NCDHR is an Advocacy Platform committed for Dalit Human Rights at the Grass root, National and International levels. Dalits In News aims at sensitizing Civil societies, HR Mechanisms and providing updates of HR violations on Dalits for their Intervention.
NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON DALIT HUMAN RIGHTS NCDHR Dalits In News Thursday, July 27, 2006 The Pioneer Govt mulls changes for quota in private sector Agencies | New Delhi The Government is considering suggestions from legal experts that a constitutional amendment would be required to introduce reservation in the private sector, the Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday. A Group of Ministers (GoM), constituted to look into how the private sector can contribute to affirmative action, had discussed the matter with four major industry associations and also obtained opinions of three legal luminaries, Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Meira Kumar said in a reply. While the industry associations favoured affirmative action, they were against reservations, she said. http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Pioneer/400x60/0 The Hindu-TN Retired High Court judge to probe Sirudhavoor land issue Special Correspondent K.P. Sivasubramaniam will submit a report within two months CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Wednesday informed the Assembly that a Commission of inquiry headed by retired judge of the Madras High Court, K.P. Sivasubramaniam, would probe the Sirudhavoor land issue and submit a report within two months. Dalits and landless labourers belonging to the village have been agitating for the past 15 days seeking restoration of 53 acres of land, which, they alleged, had been usurped by influential persons. The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and some Dalit outfits are supporting the villagers. In a suo motu statement, Mr. Karunanidhi said the Commission would examine the following issues: whether the land was grabbed; if the land was grabbed, then who were the encroachers; had any change of title taken place; if this had happened, was it valid and had there been misuse of authority in the process; whether it was government poramboke land. Once the inquiry was completed and the report given to him, it would be considered and appropriate orders issued. Karunanidhi briefed Mr. Karunanidhi said that the affected people and CPI (M) leaders had come in a procession and met him on Wednesday morning. They presented a detailed description of the land they had lost. He said it was the then Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai who gave the land to the Dalits and landless labourers in 1967. It had been brought to the Government's notice that subsequently, the land was transferred to others using false documents. Leaders of the CPI (M), the Communist Party of India, the Pattali Makkal Katchi and the Congress welcomed the setting up of the Commission. This evoked protests from the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam members, who said there could be no discussion on a suo motu statement. Electricity Minister Arcot N.Veerasamy clarified that the members had only thanked the Chief Minister and there was no discussion. The Chief Minister had not named anyone in his statement. He wanted to know why the AIADMK members were getting worked up over the issue. http://www.hindu.com/2006/07/27/stories/2006072715930100.htm CNN-IBN India Inc presents quota alternative New Delhi: A committee set up by two major business chambers has said no to the Government's proposal for any quota system in the private sector. The Irani Committee on Affirmative Action, set up by CII and Assocham, has prepared a report on affirmative action which opposes any law that curtails organisations' freedom of employment. A copy of the report, which is available with CNN-IBN, is silent on job quotas. It says the freedom to employ and the competitiveness of enterprise is non-negotiable. The report has proposed seven sops to help dalits and other disadvantaged groups to attain employability, but says that the initiatives will be "voluntary" and "self regulated". CII will have an ombudsman and ASSOCHAM an oversight council to oversee the implementation of the initiatives. The companies will also make a disclosure of their progress in their annual report. Some of the initiatives include setting up of coaching centres for 10,000 dalit students in universities, 50 scholarships in premier institutes like the IIT and IIM. It has also proposed tying up with NGO's to improve schools in 104 dalit districts and collection of an education cess to fund the programmes. CII-Assocham SC/ST Report * Proposes steps to help dalits with jobs, employability * Presented to PM, Social Justice Minister * Does not cover OBCs, creamy layer * Opposes any law that erodes freedom to employ * Says freedom to employ, competitiveness of enterprise non-negotiable * Silent on job quotas in private industry * Omits law to outlaw workplace discrimination as proposed in draft * Proposes code of conduct to be observed from October * Initiatives to be voluntary, self-regulated * CII to have ombudsman, Assocham an oversight council * Large firms to help create 100 SC/ST entrepreneurs in first year * Coaching centres to be set up in 10 universities for 10,000 students * Ten entrance exam coaching centres to be set up for 5,000 students * Fifty scholarships for IITs, IIMs * Education cess to focused on schools in 104 dalit districts * Alliance with NGOs to improve schools in 104 dalit districts * Disclosure to be made in annual reports http://www.ibnlive.com/news/india-inc-presents-own-quota-system/16794-3.html newkerala.com Industry leaders meet PM on job reservation in pvt sector New Delhi: Outlining the affirmative action that it was willing to take for empowering the socially underprivileged, captains of Indian industry have submitted a plan of action to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh but opposed any law to impose job quotas in the private sector. CII President R Seshasayee, Assocham President Anil Agarwal and J J Irani, who chaired a CII-appointed panel on job reservations in the private sector, submitted the Irani Committee report that opposed "curtailment of freedom of employers" in the matter of employment. Asked about the response of the Prime Minister, Seshasayee said: "We submitted the report yesterday. Details of this and interaction with Prime Minister will be disclosed tomorrow." http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews <http://www.newkerala.com/news3.php?action=fullnews&id=29268> &id=29268 newindpress.com SCs united for govt facilities, schemes Thursday July 27 2006 11:20 IST BELGAUM: The chairmen of the scheduled castes expressed their solidarity in their view that the people of the castes that were earlier considered ‘untouchable’ should be considered to be of scheduled castes (SC) and the facilities and schemes provided by the government for the SC, should be provided to them. The chairmen and other representatives of various SC organisations were speaking at the review meeting organised by the Karnataka Scheduled Caste Constitutional Review Commission Committee here on Wednesday. Justice A J Sadashiv presided over the meeting. CEO M E Shivalingmurthy, secretary of the Commission, B Uttappa, personal secretary Kenchappa and Social Welfare Department Officer Arvind Prabha were present. Mallesh Chougule, Ashok Kumar Asode, Babu Pujari, V S Rayannavar, Mahaningappa Kolkar, Shashikant Saravale, Rajshekhar Chalwadi, Durgesh Govind Metri, Mahadev Myaginmani and other SC leaders and representatives discussed the various problems and difficulties. They said the schemes and facilities offered by the government did not reach the ‘needy SC people’. They were the people who actually deserved it, as they were economically and educationally backward, they said. Instead, literate and economically sound SC people were availing the complete benefits of the schemes and facilities, said the representatives. They said 18 per cent of the total funds for SC/ST was ‘improperly utilised’ and so a white paper should be released every year to stop the usage, they added. They also demanded to provide reservations in Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council. Shravankumar Yallappa Dhomayya, Nagaraj Bhimappa Sindigar, Anil Dassappa Kupri, Shankar Laxman Bagewadi, Rama Chavan, Jeevan Kumar Kurne, Lokesh Doddamani and others were present. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060727005908 <http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEK20060727005908&Title=Southern+News+%2D+Karnataka&rLink=0> &Title=Southern+News+%2D+Karnataka&rLink=0 newindpress.com- Karanataka Govt runs up three-year dues of SC/ST fee Thursday July 27 2006 11:38 IST BANGALORE: SC/ST students pursuing engineering degrees often face the threat of being thrown out of the college for having run up huge arrears in tuition fee. It is the State Government which is required to reimburse their fee every year, but when it fails, college managements ask the students to pay up or leave the college. According to the information available from college managements, the Government has not released the funds towards the students’ fees for the last three years amounting to Rs 46 crore. Many colleges have asked the students to pay and take refund of the fee as and when the Government releases it. According to a source at a private professional college, the State Government has asked the private professional colleges not to collect any fees from the SC/ST candidates. It has been a policy of the Government for some time now to foot the fee of the SC/ST candidates and till 1997, the students first paid the fee at the CET Cell and later claimed it from the Social Welfare department. But after B Somashekhar took over as Higher Education Minister, he ended this ordeal for the students who were often at the mercy of the officials. Somashekhar introduced a system whereby the Government parked the funds required for SC/ST students’ fee with the CET Cell, which, in turn, paid the fees of students to the colleges concerned. An SC/ST student need not carry money to the CET Cell to choose his seat. Only records sufficed. But, of late, the Government is delaying the release of funds. As one Principal said, “When we contacted officials, they assured us that the pending amount will be paid soon, but it never happened. Besides, they have also threatened to penalise the colleges which collect fees from these students.” Some colleges have also written to the Government stating that the students will not be allowed to writ Education department officials, however, said that if colleges turn too much heat on students, many might just discontinue the course as they come from economically weaker sections of the society. FUNDS WILL BE RELEASED: Higher Education Minister D H Shankaramurthy has said that the Government will release the fee dues at the earliest. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE120060727011646 <http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IE120060727011646&Title=Bangalore&rLink=0> &Title=Bangalore&rLink=0 The Hindu- AP She now begs for votes to become sarpanch P. Ram Mohan Villagers contribute deposit money to help a SC woman file nomination NOTHING HAS CHANGED: Dokka Gangavva seeking alms and votes in Tagilepally of Varni mandal. TAGILEPALLI (NIZAMABAD Dt.): The contest for sarpanch elections in this village has turned out to be interesting with a Scheduled Castes woman who ekes out a living by seeking alms joining the election fray. Forty-year-old Dokka Gangavva filed her nomination with the support of a sizeable chunk of population in the village. As she had no deposit money of Rs.200 required for filing papers, the villagers donated her the amount. Belonging to a Gosangi (SC) caste, Gangavva's family has been living on begging in the village for several generations now. After jumping into the fray, Gangavva, accompanied by her husband Gangaram and two sons -- Poshetty and Ramulu -- is visiting every house to collect alms as usual and also to seek votes. She touches the feet of elders and youngsters alike beseeching them to vote for her for the overall development of the village. Located some 40 km from the district headquarter, the village in Varni mandal is predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Castes and Backward Castes. Covered by lush green meadows, paddy fields and forest land, it has no proper road to reach. It has been reserved for SC (woman) for the first time. The moment some villagers thought that Gangavva could be a suitable candidate to contest against another SC woman -- Neeradi Vandana -- who is to an extent better off, they proposed her candidature and supported her morally and financially. "I will try for pucca roads and house sites for the shelterless and pensions for the poor if I am elected," says a confident Gangavva. Though she is unwilling to give up begging, she says she would work as a daily labourer if at all begging is `unlawful.' Golla Vithal, a physically challenged person, is of the view that she is the right person to be elected sarpanch as the villagers have good faith in her. Mangali Dharmaiah discloses that she did not yield to pressure and allurements by opponents. http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 The Hindu- Karanataka Benefits have not reached Dalits, inquiry panel told Staff Correspondent A.G. Sadashiva in Belgaum to hear grievances Government has appointed Inquiry Commission to study certain issues Commission is also exploring remedies to the problems Belgaum: Various Dalit organisations have complained to the Inquiry Commission, headed by A.G. Sadashiva, that a majority of Dalits continue to be exploited and deprived of reservation benefits extended by the Union and State Governments. Mr. Sadashiva was here on Wednesday to listen to grievances of Dalits. The State Government has appointed the commission to study and ascertain whether Constitution rights granted to the 101 sub-castes (listed in the Central list) within the Scheduled Castes and benefits had reached these sections. Also, the commission is studying the reasons/factors coming in the way of fair and judicious distribution of benefits to each sub-caste besides exploring possible remedies to correct the problems. The commission is expected to submit its report next year. Mallesh Chougale, a Dalit leader, drew the attention of the commission to the plight of what he described as "original untouchables" belonging to five castes, Madiga, Dhor, Chamar, Bhangi and Holya. He said these were the only five castes which could be described as original Dalits. People belonging to these communities continued to remain socially, economically and culturally backward, as other sections listed as Scheduled Castes had enjoyed most of the reservation benefits, he said. He said "creamy layer" within the Scheduled Castes should be excluded from all reservation benefits so that other deserving persons could benefit. There was no need to provide reservation to children of Dalit legislators, members of Parliament and civil services servants. He pointed out that reservation benefits were not reaching people living in rural areas but only in urban centres. Karnataka State Dalit Sangarsh Samithi president Mahadev Myaginmani criticised the district administration and local bodies for not doing justice to Dalit sections. He said there was corruption in housing schemes meant for dalits. A beneficiary had to spend Rs. 5,000 to get Rs. 20,000 under a housing scheme and it was not possible to construct a house in Rs. 15,000, he said. http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 Pioneer- The Orissa SC, ST panel to ask Govt to frame marriage laws Pioneer News Service | Bhubaneswar The SC and ST Standing Committee of the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday said it would request the Orissa Government to frame laws so that issues of marriage of a tribal to a non-tribal could be sorted out. The committee, which met under the chairmanship of Jayram Pangi on Wednesday, decided that once a girl gets married to a non-tribal boy she must be debarred of getting all the facilities from the Government. It has been notice that in lure of getting benefits, the people are now getting married to tribal women. However, the tribal women without changing her caste continue to enjoy the benefits. It was decided that it would urge the Government to implement the ORB Act which, could facilitate the regularisation of Government services for the SC and ST people. All the circular relating to the ORB Act will be accommodated and published in a book within 15 days and circulated in all the departments. The committee would also request the Government to act as a guarantor for them. It has been seen that most of tribals are not able to sell their lands to the non-tribals. http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Pioneer/400x60/0 News covered by Hindi News Papers A dalit woman was abused- Case registered under SC/ST Act Newspaper - Dainik Jagran Date - 27-07-2006 State - Uttar Pradesh Victim (s) -Purkhariya W/O Dhani Ram Address -Muhalla Bajariya -Dist: Mahoba Perpetrators -Bablu and Lallu Date of incident - 2-07-06 Date of incident - A Dalit woman Pukahariya gave a complaint to court that the accused Bablu hit her by cycle. Later she was abused verbally with her caste name by Bablu and the other accused named Lallu when she went to Bablu’s house to complain about it. http://ind.jagran.com/newssite/citynews.asp?cityid=84&stateid=1 Dalit youth was killed Newspaper - Dainik Jagran Date - 27-07-2006 State - Uttar Pradesh Victim (s) -Rakshpal Katheria (26) S/o Rajkumar Katheria Address -Vill-Harichandrapur -PS- Kotwali -Dist: Mainpuri Date of incident -25-07-06 Incident brief -A Dalit Rakshpal Katheria had gone to his field for irrigation on 25th July 06 but did not return home at night. The next day his dead body was found in a drain nearby. There were marks of injuries on the body which seemed that he was killed brutally by the perpetrators. The accused tried to ruin the deceased’s face with acid to hide his identity. A complaint has been lodged against the unknown perpetrators by the deceased’s brother. http://ind.jagran.com/newssite/citynews.asp?storyid=2567332&cityid=57&stateid=1&lpageno=1 ARUN KHOTE Secretary-Media National Campaign On Dalit Human Rights-NCDHR 8/1,2nd Floor, South Patel Nagar NEW DELHI-110008 ( INDIA) Ph/ Fax-91#11-25842249/ 25842250 Mobile:0-9350183802 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website: dalits.org �������������������������������������������������������� This is ZESTCaste whose members watch India's painful journey to society's de-casteisation. Members are encouraged to post messages to [email protected] If you got this mail as a forward, subscribe to ZESTCaste by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] OR, if you have a Yahoo! ID, by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join Get all ZESTCaste mails sent out in a span of 24 hours in a single mail. 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