AIIMS forum demands inquiry into suicide

Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 12.03.12

 

AIIMS forum demands inquiry into suicide - The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article2987360.ece

 'Fight inequality, injustice' - The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article2985397.ece

 

The Hindu

 

AIIMS forum demands inquiry into suicide

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/article2987360.ece

 

Staff Reporter

A forum of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes faculty members at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here has condoled the recent suicide by MBBS under-graduate student Anil Kumar Meena and demanded a "time-bound impartial inquiry by an outside agency" into the incident.

 

In a memorandum to President Pratibha Patil, the members said the independent inquiry should "ascertain the truth, fix responsibility on individuals found to be culpable for the tragedy, work out the quantum of compensation to the family, and recommend administrative reforms to prevent such incidents in future".

 

"We are dismayed by the administration's apathy towards the problem of members of SC/ST. Many representations have been submitted in this regard to AIIMS. The lack of affirmative response has forced us to approach the National Commission for SC/ST, Parliamentary Committee, as well as the court of law," said a spokesperson of the forum.

 

At a meeting of the forum held last week, the members noted that the Thorat Committee recommendations proposed in 2007 have not been implemented until now, and no corrective measures were taken by the Institute even after a final year MBBS student committed suicide in 2010.

 

"The news of non-payment of promised ex-gratia amount and refusal to provide examination answers sheets to his father under RTI till date is an evidence of illegality and gross human insensitivity," said the spokesperson.

 

The recent suicide and other attempted suicides within a span of two years raise questions about the "culpability of the AIIMS administration", said the members. At the meeting it was further said that the Institute had failed in its duty to provide an environment conducive to the growth of Anil's potential.

 

Members of the forum spoke to Anil's father, relatives and friends, and also faculty members at AIIMS, and found that Anil was a bright student. "It is unfortunate that AIIMS has failed in its duty to provide an environment conducive to the growth of his potential to become an asset to the community and country… It is regretted by all members that both the Dean and the Director, AIIMS, failed to meet this student at a time when he was desperately looking for some sort of counselling and help," said the spokesperson.

 

The Hindu

 

'Fight inequality, injustice'

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/andhra-pradesh/article2985397.ece

 

Special Correspondent

Dy. Chief Minister calls for unity among Dalits

Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha has exhorted Dalits and other oppressed sections to fight against all forms of inequality and injustice.

 

Unity among Dalits, setting aside caste and sub-caste differences, would go a long way in building up self-confidence among these sections for fighting against the injustices being meted out to them, he said.

 

Conference

Mr. Rajanarsimha was addressing an impressive gathering at a conference organised to commemorate the 635 birth anniversary of Sant Shiromani Guru Ravidas organised here on Sunday.

 

Recalling the services of Guru Ravidas for alleviating the problems of the weaker sections, he said focus should be on education of Dalits as it would play a key role in creating self-confidence among them to fight social evils.

 

In this context, he said the Congress leadership, AICC president Sonia Gandhi in particular, nominated him to the Deputy Chief Minister's post as they were convinced that Dalits would abide by their commitment.

 

Mass congregations

The Deputy Chief Minister said such mass congregations would help in building up self-confidence among Dalits and similar meetings were planned at the district level to take the teachings of Guru Ravidas, a crusader against social evils. Minister G. Prasad Kumar, former Minister M. Mareppa, veteran leader Nandi Yellaiah, MLAs Labbi Venkata Swamy and Arepalli Mohan and others were present at the conference.

 

-- 
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and  intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.