedly attending a SP
function on the completion of three years of its rule in the state.

Bajpai not only attended the SP function but also sang praise for
Mulayam and his parliamentarian son Akhilesh Yadav.

Another bureaucrat due to retire said, "Serious introspection by
bureaucrats is the need of the hour before it is too late."

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (1)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

----
INFORMATION OVERLOAD?
Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to ZESTMedia-digest@yahoogroups.com, OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/join/

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

TELL FRIENDS TO SIGN UP:-
If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to ZESTCaste-subscribe@yahoogroups.com OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join/

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] Mayawati’s attacks out of desperation: Congress

http://english.manoramaonline.com/cgi-bin/MMOnline.dll/portal/ep/contentView.do?contentId=10646755&programId=1073750974&tabId=1&contentType=EDITORIAL

Mayawati's attacks out of desperation: Congress
Story Dated: Sunday, December 18, 2011 21:26 hrs IST

Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati's attacks on the
Congress party are borne out of desperation at its rising popularity
in the state and realisation that her days in power are numbered, the
Congress said Sunday.

Reacting sharply to Mayawati's attacks on the Congress and its
policies, state Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi said:
"Mayawati's speech at today's (Sunday's) rally of her party was a
reflection of her desperation in the wake of realization that her days
were now numbered."

"Mayawati looked jittery because she could sense the rising popularity
of the Congress party, therefore she was trying to train all her guns
at the Congress , which she sees as a potential threat to her party's
future," she told media persons here.

Joshi was also critical of Mayawati for her continued "blatant use of
religion and caste to push her political agenda".

Also taking strong exception to Mayawati's remarks against Congress
general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Joshi said: "Rahul Gandhi had covered
as many as 42 constituencies spread across 13 districts over his 30
days of travel in different parts of Uttar Pradesh, and that was
something Mayawati cannot match, hence she was getting panicky."

She blamed successive non-Congress governments including four headed
by Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party for the deteriorating state of
affairs in the state.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Dalit bizmen are India Inc’s poster boys

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Dalit-bizmen-are-India-Incs-poster-boys/articleshow/11150776.cms

Dalit bizmen are India Inc's poster boys
TNN | Dec 18, 2011, 04.47AM IST
MUMBAI: Neglected for years, Dalit entrepreneurs are now gaining
momentum and getting ready to expand their horizons and do business
with industrial houses.

The Dalit India Chamber of Commerce and Industries ( DICCI),
inaugurated by industrialist Adi Godrej on Saturday, held its first
expo in the city to showcase products of member-entrepreneurs. The
association has also decided to create a venture capital fund with a
corpus of Rs 500 crore.

Cottage industries like handicraft, T-shirts and leather products were
showcased at the event. Firms engaged in construction and
manufacturing industrial products also featured prominently. Many
Dalits beat the odds to become successful entrepreneurs in their own
right. Yashodhan Ramteke, an electronics engineer, set up a private
institute to train engineers in maintaining thermal power plants in
Nagpur. Dr Nanda Kishore runs a 100-bed hospital in Hyderabad are
success stories from the community.

"I was lucky to get good education and a job with the Union ministry
of agriculture. However, I would back reservation since it would
provide the impetus to my community," said Natha Ram, the director of
Steel Mont Private Ltd-a Rs 600-crore company set up by Rajesh Saraiya
(Natha's son).

Saraiya is India's first Dalit billionaire. Born in a middle class
family in Dehradun, Rajesh studied aeronautical engineering in Russia
and is now based in Ukraine. Kalpana Saroj has done what no Dalit
woman in the corporate world could. A school dropout, Saroj is the
chairperson of Kamani Tubes Limited. The company, which makes
non-ferrous tubes, had a troubled existence over the past two decades,
requiring constant assistance by the Board for Industrial and
Financial Reconstruction, following internecine feuds in the Kamani
family.

"Supporters and investors turn up if you are focused on what you
want," said Saroj. J Nandakumar has craved a niche for himself in the
art world. Having completed his Master's in fine arts from Aurangabad
university, Nandakumar held many exhibitions of his paintings at J J
art gallery. Many corporates have purchased his art works.

------------------------------------

PARTICIPATE:-
On this list you can share caste news, discuss caste issues and network with like-minded anti-caste people from across India and the world. Just write to zestcaste@yahoogroups.com

Also have a look at our sister list, ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/

<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join
(Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
ZESTCaste-digest@yahoogroups.com
ZESTCaste-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ZESTCaste-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

[ZESTCaste] Dalit killed for intruding kitchen fireplace in hotel - in Nepal

Dear friends,

Every day, I read many news on the Dalit atrocities and ignore them as it is a routine to thrash or kill a Dalit in India. Any mad dog can kick or kill a Dalit with no second thought of punishment.

Lately, I have been reading similar or worse news from Nepal, till a short while before a Hindu nation. Dalits there as well treated worse than animals.

When I was reading this story, I remember a Nepali for whom I worked in 2002 when my fortune was not good. Through a friend's recommendation, I started working in an Indian restaurant in Washington DC with a hope to learn some business skills when I was unemployed almost more than 8 months after Sept 11, 2001. A Nepali was the manager there. I saw him treating others (in the capital of the land of freedom) working the restaurant (most of them were well educated, but hit with bad luck) the worse way I could imagine. He started treating me the same. That fellow was a short, ugly, and a semi literate where as other working for him were all educated. Two days I tolerated and I quit on the 3^rd day, unable to tolerate his treatment.

This is not to be stereotyping people based on a news report. There is a saying in Telugu that says, "in order to determine the quality of a bag full of rice, it is enough to check a fist full of them. "

With much progressive thought and work in India for the past 60+ years, when Indians can't give the dignity Dalits deserve as fellow humans, I can image the state of Dalits in Nepal.

May this decease of discrimination on the basis of caste or any artificial boundary be eradicated from the face of the earth by some force - how ever worse it may have been!

Benjamin

Nepal: Dalit killed for intruding kitchen fireplace in hotel

Posted by: "Siddhartha Kumar" mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com tellsiddhartha

Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:42 am (PST)

http://www.myrepubl ica.com/portal/ index.php? action=news_ details&news_ id=39551

Dalit killed for intruding kitchen fireplace in hotel

TUFAN NEUPANE
JUMLA, Dec 14: A dalit has been thrashed to death in Jubitha-4,
Kalikot for intruding into the kitchen fireplace of an "upper-caste"
hotelier.

Manbir Sunar, 31, had gone to Jas Bahadur Shahi´s Dhara Hotel next
door to buy cigarettes after dinner Saturday evening.

He went to the burning stove to light a cigarette but two Thakuris
drinking alcohol on a table nearby felt offended. The inebriated duo
pounced upon him and thrashed him mercilessly. "He breathed his last
while being taken to District Hospital Sunday morning," his
heart-broken father Bir Bahadur said.

The assailants Min Bahadur of Jubitha-8 and Dip Bahadur of Jubitha-9
were old acquaintances. But the duo didn´t need any other reason to
mortally thrash Sunar.

"Preliminary investigations show there was no previous animosity among
them and Sunar was beaten due as Dalits are deemed untouchables,"
Chief District Officer (CDO) of Kalikot Durga Dutta Dhakal said.

Doctor at the District Hospital Rabindra Khadka said the deceased had
wounds all over his body with dysfunctional kidneys. He said report
from the Central Laboratory in Kathmandu will provide the details but
the hospital stated that he died after being unable to discharge urine
following injury on his genitals.

Khallagad Police Post has arrested the duo and CDO Dhakal said the
Shahis would be tried for murder. Meanwhile, various dalit right
organizations and activists have condemned the incident.

Published on 2011-12-14 06:00:46

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (4)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] 2011 donations so far

Dear donors and friends,
Please check this link to check the donations we received so far. Time is running out. Please help us to help the Dalit children.

http://www.friends4education.org/scholarship/2011/11donations.htm

Thanks
Ben


------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the  welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

   From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
 To: "ambedkarscholarship@yahoogroups.com" <ambedkarscholarship@yahoogroups.com>; OfficersForum  <officersforum@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit Group <dalit@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit-international <dalits-international@yahoogroups.com>; DalitCOnference <dalitconference@googlegroups.com>; Human Horizons <humanhorizons@yahoogroups.co.uk>; ZestCaste <ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com>; SakyaGroup <sakyagroup@yahoogroups.com>; Anadswarup <anandaswarupg@gmail.com> 
 Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 4:11 PM
 Subject: My donation for 2011 drive
 
Dear donors and friends,
If I ask others for money and do not contribute from my pocket, that isn't good. I try my best to contribute whenever I can during the course of year and whenever there is a need in FFEI apart from my other efforts at personal level.
  
My humble donation for 2011 is a modest $500. I wish I could donate more. 
  
We have raised less than Rs. 3 lakhs (excluding the donations received before this drive started). We need a minimum of Rs. 8 Lakhs to meet our commitments for 2011.
  
I request others as well to come forward and help us with whatever they can, however small it may be. Don't think that some others will help.
 
 
My mails reach 1000s of people. If everyone can contribute a small amount (like a student from India sent $10 by google checkout), we can reach our goal.
  
In this festive season, may I request everyone to consider donating to the cause of the most oppressed but invisible people of the world – Dalits?
  
I hope, you respond.
With regards
Benjamin P Kaila
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

   From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
 To: AmbedkarScholarshipGroup <ambedkarscholarship@yahoogroups.com>; OfficersForum <officersforum@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit Group <dalit@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit-international <dalits-international@yahoogroups.com>; DalitCOnference <dalitconference@googlegroups.com>; Human Horizons <humanhorizons@yahoogroups.co.uk>; ZestCaste <ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com>; SakyaGroup  <sakyagroup@yahoogroups.com>; Anadswarup <anandaswarupg@gmail.com> 
 Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 4:02 PM
 Subject: [ambedkarscholarship] FFEI 's 9th year of operation - some thoughts
 
 Dear donors and friends,
Last night I was watching CNN Heroes, 2011. I was thrilled to see how a single person see a need in the community or somewhere faraway in the world; started his/her work like a small spark that spread like a wild-fire in a year or two. A single person's dedication coupled with other considerate people helping thousands and even millions of people in US and across the world. I couldn't resist myself but saluting every individual that featured in the program. I saw ultimate meaning in what they do and the purpose of life on earth. 
  
While watching it, I ponder about FFEI. FFEI is in its 9th year of operation. Started with just 2 scholarships in AP in 2003, in these 9 years FFEI helped hundreds of students from AP, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Orissa. Our wish is to expand it to other states, but financial and human resources in those places preventing it to become an all India organization. 
  
In addition to helping students, FFEI helped a few Caste atrocity victims in Punjab (Mr Bant Singh), Uttar Pradesh (little girl raped and a little girl burnt), Kerala (Ms Chitralekha), and honored a few Dalits who made a mark in the society despite their humble background– Ms Baby Kamble and a karate world champion from Maharasthtra; Dr Endluri Chinnaiah from AP, Dalit journalists from UP etc. We also helped several Dalits on individual basis – to study Nursing, to pay fee for a professional course, to buy a computer, a sewing machine, a wheelchair etc that helps them to study and do something to be independent. We started helping colleges and schools (that cater mainly Dalit children) to buy necessary books.
  
Our microloan project called Ambedkar Microloans in AP is going on well, thanks mainly to Prof Anand Swarup of Australia (major contributor) and others like Hope for Humanity in US, Ohia University Indian student Association, and me. Through this project, so far, we helped hundreds of Dalits and non-Dalits to start a grocery store, to buy a buffalo, to set up a tea stall, to buy a rickshaw to transport water and students, to sell vegetables in villages  - to name a few. 
  
One may wonder what criteria we apply while giving aid. We use help from various sources to indentify a beneficiary. In some cases we act on a newspaper story and urge for help to help the individual. In some other cases, we get request for help from the volunteers/friends working for FFEI in India. In all cases, I personally verify the need by asking for documentation and talking to the individuals. I say no, when I don't satisfy with the information or the need.
  
Through emails, I communicate as much information as possible to everyone.
  
I don't say everything is perfect. I know we need improvement in many areas of our operation – especially monitoring of the aid we give. Though I know what to do and how to do perfectly well, I am helpless due to lack to financial resources. Monitoring needs a few full time employees and an office space – for both we lack, financial resources. Unless we start a separate fund for salaries and office space (is it possible?), monitoring is not possible with the donations we receive that are tied to a specific need.

I try my best to keep the operating costs minimum, sometimes at the displeasure of the organizers due to my stinginess. Our overhead expenses are just 2-3% of the disbursements we made each year. 

As I always say, we are open for new ideas and discussion to improve the project. My only request is that the suggestion should be viable within our resources. 
  
I urge donors and friends in the email groups to come forward and help FFEI with ideas and money.
  
I assure you that every viable idea will be considered and every penny donated will be used in the most efficient way possible.

Note: So far, I failed to attract any corporate donor. May be, I am inefficient or less dexterous to attract them. All our donors are individuals and they come to us through a word of mouth. Most of them are non-Dalits (thanks to Prof Shiva Shankar's efforts to rope in his academic friends), baring one or two. 

It is sad that an Organization that was born out of debates from Dalit  electronic groups do not have Dalits as patrons. After the success of FFEI (or Ambedkar Scholarships, as it was formally known), many started their own organizations (spending valuable resources for registrations, exemptions etc), operated a year or two, and disappeared. Don't misunderstand; I acknowledge every good work some individuals and organizations are  doing. My grudge is only with just talkers. When I read grandeur talks in Dalit forums without actions, I can't help but feel pity. 

Do the Dalits in these forums and NRIs do not have money? No, their priorities and aims are different. Who cares if you spend for a Dalit cause when other alluring offers are available elsewhere? One can imagine if Babasaheb (who did so much for every Dalit) grieving or happy in his grave? Dalits (especially the well-to-dos) has a lot to learn from the African-Americans in US. They transformed their lives (from worse to better and best) by helping each other and the less privileges among them. But, Dalit help stops at their own kith and kin. I and sure, that is not what Babasaheb wants from them.  

In my view, worshiping Babasaheb (as many Dalits do) is not what is needed, following his footsteps.

I am extremely sorry, if someone think that I am criticizing. All I say is, that is not my intention, whatever the way one can take my words.

With gratitude and regards
 Benjamin P Kaila
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (3)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] My donation for 2011 drive

Dear donors and friends,
If I ask others for money and do not contribute from my pocket, that isn't good. I try my best to contribute whenever I can during the course of year and whenever there is a need in FFEI apart from my other efforts at personal level.
 
My humble donation for 2011 is a modest $500. I wish I could donate more. 
 
We have raised less than Rs. 3 lakhs (excluding the donations received before this drive started). We need a minimum of Rs. 8 Lakhs to meet our commitments for 2011.
 
I request others as well to come forward and help us with whatever they can, however small it may be. Don't think that some others will help.
 
 
My mails reach 1000s of people. If everyone can contribute a small amount (like a student from India sent $10 by google checkout), we can reach our goal.
 
In this festive season, may I request everyone to consider donating to the cause of the most oppressed but invisible people of the world – Dalits?
 
I hope, you respond.
With regards
Benjamin P Kaila
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

   From: Benjamin Kaila <benjamin_kaila@yahoo.com>
 To: AmbedkarScholarshipGroup <ambedkarscholarship@yahoogroups.com>; OfficersForum <officersforum@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit Group <dalit@yahoogroups.com>; Dalit-international <dalits-international@yahoogroups.com>; DalitCOnference <dalitconference@googlegroups.com>; Human Horizons <humanhorizons@yahoogroups.co.uk>; ZestCaste <ZESTCaste@yahoogroups.com>; SakyaGroup  <sakyagroup@yahoogroups.com>; Anadswarup <anandaswarupg@gmail.com> 
 Sent: Sunday, December 18, 2011 4:02 PM
 Subject: [ambedkarscholarship] FFEI 's 9th year of operation - some thoughts
 
 
Dear donors and friends,
Last night I was watching CNN Heroes, 2011. I was thrilled to see how a single person see a need in the community or somewhere faraway in the world; started his/her work like a small spark that spread like a wild-fire in a year or two. A single person's dedication coupled with other considerate people helping thousands and even millions of people in US and across the world. I couldn't resist myself but saluting every individual that featured in the program. I saw ultimate meaning in what they do and the purpose of life on earth. 
  
While watching it, I ponder about FFEI. FFEI is in its 9th year of operation. Started with just 2 scholarships in AP in 2003, in these 9 years FFEI helped hundreds of students from AP, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Orissa. Our wish is to expand it to other states, but financial and human resources in those places preventing it to become an all India organization. 
  
In addition to helping students, FFEI helped a few Caste atrocity victims in Punjab (Mr Bant Singh), Uttar Pradesh (little girl raped and a little girl burnt), Kerala (Ms Chitralekha), and honored a few Dalits who made a mark in the society despite their humble background– Ms Baby Kamble and a karate world champion from Maharasthtra; Dr Endluri Chinnaiah from AP, Dalit journalists from UP etc. We also helped several Dalits on individual basis – to study Nursing, to pay fee for a professional course, to buy a computer, a sewing machine, a wheelchair etc that helps them to study and do something to be independent. We started helping colleges and schools (that cater mainly Dalit children) to buy necessary books.
  
Our microloan project called Ambedkar Microloans in AP is going on well, thanks mainly to Prof Anand Swarup of Australia (major contributor) and others like Hope for Humanity in US, Ohia University Indian student Association, and me. Through this project, so far, we helped hundreds of Dalits and non-Dalits to start a grocery store, to buy a buffalo, to set up a tea stall, to buy a rickshaw to transport water and students, to sell vegetables in villages  - to name a few. 
  
One may wonder what criteria we apply while giving aid. We use help from various sources to indentify a beneficiary. In some cases we act on a newspaper story and urge for help to help the individual. In some other cases, we get request for help from the volunteers/friends working for FFEI in India. In all cases, I personally verify the need by asking for documentation and talking to the individuals. I say no, when I don't satisfy with the information or the need.
  
Through emails, I communicate as much information as possible to everyone.
  
I don't say everything is perfect. I know we need improvement in many areas of our operation – especially monitoring of the aid we give. Though I know what to do and how to do perfectly well, I am helpless due to lack to financial resources. Monitoring needs a few full time employees and an office space – for both we lack, financial resources. Unless we start a separate fund for salaries and office space (is it possible?), monitoring is not possible with the donations we receive that are tied to a specific need.

I try my best to keep the operating costs minimum, sometimes at the displeasure of the organizers due to my stinginess. Our overhead expenses are just 2-3% of the disbursements we made each year. 

As I always say, we are open for new ideas and discussion to improve the project. My only request is that the suggestion should be viable within our resources. 
  
I urge donors and friends in the email groups to come forward and help FFEI with ideas and money.
  
I assure you that every viable idea will be considered and every penny donated will be used in the most efficient way possible.

Note: So far, I failed to attract any corporate donor. May be, I am inefficient or less dexterous to attract them. All our donors are individuals and they come to us through a word of mouth. Most of them are non-Dalits (thanks to Prof Shiva Shankar's efforts to rope in his academic friends), baring one or two. 

It is sad that an Organization that was born out of debates from Dalit  electronic groups do not have Dalits as patrons. After the success of FFEI (or Ambedkar Scholarships, as it was formally known), many started their own organizations (spending valuable resources for registrations, exemptions etc), operated a year or two, and disappeared. Don't misunderstand; I acknowledge every good work some individuals and organizations are  doing. My grudge is only with just talkers. When I read grandeur talks in Dalit forums without actions, I can't help but feel pity. 

Do the Dalits in these forums and NRIs do not have money? No, their priorities and aims are different. Who cares if you spend for a Dalit cause when other alluring offers are available elsewhere? One can imagine if Babasaheb (who did so much for every Dalit) grieving or happy in his grave? Dalits (especially the well-to-dos) has a lot to learn from the African-Americans in US. They transformed their lives (from worse to better and best) by helping each other and the less privileges among them. But, Dalit help stops at their own kith and kin. I and sure, that is not what Babasaheb wants from them.  

In my view, worshiping Babasaheb (as many Dalits do) is not what is needed, following his footsteps.

I am extremely sorry, if someone think that I am criticizing. All I say is, that is not my intention, whatever the way one can take my words.

With gratitude and regards
 Benjamin P Kaila
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (3)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

[ZESTCaste] FFEI 's 9th year of operation - some thoughts

Dear donors and friends,
Last night I was watching CNN Heroes, 2011. I was thrilled to see how a single person see a need in the community or somewhere faraway in the world; started his/her work like a small spark that spread like a wild-fire in a year or two. A single person's dedication coupled with other considerate people helping thousands and even millions of people in US and across the world. I couldn't resist myself but saluting every individual that featured in the program. I saw ultimate meaning in what they do and the purpose of life on earth. 
 
While watching it, I ponder about FFEI. FFEI is in its 9th year of operation. Started with just 2 scholarships in AP in 2003, in these 9 years FFEI helped hundreds of students from AP, Tamilnadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Orissa. Our wish is to expand it to other states, but financial and human resources in those places preventing it to become an all India organization. 
 
In addition to helping students, FFEI helped a few Caste atrocity victims in Punjab (Mr Bant Singh), Uttar Pradesh (little girl raped and a little girl burnt), Kerala (Ms Chitralekha), and honored a few Dalits who made a mark in the society despite their humble background– Ms Baby Kamble and a karate world champion from Maharasthtra; Dr Endluri Chinnaiah from AP, Dalit journalists from UP etc. We also helped several Dalits on individual basis – to study Nursing, to pay fee for a professional course, to buy a computer, a sewing machine, a wheelchair etc that helps them to study and do something to be independent. We started helping colleges and schools (that cater mainly Dalit children) to buy necessary books.
 
Our microloan project called Ambedkar Microloans in AP is going on well, thanks mainly to Prof Anand Swarup of Australia (major contributor) and others like Hope for Humanity in US, Ohia University Indian student Association, and me. Through this project, so far, we helped hundreds of Dalits and non-Dalits to start a grocery store, to buy a buffalo, to set up a tea stall, to buy a rickshaw to transport water and students, to sell vegetables in villages  - to name a few. 
 
One may wonder what criteria we apply while giving aid. We use help from various sources to indentify a beneficiary. In some cases we act on a newspaper story and urge for help to help the individual. In some other cases, we get request for help from the volunteers/friends working for FFEI in India. In all cases, I personally verify the need by asking for documentation and talking to the individuals. I say no, when I don't satisfy with the information or the need.
 
Through emails, I communicate as much information as possible to everyone.
 
I don't say everything is perfect. I know we need improvement in many areas of our operation – especially monitoring of the aid we give. Though I know what to do and how to do perfectly well, I am helpless due to lack to financial resources. Monitoring needs a few full time employees and an office space – for both we lack, financial resources. Unless we start a separate fund for salaries and office space (is it possible?), monitoring is not possible with the donations we receive that are tied to a specific need.

I try my best to keep the operating costs minimum, sometimes at the displeasure of the organizers due to my stinginess. Our overhead expenses are just 2-3% of the disbursements we made each year. 

As I always say, we are open for new ideas and discussion to improve the project. My only request is that the suggestion should be viable within our resources. 
 
I urge donors and friends in the email groups to come forward and help FFEI with ideas and money.
 
I assure you that every viable idea will be considered and every penny donated will be used in the most efficient way possible.

Note: So far, I failed to attract any corporate donor. May be, I am inefficient or less dexterous to attract them. All our donors are individuals and they come to us through a word of mouth. Most of them are non-Dalits (thanks to Prof Shiva Shankar's efforts to rope in his academic friends), baring one or two. 

It is sad that an Organization that was born out of debates from Dalit electronic groups do not have Dalits as patrons. After the success of FFEI (or Ambedkar Scholarships, as it was formally known), many started their own organizations (spending valuable resources for registrations, exemptions etc), operated a year or two, and disappeared. Don't misunderstand; I acknowledge every good work some individuals and organizations are  doing. My grudge is only with just talkers. When I read grandeur talks in Dalit forums without actions, I can't help but feel pity. 

Do the Dalits in these forums and NRIs do not have money? No, their priorities and aims are different. Who cares if you spend for a Dalit cause when other alluring offers are available elsewhere? One can imagine if Babasaheb (who did so much for every Dalit) grieving or happy in his grave? Dalits (especially the well-to-dos) has a lot to learn from the African-Americans in US. They transformed their lives (from worse to better and best) by helping each other and the less privileges among them. But, Dalit help stops at their own kith and kin. I and sure, that is not what Babasaheb wants from them.  

In my view, worshiping Babasaheb (as many Dalits do) is not what is needed, following his footsteps.

I am extremely sorry, if someone think that I am criticizing. All I say is, that is not my intention, whatever the way one can take my words.

With gratitude and regards
 Benjamin P Kaila
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
An educated man without character and humility was more dangerous than a beast. If his education was detrimental to the welfare of poor, he was a curse to society. 
-Babasaheb Dr B R Ambedkar
Please visit www.friendsforeducation.org

__._,_.___

Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic

Messages in this topic (3)

Recent Activity:

Visit Your Group

MARKETPLACE

Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now.

Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use

__,_._,___

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Posted by: "Siddhartha Kumar" mailsiddhartha.k@gmail.com tellsiddhartha

Sat Dec 17, 2011 3:42 am (PST)

Blog Archive