From: Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC <pmarc2008@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Mar 22, 2010 at 10:35 AM
Subject: [PMARC] Dalits Media Watch - News Updates 22.03.10
To: Dalits Media Watch <PMARC@dgroups.org>
Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 22.03.10
Rise in rate of conviction in atrocity cases - The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032252160300.htm
Dalit is a Dalit even in a 'free' market - The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100322/jsp/nation/story_12246448.jsp
Dalit, tribal women narrate tales of woe - The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032261980300.htm
State Social Security Board proposed for unorganised workers -
http://www.dailypioneer.com/243836/State-Social-Security-Board-proposed-for-unorganised-workers.html
NCSC seeks report from DC, SP on Dalit atrocities - The Pioneer
http://www.dailypioneer.com/243735/NCSC-seeks-report-from-DC-SP-on-Dalit-atrocities.html
Dalits continue to be exploited: BSP - The Tribune
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100322/ldh1.htm#18
The Hindu
Rise in rate of conviction in atrocity cases
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032252160300.htm
Staff Reporter
| Minister asks police to act swiftly on complaints filed under POA Act |
238 cases were registered under the SC/ST (POA) Act in the district in 2009
House site pattas, job appointment letters given to nine victims of atrocities
Kakinada: The rate of conviction in SC and ST atrocity cases in the State has reached 22 per cent from 10 per cent last year due to proper investigations done by the departments concerned and increased awareness which enabled the aggrieved persons secure justice.
The Government has been appointing special public prosecutors in 'most sensational' and long-pending cases and guidelines were issued to increase people's understanding of the SC / ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
These measures facilitated speedy disposal of SC and ST atrocity cases, said Social Welfare Minister Pilli Subhaschandra Bose.
Addressing the Vigilance and Monitoring Committee (V&MC) meeting on SC/ST atrocity cases here on Sunday, Mr. Bose said the Act had to be implemented in letter and spirit.
The Police Department should act swiftly on complaints of atrocities and do the investigations properly to pave the way for speedy delivery of justice.
The people's representatives and all government officials should throw light on the SC/ST (POA) Act wherever it was possible to acquaint people with the legal remedies available for them.
Collector Gopalakrishna Dwivedi said 227 cases were registered under the SC/ST (POA) Act in the district in 2008. Monetary compensation amounting to Rs 23,16,250 was paid to 155 victims, 238 cases were booked in 2009 and a sum of Rs 11.35 lakh was paid as compensation to 68 persons.
Some people's representatives sought certain amendments to be made to the Act.
Their plea was conveyed to the Government. Mala Mahanadu leader Ratnakar sprang a surprise by accusing the Collector of being 'anti–Dalit' alleging that he transferred Yeleswaram tahsildar illegally. Mr. Dwivedi replied that his discretionary power to transfer the tahsildar could not be questioned. Mr. Ratnakar could express his grievance in a proper manner but not make a personal allegation against the Collector, Mr. Dwivedi said.
Later, Mr. Bose and Collector Dwivedi distributed house site pattas, house sanction documents under Indira Awas Yojana and job appointment letters to nine victims of atrocities.
Superintendent of Police Y Nagi Reddy, Zilla Parishad Chairman Ch Venugopala Krishna, ITDA project officer Ronald Ross, Additional Joint Collector B Rama Rao, MLAs K.V.V. Satyanarayana Reddy, Raja Ashok Babu and D Chandrasekhara Reddy and others participated.
The Telegraph
Dalit is a Dalit even in a 'free' market
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1100322/jsp/nation/story_12246448.jsp
RADHIKA RAMASESHAN
| DIE IS CASTE A would-be Dalit entrepreneur approaches a bank for a loan. He is While others' businesses are known by their ware or the service they provide, Dalits' shops are known by their caste name. It tends to keep away upper-caste customers Source: A JNU professor's study on first-generation Dalit entrepreneurs |
New Delhi, March 21: Caste is feudal, the market free and equal. Correct? Ask Ratan Lal Sirswal or Deepak Jatav.
Sirswal, 75, had started off as a sweeper but is now one of the oldest businessmen in Panipat, Haryana. He quit his sweeper's job once his handloom unit was on its feet. His success, he says, came largely because he hid the fact that he was born a Valmiki Dalit.
Customers who discovered his caste origins shunned him. Banks would not give loans because caste matters to them too, and Dalit entrepreneurs are too few and far between to work the system as a group like the upper castes do.
Jatav, 51, is an established footwear manufacturer in Saharanpur, western Uttar Pradesh. Even today, he says, people refer to him by a caste label whose use is a non-bailable offence under the SC/ST Act.
His non-Dalit peers, however, are respectfully called "businessmen". Upper-caste traders deal with Dalits only if they have to, he says.
Theirs are some of the testimonies included in a pioneering study on first-generation Dalit entrepreneurs by Surinder S. Jodhka for the Institute of Dalit Studies in New Delhi.
Jodhka, a sociology professor with JNU, contests the tendency of academic writings to look at caste as a "traditional system of social hierarchy and culture" that is expected to weaken and eventually get subsumed by the whirligig of development and modernisation.
"In the mainstream understanding of textbook economics, development or the market were essentially secular or socially neutral and anonymous processes. Similarly, the social science understanding of entrepreneurship has typically revolved around the notion of a rational individual operating in a supposedly free-market economy," he has written in a paper titled "Dalits in business: Self-employed Scheduled Castes in northwest India".
Jodhka's study aims to show just how "free" the market economy is for Dalits, two-thirds of whom are land-less or marginal farmers with virtually no employment or wealth-generating assets.
The sociologist, who drew his samples from industrially prosperous Panipat and Saharanpur, found that most of the Dalit entrepreneurs ventured into basic businesses such as small shop-keeping, contracts and dealerships (like gas agencies), and skilled service (like plumbing or electrician's businesses). Hardly one or two per cent were into more capital-intensive enterprises such as hotels, factories and educational institutions.
When the Dalit entrepreneurs were asked if caste mattered in the "secular" business space, a typical answer was: "They hate us; non-Dalits do not like us being in business."
A doctor in Saharanpur said upper-caste patients came to him only as a last resort.
Ram Kumar, 35, who set up a school against strong opposition in Saharanpur had to struggle to get it recognised by the education authorities. His students are drawn from among the Dalits, the most backward classes and low-caste Muslims. No landowner, Hindu or Muslim, would think of enrolling his child in Kumar's school.
Even locating the entrepreneurs was a problem for the researchers: they had to rely on local activists.
Barring one, the rest were first-generation entrepreneurs whose fathers were either unlettered or barely literate.
All of them had a problem finding space to rent.
Despite the hiccups, the study found that the Dalits' enterprises, however small, had grown — though they were reluctant to fill in the details because most of them kept no books nor filed tax returns.
Most of them also felt that economic success had helped them enter the mainstream political space.
They looked on themselves as "role models" for the community. But every one of them said that if they could, they would send their children abroad where caste did not exist.
The Hindu
Dalit, tribal women narrate tales of woe
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032261980300.htm
D.Karthikeyan
MADURAI: Dalit and tribal women narrated instances of violence, harassment, persecution, insult, discrimination at a people's tribunal for legal redress organised for them here on Saturday. A total of 24 cases presented before the panel revealed the extent of violent atrocities, including murder, sexual harassment, humiliation and trauma suffered by them in the society.
The day-long public hearing saw many Dalit and Tribal women narrating their tales of woe and a few among them were very assertive and demanded justice. The tribunal focussed on the continuing atrocities committed against Dalits despite numerous laws and other enforcing and monitoring agencies.
Divided into two sessions, the whole process right from registering a case and till the compensation is received was discussed. The practical difficulties faced by them while trying to file a complaint, delaying tactics of police and questions on medical examination were discussed.
Cases
A Dalit girl Kasiammal of Thacur village in Villupuram who was attacked and humiliated for touching a caste Hindu woman while standing in queue at the fair price shop narrated how caste Hindus who remain as the only source of employment indulge in social ostracism once Dalits resist.
One of the members who deposed was the aunt of a Dalit youth victim who was killed by a gang of armed youth following a land dispute at Aruldosspuram in Madurai. She explained how the caste Hindu group gave troubles with an intention of evicting the family forcefully finally leading to the murder. The whole family after the murder has left the area where they had lived for 30 years.
A 24-year-old Irula tribal girl, an alleged rape victim, of K. Morur village under Theevattipatti police limits in Omalur block also spoke on the discrimination meted out to her and how hospital administration and police did delaying tactics.
One of the panel members, Ramani Mathew, Human Rights Activist, observed that legal advice became quintessential and a team of dedicated legal professionals need to be made involved in cases related to Dalits. Suganthi of AIDWA shared that ownership of land remains a pertinent question when it comes to Dalits. Geetha, Advocate, Madras High Court, and Sr.Alphonsa, Dalit Rights Activist, observed that the role of a socially responsible media and civil society is important in bringing to light the injustices meted out against Dalits and Tribals.
The tribunal was organised by Evidence a non-governmental organisation based in Madurai. A. Kathir of Evidence said that untouchability and crimes against Dalits became a regular feature in the State. He also said that the recommendations of the tribunal would be sent to National Human Rights Commission, State Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
The Pioneer
State Social Security Board proposed for unorganised workers
http://www.dailypioneer.com/243836/State-Social-Security-Board-proposed-for-unorganised-workers.html
PNS | Bhubaneswar
In a bid to bring labourers working under the unorganised sector under a social security scheme, the State Cabinet on Saturday decided to frame rules "Odisha Unorganised Workers Social Security Rules, 2010." The Act provides for framing of various schemes for welfare of unorgnised workers including self-employed workers.
Talking to reporters, Chief Secretary TK Mishra said for implementation of these schemes, a board at the State-level will be constituted to be called "Odisha State Social Security Board" under the chairmanship of Minister for Labour and Employment with the department secretary as Member Secretary. The Board will have 28 members to be nominated by Government from different sectors. The scheme may be funded wholly by the State Government or partly by the State Government, partly by the contributions of beneficiaries and of the employers as may be prescribed in the scheme and Central Government may also contribute.
The Board will look into the issue of provident fund, employment injury benefit, housing, education schemes for children, skill upgradation of workers, funeral assistance and old age home (not exhaustive).
The Pioneer
NCSC seeks report from DC, SP on Dalit atrocities
http://www.dailypioneer.com/243735/NCSC-seeks-report-from-DC-SP-on-Dalit-atrocities.html
Pioneer News Service | Kendrapada
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) has directed the District Collector and the SP of Kendrapada to submit a detailed inquiry report within a week on the atrocities of upper caste against the Dalit of Karandiapatana Jenasahi village in Marshaghai block of the district.
The direction of NCSC reached the DM's office on Wednesday, informed official sources. The direction was issued by deputy director of NCSC of Kolkata SK Kaskar after Prasanta Mallick of the Orissa Dalit Adhikar Manch of Bhubaneswar filed a petition before the NCSC, informed official sources.
Mallick in his petition alleged that at least 23 Dalit, including women and children, suffered injuries and property worth lakhs was damaged in the brutal attack on Dalit by upper caste people at village Karandiapatana under Patkura police station on February 18. Some upper caste persons also allegedly molested the womenfolk during their reign of hooliganism.
Dalit leader also alleged that the district administration and the police are shielding criminals who attacked the Dalit in the village. He urged NCSC to intervene in the matter by directing the district administration to take immediate action under SC and ST (Prevention on Atrocity) Act, 1989 so that the culprits shall be nabbed under the law. The leaders also urged the NCSC to direct the police take necessary steps to provide protection to victim to feel free to return to their houses fearlessly who left and they should feel free to return to their houses fearlessly.
When contacted, DM Sisir Kanta Panda admitted that a letter has reached his office and the NCSC directed the district administration to submit a detailed report of what steps the administration had taken after the incidents. He further said the police have put 10 upper caste persons behind the bars in this case.
And all the necessary steps including police deployment have been made to pacify the situation and to bring the situation under normalcy in the affected village.
The Tribune
Dalits continue to be exploited: BSP
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2010/20100322/ldh1.htm#18
Our Correspondent
Ludhiana, March 21 The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has charged both the Congress-led UPA government at Centre and the SAD-BJP government in Punjab with exploiting the Dalits and the poor even after 63 years of Independence.
Presiding over a party meeting here today, state unit general secretary of the BSP Ramanjit Lally alleged that the Dalits and the other under-privileged sections of the society were facing social, religious, economic and political exploitation. He said all major political parties, including the BJP, were least bothered about the economic upliftment of the Dalits, who were treated as a significant vote bank.
Lally said: "The poor continue to suffer under the burden of inflation, economic disparity is further widening and even basic needs like two square meals and civic amenities are not available to a majority of the people both in villages and towns."
Targeting the SAD-BJP government with pursuing a similar "anti-poor" and "anti-Dalit" agenda, the BSP leader said the state, which was in the forefront in development activities, had lagged behind. The development had been reduced to newspaper advertisements. To make the matters worse, unemployment among the educated youth had become rampant and even those members of the Dalit community, who were in government jobs, were being discriminated against. He claimed that BSP president and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati had launched several welfare schemes for the empowerment of the Dalits and the poor. The party was committed to put the caste-based discrimination to an end wherever it came into power.
--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
..................................................................
Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.
Visit web site | Reply to sender | Click here to unsubscribe
The email is intended only for the recipients. The owners of the Dgroups cannot be held responsible for the contents of the email message.
No comments:
Post a Comment