Dalits Media Watch News Updates 16.02.11

Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 16.02.11

Is Jailed Dalit Activist Another Binayak Sen? - Wall Street Journal

Mirchpur: HC tells Haryana, Delhi to protect witnesses - Indian Express

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mirchpur--HC-tells-Haryana--Delhi-to-protect-witnesses/750517

Life still under threat, say P Pudur Dalits - Express Buzz

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/life-still-under-threat-say-p-pudur-dalits/248457.html

Officials told to interact with SC, STs - The Hindu

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/16/stories/2011021656030300.htm

RLD members protest for Kori community - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/RLD-members-protest-for-Kori-community/articleshow/7504673.cms

Wall Street Journal

Is Jailed Dalit Activist Another Binayak Sen?

For over 15 years, Sudhir Dhawale, a Mumbai-based activist and journalist, worked in India's western state of Maharashtra to highlight human rights violations against Dalits, the oppressed group considered lowest in the Hindu caste hierarchy. He is himself a Dalit.

On Jan. 2, state police arrested 42-year-old Mr. Dhawale for supporting India's banned Maoist rebels, who are active in the state as well as in parts of central and eastern India, and accused him of sedition and declaration of war against the state. According to Mr. Dhawale's wife, Darshana Dhawale, the police is yet to bring formal charges against him, but are holding him while they investigate.

Calls to police in Wardha district, where Mr. Dhawale was arrested while he was traveling through there on his way home after attending a Dalit gathering, went unanswered, while police in Mumbai said they were not aware of the case. Praveen Dixit, principal secretary in the Maharashtra state government's home department, said the "sessions court found sufficient evidence against him to reject his bail application." Mr. Dhawale is presently in Nagpur Central Jail, in a city about 900 kilometers southeast of Mumbai, his wife said.

The arrest came after another man, who the police say is a Maoist rebel, said during an interrogation that he had given his computer to Mr. Dhawale, according to a supporter of the activist. A day after Mr. Dhawale's arrest, police took away a computer and 87 books from his home in Mumbai, according to Mrs. Dhawale.

But his supporters and some human rights activists are questioning the arrest.

Anand Teltumbde, a civil rights activist with the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights in Mumbai, attributes the police action on Mr. Dhawale to the "hypersensitivity of the state about Maoism."

"A modus operandi of slapping one case after another case has been used against him," said Mr. Teltumbde, who also wrote about the case in the Feb. 5 issue of India's Economic and Political Weekly, alluding to the fact that police have charged Mr. Dhawale with a series of offences.

India's Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has said that the Maoist insurgency is the biggest threat to India's internal security. The rebels say that India's democracy has been elitist and hasn't embraced those at the bottom like the Dalits and the country's tribal population.

Mr. Teltumbde said in his piece that the police had the right to question Mr. Dhawale, as they would anyone, but that an arrest should have come after a proper investigation, not solely on the basis of what one person said during an interrogation, which is what he says appears to have happened. The police could not be reached for comment.

He also said the arrest points to a worrying broader trend.

"The bogey of Maoism is being unscrupulously used to repress the incipient democratic dissent of dalits and adivasis [tribals]," said Mr. Teltumbde. "Most people arrested as Maoists in Maharashtra are dalits. The Maoist label overshadows their caste identity and renders them helpless."

Mr. Teltumbde compares Mr. Dhawale's case to that of Binayak Sen, a medical doctor and human rights activist, in Chhattisgarh. In December, Dr. Sen was convicted of sedition for having allegedly ferried letters from a jailed rebel to someone outside the prison. Last week, his appeal to the High Court of Chhattisgarh for the suspension of his life sentence and for bail was denied.

Supporters of Mr. Sen link his arrest to the fact that he was an outspoken critic of a state-supported anti-Maoist people's militia in Chhattisgarh state, considered the heartland of the Maoist rebellion. Human rights groups say the militia has been accused by many villagers in the state of using extremely violent methods against those suspected of being Maoists or of having provided food or shelter to Maoists, even if under duress.

Mr. Dhawale's case, taking place far from the media hub of New Delhi, hasn't yet got the sort of attention that Mr. Sen's has—Nobel laureate Amartya Sen has publicly batted for the health activist, and the editorial pages of national papers denounced his conviction.

But supporters of Mr. Dhawale are trying to draw attention to his case and have circulated an online petition on his behalf, which about 400 people have signed.

"Sudhir Dhawale has tried to bring the issues of injustice and atrocities against Dalits in the public domain so as to make democracy a substantive force," says the petition, which demands that all charges against him be dropped. "He has tirelessly worked, within the democratic framework, towards ensuring justice."

Indian Express

Mirchpur: HC tells Haryana, Delhi to protect witnesses

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Mirchpur--HC-tells-Haryana--Delhi-to-protect-witnesses/750517

Wed Feb 16 2011, 00:33 hrs New Delhi:

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the governments of Delhi and Haryana to draw up a strategy to provide security to witnesses till their testimonies were recorded in the case relating to the killing of two Dalits in Haryana's Mirchpur village last year. 

The court also asked the principal secretaries (home) of the two state governments to hold discussions on February 17 as to which state would bear expenses of the witnesses' travels to record statements. 

Justice Hima Kohli made it clear that in case the top officers failed to comply with the court's directions, they would have to appear in person on February 19 before Additional Sessions Judge Kamini Lau to explain the reasons for delay. 

ASJ Lau, conducting the trial after the Supreme Court transferred the case from a Haryana court to her court in Rohini, had earlier ordered deployment of CRPF at Mirchpur village, preferably near the spot of the incident, i.e. around the Balmiki Basti, till public witnesses in the case were examined. 

The court had also taken exception to the Delhi government's delay in appointing a special public prosecutor to conduct the trial in the case and summoned the principal secretary (home) to appear personally on February 17. Challenging the special court's summoning order, the government had approached the High Court.

Express Buzz

Life still under threat, say P Pudur Dalits

http://expressbuzz.com/states/tamilnadu/life-still-under-threat-say-p-pudur-dalits/248457.html

R Gokul

Express News Service

First Published : 16 Feb 2011 03:11:24 AM IST

Last Updated : 16 Feb 2011 07:29:12 AM IST

PARALI PUDHUR (DINDIGUL): Parali Pudhur near Natham in Dindigul district, which came under the police control in the wake of caste clashes in which houses of Dalit community were set ablaze and ransacked on Sunday night , was still sombre and yet to recover from the shock.

Over 100 men and children of Dalit community who took shelter on the hills near the village on Sunday evening were yet to return home fearing further attacks from the Mutharaiyar community. But around 25 women residents were only at Indira Colony expecting the help of the district administration. The victims were highly frustrated over the reluctance of the Collector to visit the area till Tuesday evening.

A Dalit woman said that the Collector visited their ransacked houses later on Tuesday evening.

C Anand, who is still taking shelter on the hills along with others, said, though police force was deployed in their village, they were scared to return home as there was a possibility of attack from the Mutharaiyar community. So the State government has to take stringent action against the prime culprits who were not arrested so far to ensure the safety of Dalits in the village.

A leader from Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi in Dindigul district requesting anonymity said that the prime accused, Muthaiyan, was not arrested so far as he was backed by an important person in DMK in Madurai.

Superintendent of Police Saravanan, who headed the police team, refuted such allegations and said the situation was under control. He also raised hope that the prime accused would be apprehended.

The Hindu

Officials told to interact with SC, STs

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/16/stories/2011021656030300.htm

Staff Reporter

Submit report on problems, atrocities being faced by these sections

23 p.c. of population consists of SCs and STs but untouchability still prevalent in society: Collector

Police under pressure from Ministers, officials for registering lenient cases against offenders: SP

SANGAREDDY: R. Subba Rao, Officer on Special Duty, AP SC/ST Commission, called upon officials to implement G.O. No 105 and 128 aimed at preventing atrocities against SCs and STs in the district.

Participating as a chief guest in the sensitisation programme held at Sangareddy on Tuesday, Mr. Subba Rao said that both police and revenue officials play a key role in preventing atrocities against these sections of the society.

Collector S. Suresh Kumar said that about 23 per cent of the population in the district consisted of both these sections of and that untouchability and double glass system was still continuing in the society despite best efforts to root out these evils.

"Observe Civil Rights Day on 30th of every month and try to interact with people about the problems being faced by them. We will have a review on the next day on reports submitted by you," he said to officials.

Displeasure

Superintendent of Police A. Sunder Kumar Das openly expressed displeasure over diversion of funds aimed for the benefit of the SCs and STs.

"How would the development of these sections be possible if thousands of crore was diverted for other purposes?" he asked adding that the police department needed additional employees to look into these matters.

He went to the extent of commenting that the SC/ST Commission has been paying 'waste fellows' and that they were getting pressure from even Ministers and senior police officials to be lenient while registering the cases.

Situation in UP

He also objected to referring to the situation in Uttar Pradesh where an MLA was accused of raping a Dalit woman stating that the situation had changed dramatically after Mayawati became the Chief Minister.

Joint Collector T. Vijaya Kumar admitted that they were failing to address the problems being faced by these sections.

No monitoring

"Dalits of a village in Papannapet mandal were able to get the land allotted to them only after 50 years of fight. We are unable to see and make a follow-up on whether they are cultivating those lands even now," he said.

The Times Of India

RLD members protest for Kori community

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/RLD-members-protest-for-Kori-community/articleshow/7504673.cms

TNN, Feb 16, 2011, 02.54am IST

LUCKNOW: The state government has stopped issuing caste certificates to the Kori community thereby depriving a sizable scheduled caste population of benefits offered under the Constitution, RLD member Kaukab Hamid said in Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday.

All eight MLAs from the party demanded a debate on the issue under the rule 311. Not satisfied with the response of the minister of parliamentary affairs, Lalji Verma, the group staged a walk out. 

RLD MLA Anil Chaudhary quoted the government order dated January 18, 2011 which, he said, "has specifically directed the authorities concerned not to issue the caste certificates to Koris". This GO has led to much resentment in the Kori-dominated belt in the Agra, Meerut and Sahahranpur divisions. Village panchayats are being held almost every day to discuss the injustice and also to mark the community's protest against the whimsical change, Chaudhary said and added and the situation could turn explosive any time.

Hamid demanded to know the motive behind the changes effected. "Have Kori community in western UP become richer? Have they undergone conversion? Do they cease to be scheduled caste?" Hamid questioned as he lambasted the government for vesting in itself the supreme power of changing the Constitutional provision.

The government, he said, wanted to provide the benefits of reservations to a particular sub-caste in the SCs, he said. "The government is trying to create a `Rajwada' (ruling class ) among dalits by its selective approach, which is alarming," he said.

However in his response Lalji Verma dismissed the charges as utterly baseless.the government, Verma said was well aware that states have no authority to amend add or strike off any sub caste from the list of scheduled caste as enshrined in the constitution.however there are cases when unscrupulous elements have arbitrarily changed their caste to reap the benefits not meant for them.

This practice cannot be allowed as this beats the very purpose of reservation Verma said.Koris he said were getting all caste based benefits in the eastern belt of Faizabad, Sultanpur and Devi Patan therefore the RLD he said needed to recheck their facts. the response resulted in a walk about amidst much slogan shouting by the RLD MLAs.

The Hindu

Dalits want separate budget

http://www.hindu.com/2011/02/16/stories/2011021664040600.htm

Staff Reporter

BANGALORE: A faction of the Dalit Sangharsh Samiti (DSS), led by president N. Murthy, staged a protest rally in front of the Vidhana Soudha here on Tuesday demanding a separate budget for the Dalits. Separate budgets for Dalits should become a feature of both the State and Central budgets, the agitators said.

They argued that since the population of Dalits is 25 per cent of the total population, a proportionate sum should be set aside for them in the budget.

In a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, they said such a budget would allow for greater focus on development of the backward sections of society. They also demanded that the Rs. 306-crore loan taken by the Dalits from the Ambedkar Development Corporation should be waived.

In addition, they pressed for some long-standing issues such as increase in scholarship amount for Dalit students.

The Pioneer

State Govt to initiate two month advocate training for SC/ST

http://www.dailypioneer.com/318119/State-Govt-to-initiate-two-month-advocate-training-for-SC/ST.html

February 16, 2011 4:54:40 PM

SR | Bhopal

The State Government has initiated a two month 'Advocate Training Scheme' for the advocates belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, other backward classes, persons with disabilities and women advocates practicing law at various law courts in Madhya Pradesh.

Under the scheme, these advocates will be imparted one-one month high level training at well-known law institutes by law luminaries of the country. As a part of scheme, ten-ten advocates will be selected every year. Persons with disabilities and women of general categories can also take benefit of the training scheme. Economically weak meritorious advocates and women advocates will be given priority in the selection for the training.

A selection committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of a Justice nominated by HC Chief Justice. The committee will select capable young advocates from these sections. The committee is comprised of assistant solicitor general of Government of India, state bard council chairman and advocate general of state. The advocates, who are interested in the selection for the training should not be above 30 of age and their annual income should exceed more than six thousand per month, will be entitled for the same.

It has been decided that all interested candidates must submit documents of educational mark sheets, income certificate, SC/ST and persons' disabilities, OBC certificates. The selection committee would short list the names on the basis of documents and capabilities to be proved at time of personal interviews. At the completion of training, the trained advocates will have to provide legal advice to the needy people through district legal help authority.

-- 
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")