NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON DALIT HUMAN RIGHTS 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 February 23, 2007 Mangalore: Government-run hostels come under Lokayukta scanner- New Ind Press http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local <http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=39546> &newsid=39546 35 accused in Dalits killings discharged by Bhandara court- Out Look India http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=452852 NCSC for dedicated courts for Scheduled Castes- Zee News http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2 <http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=355497&sid=NAT> &aid=355497&sid=NAT Opposition walkout on Dalit issue- Andhra Cafe http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show <http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=19127> &id=19127 Congress organises Dalit rally in Delhi- The Hindustan Times http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935126,000600010001.htm New Ind Press Mangalore: Government-run hostels come under Lokayukta scanner http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local <http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=39546> &newsid=39546 MANGALORE Feb 22: A month has passed and many Government-run hostels do not have the slightest knowledge of being snooped. "An inquiry into hostels for SC/ST and backward communities has been launched across the State as part of good governance," informs Lokayukta Chief Justice N Santosh Hegde while confirming Lokayukta officials were tasked to submit reports on the pathetic condition of hostels in districts. Justice Santosh Hegde who chanced on a story of a hostel for SC/ST in a daily, directed an inquiry into the pathetic conditions prevailing in government-run hostels. Just as the Lokayukta Chief suspected skeletons have begun to tumble out from hostels. Half-way through, district Lokayuktha sleuths have realised that none of the 83 hostels run by District Social Welfare Department, Integrated Tribal Development Programme (ITDP), Backward Classes and Minorities Department have been a succour to poor children. "The conditions are wretched," admits an official on conditions of anonymity. Visiting hostels, the sleuths snooped around looking at maintenance of hostels, cleanliness, food preparation, availability of water and hostel occuppancy.A lion's share of the allocated funds are spent on buying rice at prevailing market prices. "The subsidised rice is grabbed by schools for their mid-day scheme," informs sources in Lokayukta. Thus the food dished out in kitchens lack in hygiene and nutrition. There are no toilets as in Venur hostel and in another hostel, a cook doubled as warden. Doctors rarely visit such hostels and sick children are often picked up by their poor parents. There were plenty of irregularities in purchase of LPG among others, sources said.An official in a department throwing his hands in despair said: "The government in present fiscal year 2006-2007 had released Rs 122.06 lakh for hostel maintenance as against the pegged demand of Rs 163.96 lakh." How do we raise this deficit amount of about Rs 41.9 lakh, the official asked. According to Justice Santosh Hegde, the inquiry report will reveal whether the pathetic conditions are due to insufficient or mis-use of existing funds by the departments. "The exercise is part of an integrated objective to deliver good governance," Justice Santosh Hegde stresses. Out Look India 35 accused in Dalits killings discharged by Bhandara court http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=452852 NAGPUR, FEB 22 (PTI) Thirty-five accused in the case related to the killing of four Dalits at Khairlanji village in Bhandara district were today discharged by a court her after it admitted a CBI application in this regard. The CBI had moved the discharge application on February 12 and the court had fixed its hearing for today. The 35 accused include then police sub-inspector Siddheshwar Bharne, the police station officer of Andhalgaon who was responsible for the area where the killings occurred. Judge S S Das of the special court, however, did not decide on the fate of 11 others who are in judicial custody. Forty-six persons were arrested in connection with the killing of four members of the Bhotmange family, including the children Priyanka,Sudhir and Roshan, on September 29 last year. Zee News NCSC for dedicated courts for Scheduled Castes http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2 <http://www.zeenews.com/znnew/articles.asp?rep=2&aid=355497&sid=NAT> &aid=355497&sid=NAT New Delhi, Feb 20: With nearly 90 thousand cases of crime against scheduled castes pending in various courts across the country, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes on Tuesday asked the government to set up dedicated courts at the district-level to try them. "In view of delays in disposal of cases in special courts and increasing pendency in trial cases across the country, there is urgent need for dedicated, exclusive courts to be set up; to begin with in each administrative division or group of districts be provided with dedicated courts," Fakirbhai Vaghela, Vice Chairman of the Commission, told reporters here today. The commission has made a slew of recommendations to the government to improve the lot of SCs. Expressing concern, he said the total number of cases pending trial during 2005 was 87,467 and Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of 25,996 cases, followed by Madhya Pradesh with 13,513 cases and Rajasthan with 8,551 cases. Regretting that the All-India conviction rate remained as low as 29.8 per cent, Vaghela stressed the need for fixing a time-frame for trial of cases. The economic condition of Dalits remained deplorable even after 60 years of independence, he said demanding that the government bring in a legislation to provide reservation facility available in the private sector. Vaghela opposed extending the quotas to Dalit converts and children of Dalit women who marry general category males. Justifying the commission's opposition, he said the stigma of untouchability is no more attached in the new religion. "Also, giving reservation to children of SC women and general category men would lead to its misuse and SCs by pedigree of SC fathers will be deprived of their privileges as beneficiaries multiply of such wedlocks." To ensure speedy trial and prevent general atrocities against SCs, the commission has suggested to the government to be classify all crimes against the community under the IPC or special acts like POA under crime against SC, Vaghela said. In view of multiplicity of agencies involved, resulting in variation of data emanating from the states, there is need for need for one designated agency to collect, compile and supply data to users, he said. "Giving arms licences to Dalits may also be considered." The prosecution department or should be made nodal agency for collection, compilation, authentication and supply of statistical data relating to cases challenged in courts, speed of trial, verdicts etc. Observing that the system of Deputy SP or senior officers only investigating crimes under the special laws has not resulted in expediting probe or trial, Vaghela recommended that cases of lesser significance be investigated by inspectors which can be supervised by senior officials. Asked if the commission is satisfied with the cooperation from the governments, he said they are partly satisfied but regretted that adequate staff is not provided to the panel. Andhra Cafe Opposition walkout on Dalit issue http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show <http://www.andhracafe.com/index.php?m=show&id=19127> &id=19127 Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam, Telangana Rashtra Samiti, CPI (M) and BJP members walked out from the Assembly on Monday protesting against the `forcible acquisition' of Dalits' lands for industries and payment of `inadequate' compensation. Not satisfied with the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister J. Geeta Reddy's reply to his question, TRS Floor Leader G. Vijayarama Rao led the walkout by his party members. He accused the Government of "mercilessly" acquiring the Dalits' land and rendering injustice to them. N. Narasimaiah (CPI-M) and T. Devender Goud (TDP) charged the Government with failing to pay compensation to Dalits. Narasimaiah demanded a meeting of floor leaders to discuss the issue, while the TDP leader accused the Minister of not giving a proper reply. Rejecting the Opposition's claims, Mrs. Geeta Reddy charged the parties with misleading the House and challenged them to cite at least one instance of non-payment of compensation or forcible acquisition. Intervening, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy said it had become necessary to acquire land for industrial and irrigation projects. The Hindustan Times Congress organises Dalit rally in Delhi http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1935126,000600010001.htm Amitabh Shukla New Delhi, February 22, 2007 In a bid to boost the chances of the Congress amongst the Dalit voters before the MCD elections, the party on Thursday organised a rally in the city. Apprehensive of the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) poaching into the Dalit vote bank of the Congress and the BJP following suit, the leaders made tall promises and said only the Congress was their "real friend". The gathering at the Talkatora Stadium, the venue of the rally, was impressive with several Congress leaders giving a call to the Dalits to believe in the Congress ideology. The gathering from Delhi and the neighbouring states was largely mobilised by Jai Kishan, the organiser of the rally and AICC Secretary. Union Minister of State for Home, SP Jayaswal said that the Congress and the Dalits have "relations of blood". Elaborating, the leader from UP said both love each other, get angry with each other occasionally but cannot do without the other. Referring to the UP elections, Jayaswal said the rally would help boost the chances of the party, particularly in western UP. Emphasising on Dalit participation in governance, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said the government makes policy but it does not get implemented at the ground due to the "old mindset" of the administration. "This needs to change on priority basis," she said. Union Minister Meira Kumar called for reservations in the private sector and asked for raising the reservation percentage on the basis of present population in government jobs. At a time when the Dalit rally was being held, the BJP was demonstrating against inflation and price rise in east Delhi, a few kms away from the Talkatora venue. Party President Rajnath Singh and state BJP president Harsh Vardhan alleged that all sections of society were feeling the punch of inflation. "This is entirely due to the wrong policies of the ruling party," said Harsh Vardhan. ARUN KHOTE National Media Secretary NATIONAL CAMPAIGN ON DALIT HUMAN RIGHTS (NCDHR) Add: 8/1, South Patel Nagar, NEW DELHI- 110008 ( INDIA) Mobile : 91# 9350183802 Ph & Fax- 91#11-25842249, 91#11-25842250 E Mail : [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Website : www.dalits.org www.ncdhr.org
