It is a birth anniversary Ambedkar today - the man who stood up steadfastly for
human dignity - yet the caste system continues to haunt Goa. One of the latest
examples is that of Thoklo Parwar, sweeper in Navodaya Vidyalaya in Valpoi,
Sattari, Goa. He is a Dalit and higher Caste Principal of the institution have
tortured him cruelly. Goa's well known Dalit Marathi Writer, Poet and
Photographer Dadu Mandrekar took up his cause along with the Dalit organisation
YUGNAYAK. Police are also collaborating with the school Pricipal on this count
and even though Thoklo had filed complaint on March 11 2008 Valpoi Police
Station has not registered the case till date. YUGNAYAK too has written to the
Valpoi PI for taking of speedy action but to no avail. Trupti Thoklo Parwar has
written to Goa State Women's Commision in this regard. Posting you these
documents.
Any feedback or support my be communicated directly to Dadu Mandrekar at his
mobile 09423058881.
From: Smt. Trupti Thoklo Parmar,
Thane, Sattari, Goa.
To
Chairperson,
State Women's Commission,
Panaji, Goa.
Date: 12th April 2008
Subject: Harassment and mental torture to my husband Thoklo Parwar, and
devastation of our lives and home.
Dear Madam,
My husband is working in Navodaya Vidyalaya, Valpoi for last 14 years as
sweeper-cum-Chowkidar. His daily schedule for the past 14 years is to clean
latrines in the morning session and in the afternoon he performs duty as
Chowkidar.
With institution getting expanded with 32 latrines and 26 bathrooms with
several more urinals and verandahs. Thoklo has to clean all this daily. In
spite of performing his duties honestly and sincerely, his work was never
appreciated by the Institution. On the contrary he was repeatedly served with
memos with dire warnings of taking action under CC rules. Intention of Memos
was not to rectify his mistakes if committed but to mentally torture and harass
him.
Several times he urged the Institution as well as to the deputy commissioner
based in Pune not to issue him such kind of memos as he is totally illiterate
and get the work done in amicable manner. But none of his requests were heeded
to neither by the Institution nor by deputy commissioner in Pune. Instead
deputy commissioner has given free hand to the institution head to torture and
take whatever action as per the whims and fancies of the Institution head.
He was left with no authority favorable to his requests.
Further without any of his faults he was transferred from Valpoi, Goa State to
thousands of kilometers away to Rajkot, Gujarat. The Valpoi institution
officially informed the Rajkot Institution about Thoklo. Consequently they too
frequently issued him memos, and to get replies to each of them he used to
visit Goa from his contacts because there was no one to help him with drafting
replies to memos. He was completely isolated there as the language as well as
the surrounding was unfamiliar. His salary was between 3000 to 4000 rupees. All
his salary was getting exhausted on his travels alone leaving nothing for home
expenses. Deputy commissioner's office was merciless and cruel towards Thoklo
and his family.
The present situation after transfer to Goa is worse than this as the present
in-charge of the institution has caused immense insults and torture and issued
several memos without any cause. When we were completing 60 years of our
independence Thoklo was not even treated as a dignified citizen of India by the
Principal of the institution and served dire warning in writing threatening to
action against him under CC conduct rule. Deadline for reply was 14th August
2007.
In response to this warning memo of 14th August 2007 he has given detail reply
and requested the principal to treat him like his younger brother and get the
work done from him. This too had no effect and memos have continued to rain
down from principal's office to Thoklo.
The present Principal forcefully allotted residential quarters to him even
though his house is near 8 kilometers from the place of work with very good
transport facility. Monthly deduction for this purpose is Rs.1000/- from his
salary without taking possession of the quarters. This is a great injustice to
us.
With this harassment my husband is mentally devastated, my whole family
including my blind very old mother mother-in-law, my very small child of one
year who is not healthy, and my mental health has devastated. I cannot bear
these circumstances hence forth. This situation has arisen only because of
negligence of deputy commissioner's office in Pune.
With this background I would like to request you to kindly investigate this
whole matter impartially at your level and help to stabilize my home and my
family again.
Hope to receive your positive reply as early as possible.
Yours faithfully,
Sd/-
( Smt. Trupti Thoklo Parwar)
Copy to
Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson, UPA Government, New Delhi.
Bailancho Saad, Panjim, Goa.
Bailancho Ekvott, Margao, Goa.
Akhil Bharatiya Mahila Parishad, Panaji, Goa
Minister for Child and Women's Welfare, Secretariate, Panaji, Goa.
Human Resource Development Ministry, New Delhi.
Deputy Commisioner, Pune
Pricipal, Navodaya Vidyalaya, Valpoi.
Yugnayak, Assagao, Bardez, Goa.
Citizens for Civil Liberty and Democratic Rights (CCLDR), Mapusa, Goa.
National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi.
Chief Secretary, Porvorim, Goa.
Babu Azgaonkar, Minister for Panchayat and representative of Backward
Communitites.
To,
The Director General of Police,
Police headquarters,
Panjim, Goa.
Date: 11th April 2008
Subject: Grave atrocity offence prolonged by police inaction by officers in
charge and Complaint against Valpoi Police Station Police Inspector Vaingankar.
Sir,
Here with I wish to bring to your kind notice atrocity offence occurred in
Navodaya Vidalaya, Valpoi which complaint lodged against the Principal of that
Institute Mr. S. Chandra Shekaran under Civil Protection Act on 10th March
2008. Instead till date Valpoi Police station has not registered the compliant
and the in-charge of the said Police Station PI Vaigankar has colluded with the
Principal by giving over one month to the culprit to destroy the evidence.
Consequently Mr. Thoklo Parwar who is working with that Institution as a
sweeper cum Chowkidar and who is a sole victim of this tyranny of Principal who
sought help of Police continues to be further victimized and harassed by the
principal. All this is happening precisely because Police inaction and
dereliction of duty by Valpoi police station.
Please treat this matter as of utmost urgent and important as this case is the
sole violation of Article 14 of constitution of India and Valpoi Police Station
has absolutely violated the Civil Protection Act.
So I request you to register this case immediately and arrest the culprit who
is a Principal of that Institution. Further we demand that action be taken
against Valpoi Police Station PI for giving sufficient time to destroy the
evidence to the culprit. And conduct the inquiry of this matter at your level.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
sd/-
Dadu Mandrekar
To,
The Director General of Police,
Police headquarters,
Panjim, Goa.
Date: 12th April 2008
Rejoinder to my letter dated 11th April 2008 on the below mentioned subject.
Subject: Grave atrocity offence prolonged by police inaction by officers in
charge and Complaint against Valpoi Police Station Police Inspector Vaingankar.
Sir,
I would like to highlight one grave incident on the above mentioned subject.
As far as my knowledge is concerned Mr. Suhas Bandodkar is working with this
Institution as an OS whose position is next to Principal of this Institution.
He is a sole witness of this tyranny of Principal and he knew all detail facts
and function.
On 7th March 2008, the day on which Principal committed atrocities against
Thoklo Parwar in his cabin along with other persons; Suhas Bandodkar could have
been a possible witness of this case. The Principal in order to prevent him
from deposing as witness, along with other persons conspired to transfer him
immediately from this institution. And successfully misguided higher
authorities and got Suhas Bandodkar transferred from this Institute to out of
Goa 10 days after this incident after Thoklo lodged complaint at Valpoi Police
station.
Principal succeeded in this conspiracy only because of negligence and
dereliction of duty of Valpoi police Station in registering the case under
Civil Rights Act.
Apparently with this way of functioning Valpoi Police Station is least bothered
about the Principle of Justice laid down in our Constitution.
Hence I request Mr. Suhas Bandodkar may be called immediately in this
institution and may record his full statement about this incident and the total
Thoklo's matter. As an OS he knows each and every fact in this case.
Thanking you,
Yours truly,
sd/-
Dadu Mandrekar
_________________________________________________________________
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