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 Monday, July 31, 2006 Times Of India Doctors remove 15-yr-old dead foetus [ 30 Jul, 2006 1730hrs ISTIANS ] BHOPAL: In a bizarre and medically shocking incident, a 35-year-old woman in Madhya Pradesh survived carrying a dead foetus for over 15 years. She was however operated upon on Friday at the government hospital at Khargone, 348 km from here, and the dead foetus weighing a kilo-and-half was finally removed from her womb. Renubai conceived two years after her marriage. But since her menstrual cycle started in the seventh month of her pregnancy, her family members thought she had a miscarriage and the foetus, which they thought was a tumour, remained in the womb. On not conceiving again, the poor Dalit family took it as their fate and the couple adopted a son. Meanwhile, whenever Renubai complained of stomach ache, they took her to a quack as they could not afford to see a qualified doctor. His medicines provided her some relief and they never took the matter seriously. This time, however, the medicines did not work and she was taken to the district hospital where sonography and other tests revealed that she was carrying a dead foetus. Ultimately, she was successfully operated upon with her uterus being removed as a precautionary measure leaving the doctors astounded that the 15-year-old dead foetus did not cause any infection in the woman's womb. Wondering at the 'amazing immune system' of the patient and appreciating her body resistance, Khargone district hospital civil surgeon Viraj Phalke, expressed surprise over her remaining alive for so many years with a dead foetus. <http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1826821.cms> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1826821.cms Zee News Mother, son sentenced for kidnapping, rape and murder in Punjab Jalandhar, July 31: A city court on July 29 sentenced a man to life imprisonment and his mother to five years in a case of kidnapping, rape and murder of a minor Dalit girl. The duo were produced before the court of district and sessions judge Inderjit Kaushik, who sentenced Malkit Singh for life for rape and murder (366 and 302 IPC), seven years for kidnapping (366 IPC) and five years' for tampering with vital clues (201 IPC), said all the sentences would run separately. Malkiat's mother Resham Kaur was sentenced for five years for sheltering and tampering with vital clues. The mother-son duo had kidnapped Gurpreet Kaur (10) from Dhaliwal village in early 2003 while she was coming back from school and later Malkit killed her after raping her. A case against the accused was registered on April 23 that year and they were arrested ubsequently, police sources said. http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=312532 <http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?aid=312532&sid=REG> &sid=REG The Hindu- Karnataka Dalits familiarised with provisions of RTI Act Staff Correspondent Pilot project underway in Chitradurga, Bidar MANGALORE: The district police organised an interactive half-day workshop on the Right to Information Act exclusively for members of Dalit communities as part of the monthly meeting here on Sunday. The aim was to expose the socially deprived sections of the society to various provisions of the Act and enable them to chart an independent course of life on the basis of such information obtained. Ashok of Prajna Samiti, a Mysore-based non-governmental organisation, one of the resource persons, said, the Act, if understood and used effectively, will definitely go a long way in empowering the lower strata of society. "It is enacted in such a manner that even the illiterate can obtain information about various issues in the public domain with the help of others, including the officials." Stating that a pilot project in this regard was under way in Chitradurga and Bidar districts, Mr. Ashok said each State had formed its own rules under the Act. "In Karnataka, one has to pay Rs. 10 as basic fee to obtain information," he said. <http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0> http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 The Hindu- Karnataka Scheme for the welfare of Dalits Staff Correspondent Government will identify villages to provide financial assistance, says Yediyurappa Scheme may be named after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar or Babu Jagajivanram Government has earmarked Rs. 200 crore for the welfare of Dalits and other backward classes HUBLI: Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has said that the State Government will introduce a scheme for the welfare of Dalits and people belonging to the weaker sections. Inaugurating the "Dalita Abhivruddhia Chintana Samavesh" organised by the Dalit Sena, Karnataka, and Federation of North Karnataka Dalit Organisations here on Saturday, he said the Government would identify villages in the State where people belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are in majority and provide financial assistance of Rs. 20 lakh for their welfare. The modalities of the scheme were being worked out and plans are to name the scheme after Dr. B.R. Ambedkar or Babu Jagajivanram, Mr. Yediyurappa said. The Deputy Chief Minister said that the coalition Government was committed to the welfare of Dalits and the weaker sections in society and was implementing several programmes for their benefit. The Government had earmarked Rs. 200 crore for the welfare of Dalits and people belonging to other backward classes. An amount of Rs. 50 crore had been earmarked for the construction of hostels for Dalit youth and those Dalit youth who want take up self-employment would be given loan at the rate of four per cent interest, he said. Mr. Yediyurappa said the Government would take steps to fill the backlog posts at the earliest. He reiterated the coalition Government's commitment for the development of north Karnataka and said emphasis would be given for the implementation of the Dr. Nanjundappa committee report. Minister for Animal Husbandry Revu Naik Belamagi was felicitated on the occasion. Pralhad Joshi, MP, urged the State Government to release its share of financial assistance for the gauge conversion work on the Gadag-Bagalkot line. Ministers Jagadish Shettar, Revu Naik, Govind Karjol spoke. Sri Siddalinga Swamiji attended the programme, presided over by industrialist Yallappa Madhurkar. Former MLA P.C. Siddanagouda, Ashok Katwe, BJP leader Lingaraj Patil and others were present. Pandurang Pammar, president of Uttar Karnataka Banjara Samaj, welcomed the gathering. M. Aravind, president of Dalit Sena, compered. <http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0> http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 The Hindu- TN Big jump in outlay for schemes for SC, ST R.K. Radhakrishnan But some legislators say this is not enough Provides outlay for schemes for SC and ST In 2005, the amount spent was Rs. 575 crore It almost doubled in this year's budget CHENNAI: The Special Component Plan (SCP) in the State budget, which provides outlay for schemes for the uplift of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, has witnessed a huge jump this year, but some legislators say this is not enough. In 2005-06 (revised estimates), the amount spent on schemes for SC/ST members was Rs.579 crore. This has almost doubled in this year's budget and stands at Rs.1,038 crore. If the provision made for improvement of power supply in identified SC/ST areas is taken into consideration, then the outlay tops Rs.1,100 crore according to Appendix 21 of Budget 2006-07 Memorandum. Appendix 21 and Appendix 12 of the Budget Memorandum clearly indicate that the total provision for the divisible component provided under the plan expenditure has grown remarkably this year. But MLAs including Polur Varadan and Jayakumar (both Congress) and Selvam (DPI) have stressed the need to maintain the SCP at the mandated 20 per cent of the plan outlay and claimed that the amount allocated was inadequate. But officials and those in charge of development works say stressing on the 20 per cent figure for SCP is a wrong benchmark. The SCP is an individual-based scheme and hence any improvement work taken up, such as laying a road to a hamlet, cannot not be considered SCP expenditure. Similarly any development work that cannot be divided among members of the community does not qualify to form part of the SCP. Expenditure such as old age pensions, scholarships, provision for uniforms etc are among the items that could form part of this plan. "If a road or a highway passes through an SC colony it will not count under SCP. But actually speaking it should," says an official. Also, capital outlay for undertaking infrastructure works has grown tremendously ever since the 20 per cent norm was fixed. Gaps in infrastructure They say instead of focussing on SCP allocation, the debate should be on gaps in infrastructure in places where significant SC/ST populations reside. If specific needs of such areas are pointed out, it will help planners, they add. <http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0> http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 The Hindu- AP 50 ST girls `denied' admission to hostel Staff Reporter AISF petitions State Social Welfare Minister on the girls' plight 150 out of 200 girls provided accommodation into the Girijan welfare hostel in Balaji Colony Parents plead to enhance hostel capacity TIRUPATI: The fate of 50 girl students belonging to Scheduled Tribes is hanging in the balance. Even two months after the reopening of schools, the girls have reportedly been denied admission into the Girijan welfare hostel in Balaji Colony here. Of the 200 students who had sought admission, only 150 had been accommodated. Repeated petitions by students and their parents to enhance the capacity of the hostel (last year too, only 150 students were accommodated) but only in vain. Now, the hostel authorities were learnt to have told the girls in plain terms to join `anywhere else' as the hostel could not accommodate anymore. All-India Students Federation (AISF) town president Sankar Naik and others have represented to the Collector but to no avail. In fact, they had also petitioned the Social Welfare Minister Redya Naik some time back, on which action is still awaited. Meanwhile, with a glimmer of hope, the girls and their parents are visiting the hostel daily. <http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0> http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Hindu/400x60/0 The Tribune- Punjab Protest against scrapping of quota Ludhiana, July 30. Activists of the Valmiki, Mazhabi Sikh Reservation Quota Bachao Morcha burnt effigies of the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, Local Bodies Minister Choudhry Jagjit Singh and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Shamsher Singh Dullo at Clock Tower Chowk here yesterday. They were protesting against the scrapping of 12.5 per cent reservation quota for these sections by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Hundreds of functionaries of several bodies of Valmikis, Mazhabi Sikhs and Dalits, had earlier gathered at the Municipal Corporation office at Mata Rani Chowk here and took out a march till Clock Tower Chowk to protest against what they termed as a deep rooted conspiracy to deprive the under-privileged and repressed communities of their rightful share. Speakers at the rally observed that the High Court verdict against 25 per cent reservation for the Scheduled Castes was a direct attack on the constitutional rights of the SC’s. The protesters later marched to the Mini Secretariat where a memorandum demanding a review of the unfortunate decision at the highest level was submitted to the President of India through the district administration. Meanwhile, the All-India Valmiki Samaj Vikas Parishad, while castigating the evasive attitude of the Congress government in Punjab over the High Court decision of scrapping of quota for Valmiki and Mazhabi Sikh communities, has urged the Union Government to make its stand on this crucial issue clear. A joint meeting of the urban and rural district units of the parishad held here last evening regretted that the reservation policy struck down by the High Court had been implemented by a Congress government headed by Giani Zail Singh. They maintained that it was ironical that the present government of the same party had failed to effectively defend its own policy before the court. Speaking on the occasion, the state president of the parishad, Mr Jasbir Johny, said a deputation of the parishad would soon meet Ms Sonia Gandhi, president of All India Congress Committee in New Delhi, to elicit the ruling party’s views on this issue. The party high command would also be asked to prevail upon the Punjab Government to take remedial steps to dispense justice to the Scheduled Castes, as well as Valmikis and Mazhabi Sikhs in Punjab. <http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060731/ldh1.htm#1> http://www.tribuneindia.com/2006/20060731/ldh1.htm#1 NDTV- BOOK Untouchability in rural India Category: Non-Fiction Author: Shah, Mander, Thorat, Deshpande, Baviskar Publisher: SAGE Publishers Price: Rs 295 Untouchability in rural India is book is focused and systematic documentation of the incidence and extent of the practice of untouchability in contemporary India. Based on the results of a large survey covering 565 villages in 11 states, it reveals that untouchability continues to be widely prevalent and is practiced in one form or another in almost 80 per cent of the villages. Field data is supplemented by information about the forms of discrimination which Dalits face in everyday life, such as: The ‘unclean’ occupations open to them The double burden of Dalit women, who suffer both gender and caste discrimination – The upper-caste violence with which any Dalit self-assertion is met The authors also describe Dalit efforts to overcome deeply entrenched caste hierarchies and assert their right to live with dignity. While the evidence presented here suggests that the more blatant and extreme forms of untouchability appear to have declined, discrimination continues and is most prevalent in the religious and personal spheres. The authors show that the notion of untouchability continues to pervade the public sphere, including a host of state institutions and the interactions that occur within them. About the author Untouchability in rural India has been authored by Ghanshyam Shah, who was formerly at Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi; Harsh Mander from Centre for Equity Studies, Delhi; Sukhadeo Thorat from the University Grants Commission, Delhi; Satish Deshpande from the Department of Sociology, Delhi University and Amita Baviskar, an Associate Professor at the Institute for Economic Growth, Delhi. <http://www.ndtv.com/ent/booksreview.asp?id=1901&bookname=Untouchability+in+rural+India> http://www.ndtv.com/ent/booksreview.asp?id=1901&bookname=Untouchability+in+rural+India 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. Subscribe to the daily digest version by sending a blank mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED], OR, if you have a Yahoo! Id, change your settings at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/join ==theZESTcommunity====================================== [1] ZESTCurrent: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCurrent/ [2] ZESTEconomics: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTEconomics/ [3] ZESTGlobal: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTGlobal/ [4] ZESTMedia: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTMedia/ [5] ZESTPoets: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTPoets/ [6] ZESTCaste: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ [7] ZESTAlternative: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTAlternative/ [8] TalkZEST: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TalkZEST/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ZESTCaste/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
