90 of 165 SC/ST students return to hostel
PTI | 01:12 PM,Dec 07,2011
Rayagada (Odisha), Dec 7 (PTI) At least 90 of the 165 inmates of government-run 'Sevasram' school in Maoist-hit and tribal-dominated Rayagada district of Odisha, who had fled alleging neglect by authorities, have returned, official sources said today. "165 boy students of the Sevasram at Dangasurada had left their hostel on Sunday evening. However, 90 of them have returned to hostel last night", district welfare officer Damodar Meher said today. Of the total 326 students from Class I to Class X in the school there were 205 boys and 121 girls. Of them, 165 boys and 100 girls were put up in the school hostel. The students alleged they had written several times to the authorities seeking quick steps to solve their problems but it had fallen on deaf ears. Apparently peeved over the alleged neglect like lack of basic amenities, the students put up posters on the school walls and nearby places before leaving the hostel. Their problems included alleged lack of sanitation and drinking water facility in the hostel leading to health hazards, inadequate teaching staff, non-payment of pocket money, incomplete hostel building for girl students and non-cooperation and misbehaviour of the staff. The students had drawn the attention of the district collector, sub-collector and block development officer besides the DWO to their problems, Meher said. The additional district welfare officer (ADWO) and local welfare extension officer (WEO) had gone to the spot to inquire into the matter, Meher said, hoping the remaining 75 students would also return soon.
IBN Live
No anticipatory bail in SC/ST atrocity case: Guj HC
PTI | 08:12 PM,Dec 06,2011
Ahmedabad, Dec 6 (PTI) A division bench of Gujarat High Court has ruled that any person accused of committing atrocity against people belonging to scheduled castes/tribes, cannot legally seek anticipatory bail. The division bench of Justice A L Dave and Justice Bankim N Mehta has further ruled that a court cannot grant such persons anticipatory bail in view of specific bar under Section 18 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The court passed the ruling last week while deciding on a crucial question referred to it by a single judge, whether provisions contained in Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 imposes a bar on a person's right to anticipatory bail. "Once a provision of law enacted by Legislature is held to be not unconstitutional or not violative of Article 21 of the Constitution, the same stands on statute book and has to be read as it is and court while interpreting the same, cannot read what is not provided for in the provision nor can it ignore what is provided for in the provision," the division bench ruled. "A person who is facing accusation of having committed an offence under the Atrocities Act, cannot legally invoke provisions of Section-438 of the CrPC in view of specific bar contained under Section-18 of the Atrocities Act and a court cannot grant anticipatory bail to a person accused of having committed an offence," it added.
India Today
AIIMS ambiguous on quota backlog
The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has been furnishing ambiguous replies in response to RTI applications on the vacant reserved category posts backlog.
In an answer to a query in August 2011, the institute said there was no backlog of vacant posts for SC, ST and other backward classes. But in a October 2011 reply, the institute has admitted that there are 93 backlog posts for SC, ST and OBCs which are vacant.
The institute, in an advertisement for the posts of assistant professors, did not take into account the backlog of vacant seats. It had advertised for 102 posts of assistant professors of which 57 were in the unreserved category, 33 were reserved for other backward classes, 10 were reserved for SC and two were reserved for ST.
Doctors from a group called Forum for Rights and Equality said even in the advertisement the institute did not follow the reservation policy properly since unreserved seats should have been around 53.
"While reservation for other backward classes is more than 27 per cent , that for SC and STs is less than their quota for 15 per cent and 7.5 per cent respectively. If one is to believe that OBC number is more due to implementation of backlog, then what about SC and ST backlog. Has it been done to deny them quota benefit?" a member of the forum asked.
The forum has written to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes on this.
The Hindu
Made Snana: Dalits slam police for 'failing to prevent attack'
Special Correspondent
They seek a ban on the annual ritual, condemn attack on Shivaramu
People of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes at a meeting with Dakshina Kannada Superintendent of Police here on Sunday, said the Government should ban the three-day annual made snana, a religious ritual, at Kukke Subrahmanya temple.
It was a ritual of people rolling on left over food consumed by Brahmins on plantain leaves to fulfil a vow.
The participants at the meeting alleged that the attack on K.S. Shivaramu, leader of a backward classes forum at the temple town, on November 30, was pre-planned.
Condemning the attack, they demanded Superintendent of Police Labhu Ram to take action against erring police officials who “failed to prevent the attack”.
They questioned the temple administration reportedly of extending a hero's welcome to the assailants upon their release on bail when they returned to the temple on Friday. The assailants were said to be members of Malekudiya community, a Scheduled Tribe.
The speakers said that some forces were attempting to divide Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes people and making them fight among themselves. Malekudiya people were innocent and had fallen to the designs of such forces, they said.
L. Shekar, president, Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti, Belthangady taluk, alleged that a sub-inspector of police and a police inspector who had escorted Mr. Shivaramu, president, Karnataka Rajya Hindulida Vargagala Jagruta Vedike, failed to prevent the attack. He said that action should be taken against Nagaraju, Deputy Superintendent of Police, who reportedly used abusive language against Mr. Shivaramu.
Mr. Shekar questioned why Brahmins should be served separate lunch at the temple. Criticising it, he said that if it continued people from other castes would sit with them next year.
S.P. Anand, organising secretary, Dalit Sangarsha Samiti (Ambedkar Vada), Dakshina Kannada, and P. Keshava, convener, Dalit Sangarsha Samiti (Bheema Vada), Dakshina Kannada, questioned the alleged inaction of police on the spot during the attack. They alleged that the attack was planned.
Mr. Ram said the Additional Superintendent of Police Prabhakara was conducting an inquiry into the allegations against the Dy. SP. The Superintendent of Police insisted the police did not anticipate an attack and managed to rescue Mr. Shivaramu from the assailants.
DNA
GenNext Dalits want economic empowerment
Published: Wednesday, Dec 7, 2011, 8:38 IST
By Shubhangi Khapre | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
The massive Dalit conglomeration at Shivaji Park for the 55th death anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar mirrored the pragmatic approach to life with the GenerationNext stressing on economic empowerment.
“I am no longer a prisoner of communal and secular politics. What is weighing on my mind is economic empowerment. Even our peers are less nagging and allow us political independence,” said 18-year-old Kishore Gaikwad.
Gaikwad and 20 others from Nashik made the annual pilgrimage to Chaityabhoomi for Mahaparinirvan Din.
The faction-ridden Dalit organisations no longer provide the same emotive attraction to the youngsters whose aspire for self reliance.
“There is no denying that self reliance among Dalits will come through economic empowerment. How long are we going to be at the mercy of the government and private sectors to provide us opportunities through reservations? If individuals transform into small entrepreneurs, Dalits will soon become job givers and not job seekers,” said Milind Kamble, chairman, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industries (DICCI).
“In Maharashtra, 400 members are registered with the DICCI and their annual turnover is around Rs5,000 crore. There are 2,000 others who will be made members.”
There are 30 crore Dalits in India and 15 crore are empowered to make a few purchases from the market, pointed out Kamble. This means, individual Dalit entrepreneurs already have a ready market to exploit.
Until a few years ago, there would be a few vendors selling books and pamphlets on Ambedkar near Chaityabhoomi. On Tuesday, there were stalls selling a variety of products — clothes, furniture, kitchenware and Ambedkar statues.
“There has been a drastic change in the last 15 years. Earlier, a majority of the stalls were related to health check-ups. Now, individual Dalits have set up stalls and generate awareness about social and economic issues,” said Dr Tusshar Jagtap, a Dalit activist.
“December 6 is no longer politically dominated... To some extent it has become a people’s movement who are looking for the right answers and confronting the new socio-economic challenges in society.”
DNA
Mumbai: 800 Dalits ‘capture’ mill land
Published: Wednesday, Dec 7, 2011, 8:40 IST
By DNA Correspondent | Place: Mumbai | Agency: DNA
The choice of the day was no coincidence. Around 800 activists of the Republican Sena stormed the premises of the Indu Mill in central Mumbai on Tuesday, on the occasion of BR Ambedkar’s 55th Mahaparinirvan Din, and captured the land to build a memorial for their Dalit leader.
The mob was led by Ambedkar’s grandson Anandraj Ambedkar, who had issued a notice on December 1 claiming that if the government failed to hand over the plot for a memorial, the land would be captured. The activists carried statues of Ambedkar and Gautam Buddha on the premises.
The administration, which knew that trouble was brewing, had asked for a posse of police personnel around the mill. But the activists broke down the barricades.
“We had warned the administration. Now since we have got hold of the land, we will set up a Buddhist vihar, where more than 100 monks will perform prayers,” said Anandraj Ambedkar.
But the move didn’t go down well with all Dalit leaders. Vijay Kamble of Samata Manch, who is on a fast for the same demand, criticised the forceful acquisition of the mill land, saying the action is against Ambedkar’s ideology. “Babasaheb wrote the constitution of the country and his followers only tried to violate the constitution,” he said.
Gautam Sonawane, president of the Mumbai of Republican Party of India assured of his party’s support to the demand for a memorial on the plot. “Our party will undertake a morcha on December 13 for this demand. Every person who is a follower of DrBabasaheb Ambedkar supports this demand, which cuts across party differences,” he said.
Chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said the Central government, which owns the plot, alone can take a call on granting permission for a memorial there.
The clamour for allotting about 1,250 acres of land for the Ambedkar memorial has been growing over the last several years. Dalit leaders allege that the state and Central governments are passing the buck and have put the issue in cold storage.
IBN Live
Girl, father booked for murdering Dalit youth
http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/girl-father-booked-for-murdering-dalit-youth/922410.html
PTI | 08:12 PM,Dec 05,2011
PTI | 08:12 PM,Dec 05,2011
Phagwara (Pb), Dec 5 (PTI) A case of murder has been registered against a girl and her father here for allegedly killing a Dalit youth, police said. The girl Jaspreet Kaur, her father, a former
sarpanch and four of their relatives were booked yesterday on the complaint of the victim's brother Kulwinder Singh, SHO Shiv Kanwal Singh said. The victim Harvinder, a Dalit youth, was in love with Kaur, an upper caste girl and both studied in the same college Domeli
village, police said. Kulwinder alleged that Harvinder was called to Kaur's residence in Sahni village on November 30 and murdered, they said. The case has been filed under Sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC
and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. However, no arrests have been made in the case so far, the SHO said, adding that a country-made weapon has been recovered. Police had earlier said that the youth shot himself dead after attacking Kaur at her residence.
sarpanch and four of their relatives were booked yesterday on the complaint of the victim's brother Kulwinder Singh, SHO Shiv Kanwal Singh said. The victim Harvinder, a Dalit youth, was in love with Kaur, an upper caste girl and both studied in the same college Domeli
village, police said. Kulwinder alleged that Harvinder was called to Kaur's residence in Sahni village on November 30 and murdered, they said. The case has been filed under Sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the IPC
and Sections 25 and 27 of the Arms Act. However, no arrests have been made in the case so far, the SHO said, adding that a country-made weapon has been recovered. Police had earlier said that the youth shot himself dead after attacking Kaur at her residence.
IBN Live
Dalit GP member, 2 others attacked
http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-gp-member-2-others-attacked/209230-60-115.html
Karnataka | Posted on Dec 06, 2011 at 11:25am IST
Karnataka | Posted on Dec 06, 2011 at 11:25am IST
indianexpress Express News Service , The New Indian Express
MYSORE: Tension gripped Kanagana Maradi village in Pandavapura taluk when upper caste youths attacked Dalits, injuring a Village Panchayat member and a few others, over a trivial issue on Sunday night.
Injured Village Panchayat member Savithramma, youths Manoj and Prashanth have been admitted to the government hospital in Pandavapura.
Some upper caste youths picked up a quarrel when they noticed Dalits seated close to upper caste to watch a circus performed at the junction of the village.
When a few Dalits raised objections for directing them to keep a distance from upper caste in public places, the upper caste men thrashed Dalits and chased them away.
The Kanagana Maradi village has 40 Dalit families, who worked as agriculture labourers. It is also said that upper caste people were unhappy as a few Dalit youths demanded entry into Akantheshwara temple funded by Muzari department. Meanwhile, additional police force has
been deployed in the village to defuse tension and ensure protection to Dalit families.
been deployed in the village to defuse tension and ensure protection to Dalit families.
Tahsildar Shivanand Murthy, DSP Kala Krishna, Circle Inspector LakshmeGowda and others visited the village and held talks with both the factions.
They have held one more round of talks and appealed to the villagers
to bury their differences and lead a peaceful life.
to bury their differences and lead a peaceful life.
Deccan Herald
‘Educated Dalits have failed to help community’
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/209617/educated-dalits-have-failed-help.html
Mysore, Dec 5, DHNS:
Mysore, Dec 5, DHNS:
Former minister B?Somashekar bemoaned that the social set-up hadn’t undergone much change during the last six decades.
Furthermore, he expressed his angst at the lack of initiative among educated Dalits in taking thier community forward.
He was speaking at a discussion on the role of Dalits in Indian politics to mark 55th Mahaparinirvana of Dr B R?Ambedkar at the EMMRC auditorium in the city on Monday.
Urging the younger populace to introspect, he said Dalits have been given the constitution to ensure equality. But, Dalits have always failed to respect people from their own community.
Instead, they seek the advise of others, which has caused them failure in both political and socio-economic fronts. Expressing his opinion, Somashekar said, “If Baba Saheb was living now and looking at the large number of Dalits, who are educated, he would have committed
suicide, as they are failing to help their community as a whole.
suicide, as they are failing to help their community as a whole.
Instead they are doing things only for personal gain. Doing personal favours won’t help the community. Only those who do for the community can make some changes.”
He said the Dalit community has been given a sizeable weapon in the form of the ballot to fight inequality. But, Dalit leaders are failing to seize the opportunity. They are more intent on breaking the united strength of the community. “Our votes have a price, but have no value... Dalits always listen to others and never care for the words of their own leaders,” he added.
Dr B?R?Ambedkar Research and Extension Centre director Dr J?Somashekar and student V?Suresh were also present.
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