Dalits Media Watch
NewsUp dates 07.07.13
Dalit parties blame govt. for failing to take timely action - The Hindu
TN police take over Ilavarasan death probe- The Hindu
Divya returns to native village with police security - The Hindu
VCK seeks judicial probe into Ilavarasan's death- The Hindu
There is no caste of criminals: CM - The Pioneer
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/there-is-no-caste-of-criminals-cm.html
Untouched area - The Hindustan Times
The Hindu
Dalit parties blame govt. for failing to take timely action
"Government should have adopted tough stand against PMK's campaign"
The two main Dalit parties in the State have said the government failed to protect the life of E. Ilavarasan, the
youth who married a woman outside his caste and was found dead in Dharmapuri two days ago.
Puthiya Tamilagam founder K. Krishnaswamy, MLA, and Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi leader Thol thirumavalavan said the government should have adopted a tough stand against the Pattali Makkal Katchi's (PMK) campaign against inter-caste marriages.
"That a marriage involving in inter-caste couple could not be saved indicates the failure of the State," Dr. Krishnasamy said in an interview to The Hindu on Saturday. Dr. Krishnasamy said the Anaithu Samudhaya Padhugapu Iyakkam, forum of non-Dalit castes, was established in the State and anti-scheduled caste feelings were fomented. This was against the Constitution and could attract action under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
The government machinery, which ought to protect the weaker sections, did nothing to prevent such a forum from spewing anti-Dalit rhetoric.
"Except for the District Collector in Madurai, none of the civil services officers saw it as a menacing law and order issue or practice of discrimination."
The forum sought to create a wedge between communities.
"The government gave a long rope to these casteist forces to function and gain a psychological impetus to oppress the SCs. If the State had taken proper action, the Dalit boy's death could have been prevented," the PT leader added.
Both the Central and State governments should have taken the inter-caste marriage seriously and should have intervened to provide asylum to the couple. Speaking to The Hindu Mr. Thirumavalavan said he felt guilty he was not able to protect Ilavarasan's life. "The whole episode, starting from the Dharmapuri anti-Dalit violence to the separation of the inter-caste couple, was orchestrated by the PMK with political motives."
The PMK took complete control of the girl's family and twisted the matter in court.
"The government which supports inter-caste marriages with financial assistance under special schemes failed
to protect the inter-caste couple."
The VCK demanded a judicial enquiry, steps to free Divya and her family from the PMK's influence and provide both the two families with family adequate police protection.
Left parties for proper inquiry
Special Correspondent from Chennai writes:
Leaders of the CPI and the CPI (M) on Saturday demanded a proper inquiry into the death Ilavarasan.
"Everyone should hang their head in shame as it had happened in a State known for its long tradition of social justice. The people of Tamil Nadu should reject the casteist forces that are responsible for Ilavarasan's death," CPI state secretary D. Pandian and CPI (M) secretary G. Ramakrishnan said in a joint press conference. Mr. Pandian said people in Dharmapuri suspected the theory of suicide and it was the government's duty to clarify their doubts through a proper inquiry. Asked whether he thought it was murder, Mr. Pandian said if it was a murder, it would mean that adequate protection was not given to Ilavarasan.
Mr. Ramakrishnan said it was immaterial whether the probe should be conducted by the CBI or a judicial commission. "What is important is a proper inquiry."
Tamil Nadu Congress president B.S. Gnanadesikan said the government had the responsibility to bring out the truth.
He said the relationship was between two individuals and the appropriation of personal issues for gaining political mileage did not augur well for society.
The Hindu
TN police take over Ilavarasan death probe
The case has been transferred from Government Railway Police to local police;
Harur DSP M. Sampath
to head team
An autopsy performed on the Dalit youth who was found dead along a railway track, has revealed that he died
of a "serious head injury," even as the probe was transferred to local police.
"The post-mortem report, which was done late last night, declared that the boy died of a serious head injury,"
police said.
However, the report does not throw light on whether the death was a case of suicide or murder, sources said, a day after the Madras High Court directed the State government to preserve till Tuesday the body of Ilavarasan, and to give his father a copy of the post-mortem report along with the video of the procedure.
olice sources said on Saturday the case was transferred from Government Railway Police to local police as per
the Tamil Nadu DGP's order.
Harur DSP M. Sampath would be the Investigation Officer and a team has been formed, sources said.
Following the High Court directive, the body is being kept at the mortuary of Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital after autopsy. The post-mortem report along with video clippings were handed over to the counsel for Ilavarasan's parents on Friday night, sources said.
Sources said Government Railway Police, who recovered the body and registered a case under section 174 of CrPC (police to inquire and report on suicide, etc), had served summons to railway personnel includingDharmapuri Station Manager S. Jayapal and the driver of the 11014 Coimbatore-Lokmanya Tilak Express train to appear by Sunday.
Political parties in the State stepped up their demand for a speedy probe into the matter.
Prohibitory orders have been clamped in Dharmapuri and armed personnel posted in sensitive areas of Naickenkottai.
Tight security is in place in the Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital premises.
The Hindu
Divya returns to native village with police security
Ilavarasan's father volunteers to get her married at his own expense
N. Divya, the woman at the centre of the tragic inter-caste marriage that ended with the death of Ilavarasan, is
back home.
She returned to her house in her native village of Sellankottai around noon on Friday, nine months after her marriage on October 8 last year.
Divya and her mother N. Thenmozhi were escorted by the police as the Madras High Court has ordered the DGP to give her protection.
Police reinforcements were posted in adequate numbers in places inhabited by both Vanniyar and Dalit population, besides pickets close to the house of Divya.
A team of psychologists from Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital along with the Superintendent of Police Asra Garg and the Dharmapuri Revenue Divisional Officer P. Menaka visited Divya's house on Saturday and counselled her as directed by the court.
Meanwhile, Ilavarasan's father, T. Elango, told reporters at the Government Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital campus that he still treated Divya as his own daughter and said his family was willing to take care of her. Depending on Divya's wish, Mr.Elangovan said he was ready to get her married again at his own expense.
He requested Divya to attend the funeral and urged the authorities to allow her. He reiterated the demand of Dalit forums for a second post-mortem, which, he said, was conducted hastily.
Meanwhile, the Ilavarasan case has been transferred to the Dharrmapuri District Police from Railway Police. D. Sampath Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Harur, has been chosen to head the investigations. Police sources told The Hinduthat an order to this effect was issued by the Director General of Police K. Ramanujam on Saturday night.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) had urged the government to constitute a special investigation team to
probe the case.
The Hindu
VCK seeks judicial probe into Ilavarasan's death
Members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) took out a silent rally here on Friday, demanding a judicial probe into the death of Dalit boy E.Ilavarasan, whose marriage with a Vanniyar girl, Divya, led to caste violence in Dharmapuri district last year.
The rally started at B.R.Ambedkar statue near Alagarkoil Road and passed through Dr.Ambedkar Road, Gandhi Museum Road and District Collector's Office Road and culminated in front of Thiruvalluvar statue.
State-level VCK functionary Inquilab said the injury marks on the body of the boy led one to believe that it was a cold-blooded murder.
VCK cadre demanded the arrest of Pattali Makkal Katchi founder S.Ramadoss, MLA J.Guru and former Union
Minister Anbumani Ramadoss for spreading anti-Dalit feelings among the public, and pointed that their pressure tactics led to the death of Ilavarasan.
Atrocities against the Scheduled Castes had increased during the last two years and there were forums which were openly spreading anti-Dalit rhetoric, Mr.Inquilab.
The VCK men demanded that the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act - 1989 needed to be strengthened to protect the vulnerable sections of the population.
District party secretaries R.Ayyankaalai, S.S.Anbazhagan and A.Chellapandian participated in the rally.
On Friday morning, members of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, Hill Tribes Association and Democratic Youth Federation of India staged a protest, demanding judicial enquiry into the death of Ilavarasan. Their other major demand was that the Tamil Nadu Government should follow reservation policy in Teacher Eligibility Tests.
The Pioneer
There is no caste of criminals: CM
http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/bhopal/there-is-no-caste-of-criminals-cm.html
Friday, 05 July 2013 | Staff Reporter | Bhopal | in Bhopal
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that there is no caste of criminals. No caste will now be called criminal in the State.
Recommendation will be sent to the Union Government to enlist 51 De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes as Schedule Tribes. Annual awards worth `1 lakh will be given for excellent work in education and social work among these 51 castes.
Chouhan was addressing De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes panchayat at his residence here on Thursday. Chouhan made a number of announcements at the mega meet held in the series of panchayats for direct dialogue with various sections of society. Minister of State for Scheduled Castes Welfare Harishankar Khatik was especially present on the occasion.
Schemes will be chalked out for better jobs and education of these castes. Schemes will be formulated in such a way that skills of these castes will be optimally utilised, Chouhan said, adding that their dignity will be restored. Meaning of social justice is that all should get share in resources.
Chouhan said that a campaign will be launched for training and employment to these castes' youths. Identity cards will be given after survey of these castes. Upto Rs 3 lakh subsidy will be given to youths belonging to De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes to set up their employment. If members of these committees are residing on government land, then its patta will be given to them.
A phased campaign will be launched to provide houses to these castes. Subsidy of Rs 70,000 each will be given under the scheme. The areas where these castes reside will be electrified. During 12th Five-Year Plan, 50 new ashram hostels will be opened for their children. The ashram hostels, which have less than 50 seats at present will be upgraded to 50-seater and those with less than 100 seats to 100-seater.
The State Government will bear the fees if children of these castes take admission in engineering, medical and dental colleges. Now, their development will be ensured through Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Castes Welfare Department. Scholarships given to these castes' children will be linked with dearness index. They will be given benefits of social security, assistance of maternity, marriage and treatment, death or injury in accident, scholarships etc. There will be 45 days' paid maternity assistance. A sum of Rs 15,000 each will be given as marriage assistance and scholarships from Class I. Assistance worth Rs 1 lakh will be provided in case of death and Rs 75,000 for permanent disability in accident.
Minister Khatik said that the State Government has constituted a new department for De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic castes' welfare, through which constant efforts are being made for their upliftment. Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Castes Agency Chairman Narayan Singh Banjara said that the State Government has set up 120 ashram hostels for these castes. He said that separate caste certificates should be made for Nomadic castes.
The Hindustan Times
Untouched area
Indrajit Hazra, Hindustan Times
June 28, 2013
Unclaimed Terrain
Ajay Navaria
NAVAYANA
Rs. 295 PP 199
The world of English language Indian fiction is, rather understandably, populated heavily by the kind of characters who do its reading — whether they be the Hinglish-speaking 21st century urban Indian or the desi cultured magpie comfortable with his or her self-description as a 'person of taste'. Matters like caste don't fit well into this narrative, and when they briefly make their way in, they tend to be cloying, maudlin and seem part of a manifesto rather than a stand-alone piece of writing that can be admired for its own sake.
Hindi writer Ajay Navaria turns the light on a set of people who don't usually figure in our English language inquiries outside newspapers and scholarly works. The actual flesh-and-blood divisions between individuals that caste identities bring is what Navaria digs into in Unclaimed Terrain.
Most of the stories deal with a character's attempts to break out of a traditional power structure. They also remind us why so many Dalits and members of other un-empowered backward castes flee the feudal choke of villages and small towns to move to cities.
In 'Scream', the protagonist leaves his village in Dantewada for the big city lights of Mumbai to pursue his studies. He becomes a masseur and then a gigolo. "For the first time I understood that labour had many meanings in the city. The very thing that made me want to die back in the village was considered 'work' here. And one got paid for it. Here, labour had value." The story ends in tragedy, and yet the reader is convinced that this tragedy is preferable to the horrors the character had left behind.
\
In the opening story, 'Sacrifice', Navaria, through a masterful narrative technique, showcases the choice of breaking out of a claustrophobic social space and staying on within caste confines. It seems a simple enough choice. But in the story, we realise how common sense and self-preservation can feed (and feed off) a sadomasochistic social system where even the 'victim' — in the story, a butcher as well as his older friend, the narrator's father — can be in denial about his 'victimhood'. Stories such as 'Sacrifice', 'Hello Premchand' and 'Subcontinent' depict lives negotiating a noxious apartheid on a daily basis. This is a world that most readers will be uncomfortable dealing with. And yet it exists, Navaria driving its existence home by locating his stories firmly in the here and now of 21st century urban India and not in some Munshi Premchand timescape.
From Laura Bruek's English translation, the reader can gather the matter-of-fact tone of the original. Navaria's language is straightforward. There are times when this can lead to a tiring flatness. But this plainness is preferable to descriptions that crop up, such as "...her eyes filled with the astonishment of orgasm". Some of the stories also seem to be overwhelmed by the message of caste cruelty, which comes in the way of what could have been a gripping read, thereby diluting the intrinsic purpose of the stories.
But there are two stories that do drive home 'the message'. In 'Tattoo', Navaria's hero is a 40-plus bureaucrat who joins a gym near Delhi's posh Khan Market. He is obsessing about his old pair of shoes hoping that no one will notice them, while also trying to keep the words 'Namo Budhhaya, Jai Bhim' tatooed on his forearm out of everybody's sight. Unlike in most of the other stories, the wit here is possible because the protagonist is not someone recalling the terrors of facing 21st century caste repression, but is an urban, successful under-caste gent shown in attempting his own notions of gentrification. 'Tattoo' works on both aesthetic and political levels perfectly.
The story that stands out in Unclaimed Terrain — the title referring to a no-man's land where people are welcomed neither by their own caste for having 'moved on' nor by the upper castes for reasons of 'tradition' — is 'Yes Sir'. Here, Navaria has an upper caste peon working under a lower caste boss.
The protoganist, who constantly grumbles about his boss' caste status and about how he got to his level because of 'reservation', sees everything through the caste filter. The end of the story drives home how comic caste identities can be — if it wasn't so utterly tragic. If this translation of Unclaimed Terrain has a virtue that needs to be applauded, it is that it brings into contemporary fiction stories of deeply entrenched casteism, a subject that many continue to consider to be politically and aesthetically untouchable for English language Indian fiction.
News Monitor by Girish Pant
--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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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.
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