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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Fwd: File - Tell us a bit about you

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Malarvizhi Jayanth <malar.jayanth@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, May 25, 2011 at 2:46 AM
Subject: Re: File - Tell us a bit about you
To: ZESTCaste Moderator <ZESTCaste-owner@yahoogroups.com>

Hello,
This is Malarvizhi here. I am a former journalist and editor based in
Chennai who is hoping to start research soon.
I curate a blog for personal narratives of caste at
http://writingcaste.wordpress.com
I'm hoping to participate in discussions about caste and receive
updates about such discussions through this group.
Warmly,
Malar

On Wed, May 25, 2011 at 2:39 AM, ZESTCaste Moderator
<ZESTCaste-owner@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
> Hi,
>
> Thanks for joining ZESTCaste. Do tell us a bit about you.
>
> best
> siddhartha kumar
>

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Tuesday, May 24, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Letters to the Editor sent to WEEK, THE - Poverty debates and NAC revisited by Ranjani Kamala Murthy

http://www.publishaletter.com/readletter.jsp?plid=28023

Dear Editor:

As news of National Advisory committee members critique that Rs 20 per day (urban areas) and Rs 15 per day (rural areas) per capita is not enough rightly hits the headlines and Supreme court backing them, it is time to visit poverty line debates and underpinning strategies (www.hindustantimes.com/NAC-members...poverty.../Article1-701079.asp), and deepen this useful critique.

UN statistics shows that 42% of India lives below $1 PPP, poorest quintile share in national consumption is a mere 8% , 48% of children under 5 are severely or moderately underweight in 2005 (latest year for which stats are available-http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx). Yes re-looking at poverty line is necessary, keeping in mind that the poor should get basic services- food, nutrition, child care, education- of same quality as rich. Any differential access has to stop.

In addition, it has to be kept in mind that specific barriers exist for POOR dalit, (whatever religion), adivasi, women, Muslims, women headed households, slum dwellers, migrant laborers, domestic and other unorganised workers, differently abled, people of diverse sexual and gender identities etc to access basic needs and be free of discrimination. For them not only poverty line needs to be higher, but issues of discrimination need to be addressed.

Further, 51.4% of employed people are living below $1 per day (http://unstats.un.org/unsd/mdg/Data.aspx). MNREGS and SGSY (self employment) and SGSRY (SGSY equivalent in urban areas) even if well implemented and without discrimination are not going to solve the problems, unless adequate agriculture land, forest and, coast is left for sustainable livelihood and food/nutritional security, destructive development projects are stopped, MREGS is linked to provision for land for above groups (and land reform is implemented) and there is an income/asset ceiling till poverty and malnutrition is eliminated. PDS should distribute not only rice, wheat and pulses, but also ragi, barely, bajra, maize and millets, which are more nutritious and will support dry land agriculture. Majority of India is under dry land agriculture

With due respect to existing NAC members,

HALF OF THE NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHOULD BE PEOPLE FROM MARGINALISED GROUPS LISTED ABOVE, BUT BELOW THE POVERTY LINE. They may be less "educated" and air a few "non politically correct views" (example, how will I marry my daughter) but they are also wise. For over the last one year listening to them and people who work closely with them I have corrected my views.

ranjani

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[ZESTCaste] amma, amma, amma

Dear all

>
> Waiting to see what Jayalitha delivers apart from gold for dowry, promoting marriages through marriage assistance and promoting women's pregnancy.
>
> will she deliver on justice???
>
> ranjani

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[ZESTCaste] revisiting HDI index

Dear All

alteast at SAARC and Indian level we need to push for reworking on indicators bycaste and other aspects of diversity. i have done it at global..

i have not parroted caste everywhere, except once.. but it is central.

I frankly do not think it will be accepted

ranjani

____________________________________________________________

http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/699/showCommentModule:1

Please join this debate on economist

Dear Madam/Sir

It is nice that majority feel that new indices for economic and social progress are required.
If Human Development Index- used by UN system has to be reworked on- and neither is GNP per capita adequate, what could be the alternative

If we could think of indicators of "ends" (what we finally want) and "means" (means of getting there) it would be good (Kabeer and Murthy, 1996*). Some random thoughts on this

Ends:

- % malnourished across class, caste, race, sex, age, migrant/non migrant, rural/urban, slums/non slums, sexual and gender identity, different abilities etc
- healthy life expectancy (life expectancy is in adequate)- again across diversity
- education attainment (not enrolment) and actual ability to read, write etc across above aspects of diversity
- % reporting able to sleep without worry across above aspects of diversity
- % reporting freedom from violence across various aspects of diversity
- % holding justice related values on different aspects of diversity

Means

- per capita productive asset base of the country- land, forest, oceans, water, minerals etc. and indicators of diversification of productive assets on which the economy is dependent.
- indicators of distribution of diversified productive assets across various aspects of diversity
- productivity indicators of assets and labour power in different sectors. Predictions for now and future.
- indicators of what people can exchange produce and labour power for (PPP) in terms of income/prices/wages etc across diversity
- workers stake in production (can we have some indicator on this) across diversity
- equity in access to health, education, child care, water, housing etc. in terms of access, quality, waiting time, costs etc across diversity
- education to employment conversion ratio across diversity
- equity in work load sharing between women and men and across other aspects of diversity
- equity in access to holidays across different aspects of diversity

Already HDI has attempted class and gender adjustment, but not the others.

with kind regards

Ranjani Kamala Murthy

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[ZESTCaste] Dalits allege discrimination

http://www.hindu.com/2011/05/24/stories/2011052452410300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Madurai

Dalits allege discrimination

Staff Reporter

MADURAI: Dalits of Karadipatti near Tirupparankundram in Madurai have
alleged that they are not allowed to use the common water tank in the
village cemetery and, if used, they are subjected to verbal abuse and
discrimination.

Jeyaneedhi, Charanraj, Virumaandi of Ambedkar Street in Karadipatti
submitted a petition to the Collector here on Monday on the alleged
practices of discrimination against them by caste Hindus in the
village.

One of the alleged victims, Jayaneedhi, said that there were two
cemeteries in the village for caste Hindus and Dalits respectively.
But there was only one water tank located near the cemetery of the
caste Hindus and whenever the Dalits tried to use it they were either
prevented or abused.

On May 19, three Dalit youngsters, who went to take bath, were
intercepted by a group of caste Hindus stating that the tank was meant
for them and not for Dalits. However, the Dalit youth defied them and
took bath. But they were repeatedly abused for two days.

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Wednesday, May 25, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Fwd: File - Tell us a bit about you

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

[ZESTCaste] Letters to the Editor sent to WEEK, THE - Poverty debates and NAC revisited by Ranjani Kamala Murthy

[ZESTCaste] amma, amma, amma

[ZESTCaste] revisiting HDI index

[ZESTCaste] Dalits allege discrimination

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