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Thursday, August 18, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Officials asked to ensure implementation of SC/ST welfare schemes

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Officials-asked-to-ensure-implementation-of-SC/ST-welfare-schemes/articleshow/9640120.cms

Officials asked to ensure implementation of SC/ST welfare schemes
TNN | Aug 17, 2011, 10.30PM IST

VARANASI: The director of National Scheduled Castes and Scheduled
Tribes, R D Chandrahas, held a meeting on Wednesday to review
implementation of welfare schemes for SC/ST at Vikas Bhawan.

He asked the officials to ensure that benefits of welfare schemes
reach the right beneficiaries.
The district supply officer was instructed to ensure no interference
of middlemen in the operation of PDS shops allotted to SC/ST people.
Strict action would be taken if such practice is detected, he warned.

Taking note of slow progress in the disposal of matters related to
SC/ST people, he asked the incharges of Shivpur and Cholapur police
stations to dispose off such matters within a month.

The social welfare officer was asked for timely distribution of
scholarships and pensions to the beneficiaries. For the repairing of
SC/ST hostel at Baragaon, he instructed the social welfare officer to
take the matter on priority after the release of funds. For this
purpose, a proposal of Rs 96 lakh was sent to the government.

The chief medical officer was asked to ensure adequate availability of
medicines at the community and primary health centres. He asked the
forest officials to give priority to SC/ST labourers in various works.
The meeting was attended by chief development officer and other
officials.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalit Panthers' chief booked for dishonouring tricolour

http://www.mid-day.com/news/2011/aug/180811-news-bangalore-Dalit-Panthers-chief-booked-for-dishonouring-tricolour.htm

Dalit Panthers' chief booked for dishonouring tricolour
By: Imran Gowhar Date: 2011-08-18 Place: Bangalore

Accused booked under the Flag Code of Law and National Honor Act for
leaving tricolour unattended all day after hoisting it in the morning
on Independence Day

The police have booked the local representative of a backward social
group in the city for disrespect to the national flag. Subbaraju,
president of Dalit Panthers was booked under the Flag Code of Law and
National Honor Act.

Deadline: As per rule, the tricolor hoisted in a public place should be
lowered by 6 pm Representation pic

The PSI of Sampigehalli police station, K T Nagaraju discovered the
offence during night rounds and had filed a complaint against
Subbaraju. The accused hoisted the tricolor at a public place on an
Independence Day function, which was attended by other members of his
association.

"Shortly after the flag was hoisted, all the members left the venue.
As per rule, the tricolor hoisted in a public place should be lowered
by 6 pm. However, even after 7.30 pm the tricolor continued to flutter
on the flagpole and was left unattended," said Nagaraju.

The cop swung into action and lowered the tricolor with the help of a
few passers-by. "We are currently on the lookout for Subbaraju, who
has been absconding since," said Nagaraju.

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[ZESTCaste] Caste film causes uproar in India

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/connectasia/stories/201108/s3296669.htm

Caste film causes uproar in India

Updated August 18, 2011 14:39:25

A Bollywood film that's been banned in India's most populous state has
stirred up emotions about the divisive issue of caste in the
subcontinent.

The film's title Aarakshan literally means 'reservation' in English
and refers to the system of quotas for lower caste people in India's
universities and public service.

Lower caste representatives have slammed the film as offensive and it
was last week been banned from screening in India's biggest state
Uttar Pradesh.

A Supreme Court challenge has been lodged to overturn the ban.

Presenter:Alma Mistry
Speakers: Bikas Mishra, Founder and Editor, dearcinema.com; Prakash
Jha, film director; Dr. Udit Raj, President, Indian Justice Party, New
Delhi; Dr Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Centre for Comparative Politics &
Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi

Listen:
Windows Media

MISTRY: The movie Aarakshan features some of Indian cinema's biggest
names including Bollywood giant, Amitabh Bachchan. Bachchan plays an
upper caste college principal whose integrity costs him his job, to a
ruthless, profiteering rival. Bikas Mishra is the editor and founder
of the Indian film website dearcinema.com. He says Aarakshan tackles
caste issues from the point of view of upper caste Indians.

MISHRA: This is primarily about two different views about two views of
Aarakshan that's reservation amongst upper caste people one who
believed in a little bit of affirmative action based on economic
status of the people, and second one who is casteist and deadly
against reservation.

MISTRY: A system of reservation for India's oppressed lower castes
began during British colonial rule, but was formalised when India
gained Independence in 1947. While the benchmarks change from state to
state, people from lower castes must make up 50 percent of all
university entrants. The system was designed to end centuries of
discrimination against groups such as the Dalits, who were known as
'untouchables' and relegated to menial work.

But the quota system has caused tension amongst those who miss out on
jobs and university places.

Speaking at a festival in Mumbai last month, Aarakshan's director
Prakash Jha said the film didn't take a position on the system.

JHA: We have to see what is happening in the backdrop and landscape of
a reserved society and that is what film will try to show. It's not
always easy to simplify these huge social issues and put them into a
film or come out with some kind of solution.

MISTRY: But the film reviewer Bikas Mishra says even the hero of
Aarakshan has an ambivalent attitude towards the reservation system.

MISHRA: Even the good guy isn't in favour of it rather he is in favour
of reservation based on economic status of people not on the basis of
caste. And this is where I think the film lands itself in a little bit
of difficulty in states which are ruled by the political parties which
are involved in caste based politics.

MISTRY: While this year marks the first time that India's national
Census will collect information about lower castes, unofficial
estimates put India's Dalits at 160 million people. In Uttar Pradesh,
caste rights have been elevated by the election of a Dalit woman,
Mayawati, to the post of Chief Minister. Last week she banned the
film, saying it poses a risk to law and order because of inflammatory
dialogue about Dalits.Two other states Punjab and Andra Pradesh
initially moved to ban the film, but recanted after Prakash Jha filed
a petition in the Supreme Court to have the bans overturned.

Dr Udit Raj is the President of the Indian Justice Party, which
advocates for the rights of oppressed castes. He says the reservation
system has been essential to advance Dalits in India.

RAJ: They have only participated in Government jobs and in politics
through reservation. In other fields like industry, higher education,
media, arts and culture their presence is almost zero.

MISTRY: Dr Raj doesn't want the film banned, but is calling for some
scenes to be censored.

RAJ: The thrust of the film is to argue the case against reservation
that's why we are opposing. However we are not arguing for a ban of
the Aarakshan film, rather we are asking the director to remove
certain dialogues which hurt the sentiments of Dalits.

MISTRY: In the state of Maharashtra some scenes have been cut from the
film, at the behest of the local government. The controversy sparked
by Aarakshan is a sign of the growing political muscle of lower castes
in some states, according to Professor Kamal Mitra Chenoy from
Jawaharal Nehru University.

CHENOY: Virtually every political party is wooing them for sheer
electoral considerations given their numerical strength. So the
reaction to our action is also because of that.

MISTRY: Dr Chenoy says there's no doubt the reservation system causes
some tensions. But he says it is necessary to heal the injustices of
the past.

CHENOY: This is a very major experiment in social engineering and it
should be looked at with sympathy no matter what faults have occurred
and we Indians have to learn to live as one equal people.

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits ostracised in Navalgund

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/bengaluru/dalits-ostracised-navalgund-590

Dalits ostracised in Navalgund

August 18, 2011
DC
Hubli

Aug. 17: More than twenty dalit families in a tiny hamlet of Nayakanur
in Navalgund taluk, are facing social boycott by a landlord, for
refusing to work in his house. The landlord instructed shop owners in
the village, not to provide any foodgrains and tea to the dalits. They
were prevented from fetching water from the tank, and threatened with
hefty fine and other punishment for disobeying him. This prompted all
dalits to desert the village, and evoked strong criticism from
religious heads and the public.

"We don't have any agricultural land, and earn our livelihood by
working under the landlords, as bonded labourers. All dalit men are
working as farm labourers, in the lands of landlords, and women are
employed as maids in their houses. Our children are also employed in
the houses of landlords. They get food grains instead of wages in
return. We have been living under fear, and the harassment has been
going on for many years," said forty-two year old Dalit Basappa Madar.

The district administration has beefed up security in the village,
after dalits staged a protest against the atrocity of the landlords.
They lodged a complaint against the culprits at Navalgund police
station. All dalit families returned to their village, after assurance
given by the officials to protect them. The police have arrested six
persons from the upper class in this connection, including main
culprit Andanigouda Patil. Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain, and SP R.
Dilip, held a meeting with the villagers and appealed to them to
maintain harmonious relations. Dr Siddalinga Swamiji of Gadag
Tontadarya Mutt visited the village, and sought punitive action
against the landlords. Consoling the dalit families, the pontiff
assured them free education and accommodation for their children.

"Dalit families can live without fear in the village, as measures have
been initiated to safeguard them. Legal action will be taken against
the guilty. All facilities of the government will also be provided to
them. Employment will be given to them under National Employment
Guarantee Scheme," DC Darpan Jain said.

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[ZESTCaste] Tension in Kalghatagi village over land issue

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubli/Tension-in-Kalghatagi-village-over-land-issue/articleshow/9640855.cms

Tension in Kalghatagi village over land issue
TNN | Aug 17, 2011, 11.37PM IST

HUBLI: Tension gripped Kadankoppa village of Kalghatagi taluk in
Dharwad district on Wednesday as a group of villagers let their cattle
feed on soya bean and tur crops raised by dalits allegedly by
encroaching gomala (grazing land).

While dalits maintained that they have been cultivating the lands
since the past 25 years and have also requested the authorities to
regularize it, the upper caste members said that it is the only patch
of land available for the cattle of two villages to graze.

Deputy commissioner Darpan Jain said that he has instructed the
tahshildar to clear the encroachments on gomala as it is meant for
pasture. He denied the dalits claim that they have been cultivating it
since many years and said it was only since the past 15 months they
have been cultivating it. He said the application which the dalits
claim to have submitted for regularization of the land in question is
for a different survey number and has nothing to do with the said
land.