Dalits Media Watch
NewsUpdates 02.07.13
Dalit headmistress seeks directive for police protection- Business Standard
Divya to stay with mother till family accepts Dalit husband - The Hindu
Dalit outfit wants ban on book to be revoked- The Times Of India
Colleges flout quota rules for SC/ST aspirants- Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/342189/colleges-flout-quota-rules-scst.html
Excommunicated over no marriage invite, says Dalit- The New Indian Express
Caste census to determine economic status of communities- The Times Of India
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Times_of_India/400x60/0
Lucky to get community certificates on time, else approach court- The Times Of India
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Times_of_India/400x60/0
Mangalore: Dalit Sangarsh Samiti seeks City Police Help in Awarding Justice for Domestic Help- Bellevision.com
http://www.bellevision.com/belle/index.php?action=topnews&type=6391
Protection of Dalits- Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/342094/protection-dalits.html
NOTE : Please find attachment for Hindi News Updates (PDF)
Business Standard
Dalit headmistress seeks directive for police protection
A Dalit headmistress of a primary school has sought a direction for police protection alleging her colleagues
were threatening her after she lodged a complaint against two of them for asking Dalit students to clean toilets
with their hands and legs.
Justice N Kirubakaran ordered a notice to the officials, including the District Elementary Educational Officer
and Inspector of Ayyapuram, among others.
Petitioner S Amali Annal submitted she had lodged a complaint on January 13 this year against two colleagues
at the panchayat primary school at Nayakarpatti for asking Dalit students to clean toilets. She claimed they
had abused and assualted her after she did so.
The complaint was lodged three days after the incident.
She said she had gone on medical leave after the incident and joined duty on April 12. But the same day, eight
persons had barged into the school and threatened her. They left only after her relatives, whom she telephoned, came to the spot.
Though she again gave a complaint the same day, police asked her to go to the police station where the eight
persons were present and they abused her there also, she said.
The Inspector, instead of registering a case, asked her to go for a compromise and withdraw the complaint,
which she did. Even after this, she continued to receive threats, she said.
The headmistress said she feared going to school without police protection. She said she had sent a complaint
to the Superintendent of police, Tirunelveli and the DIG on the 'inaction' of the Inspector, but no action had
been taken against him.
She sought a directive to register a case based on her complaint on April 12 2013 and also sought adequate
protection to enable her discharge her duties.
The Hindu
Divya to stay with mother till family accepts Dalit husband
Weeks after informing the Madras High Court that she had left her matrimonial home to live with her mother
only to avoid caste tensions, Vanniyar girl N. Divya of Dharmapuri on Monday told a Division Bench that she
would continue to stay with her mother until her family accepted her Dalit husband Ilavarasan, with whom she
is still in love.
In remarks that seemed to dispel the impression that she had completely sacrificed her inter-caste marriage to
Ilavarasan, Ms. Divya told Justice M. Jaichandren and Justice M.M. Sundresh, in a hearing held in the judges'
chamber, that she wanted her mother to accept her love.
"My mother has not accepted my marriage with him. But for the time being, I will be with her until she accepts
my love."
Her marriage to Ilavarasan of Natham Colony near Naikkankottai in Dharmapuri district had led to a mob fury against Dalits there last November. Her father committed suicide and a mob set fire to houses in the colony.
After living with him for eight months, Divya left him a month ago. On June 5, she appeared along with her
mother before the judges hearing a habeas corpus petition filed by Ilavarasan's mother.
With moist eyes, she had told the judges then that she wanted to go with her mother for the time being as she
was unable to cope with the mental stress caused by caste tension.
When the matter came up on Monday, the judges heard her alone in their chamber first, keeping lawyers of
both sides out.
Later, they briefed the advocates on what Divya had told them. The lawyers then briefed the media.
The Times Of India
Dalit outfit wants ban on book to be revoked
COIMBATORE: A petition was submitted by the Devendra Kulu Vellalar Peeravai (DKVP) on Monday to the
district collector demanding withdrawal of the ban imposed on 'Meendezhum Pandyar Varalaru' (Resurrection
of the Pandya history), a book authored by K Senthil Mallar, founder of Mallar Meetpu Kalam. The activists
claimed that the book was well-researched and contains nothing that can disrupt communal harmony.
The state government banned the book on May 30 alleging that it might hurt the sentiments of various
communities. The government order alleged that the author of the book has abused various castes and even
has drawn wrong aspersions on renowned freedom fighters including, Kattabomman, Pasumpon
Muthuramalingam, Kamarajar and Alagumuthu. The DKVP activists, however, refuted the allegation.
"In fact the author has even challenged that if the contents are proved to be something that can harm the
communal harmony, then he will pay Rs 10lakh as penalty," said V Nagendran the district president of DKVP.
The book according to him was based on various historical evidences including, manuscripts and inscriptions
to references in folk songs. He first studied various topics for years and then penned the book and even
consulted eminent writers.
Moreover, several parts of the book were based on contents published by books authorised by the
government, he said. L Sidharthan, a co-ordinator of the outfit, said the book which was in circulation for more
than a year had not caused any problem. Nor did anyone raise any issues till now. "This has raised suspicions
on the intention of such a move," he said.
Deccan Herald
Colleges flout quota rules for SC/ST aspirants
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/342189/colleges-flout-quota-rules-scst.html
Several Delhi University colleges are not following the criteria required for Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes admissions.
According to members of the Central Enabling Committee for SC/ST, Hindu College and Hansraj College are
not following the data (number of seats, students to be admitted and approximate percentage) on admission
criteria provided by the varsity. Despite repeated attempts, the college administration could not be contacted.
The Central Enabling Committee was formed by the vice chancellor to ensure smooth admission for SC/ST
students.
He said Hansraj College is also asking for Additional Eligibility Criteria (AEC) from SC/ST students applying for
Hindi (H) course. "As per norms, colleges cannot ask for AEC from reserved category students," he added.
The DU had scrapped AEC for all categories this year, and admissions are to be based on cut-offs.
Similarly, Dyal Singh College (evening) is also asking for AEC for SC/ST in a few courses. "My son had the
required cut-off percentage in the second list. But the college is asking for 80 per cent in English as AEC. My
son had 79 per cent and was refused admission on Monday," said a worried father.
Another issue faced by several SC/ST candidates is of documents. "There are instances where the student
does not have an SC/ST certificate on his or her name; however, they have their father's reserved category
certificate. In such cases, we are asking colleges to give provisional admissions," said S K Sagar, another
member of the committee. Such issues were also reported from Satyawati College (evening), Ambedkar
College and others.
According to rules, SC/ST admissions have to be given on the actual intake rather than the sanctioned
strength. "If there is an increase in the number of student intake in general category, a similar rise has to be
made for reserved category students. The same system was followed last year. It is too early to say if colleges
are flouting this rule," said Sagar.
Several teachers said that admitting reserved category students on the actual intake will lead to four-fold
admissions than the sanctioned strength.
According to Dhaniram, while each college is bound to set up a teachers' panel to check the SC/ST
admissions, most remain only on paper.
The New Indian Express
Excommunicated over no marriage invite, says Dalit
A Dalit family submitted a petition to Collector Ashish Kumar on Monday alleging that they were being
excommunicated by fellow Dalits in their village.
Head of the family, Muthukrishnan of Mullakadu, near Thoothukudi, said when his brother Thangamuthu got
married a year back, his uncle Gunasekaran, who was the panchayat president, was not invited.
As revenge, Gunasekaran, refused to receive donations from the family for the temple festival held in their
area, said Muthukrishnan. Gunasekaran had instead told Thangamuthu to pay a fine of `5,000, alleged
Muthukrishnan.
When the incident was reported to the Collector and Muthayapuram police, a peace meeting, mediated by the
sub-collector was organised and a donation of `2,001 was accepted from Thangamuthu.
Muthukrishnan said, even after the peace meeting, the situation did not improve. Now, his family is not invited
for any functions, and villagers prevent invitations sent to him from outside from reaching him.
Muthukrishnan said he had filed a writ case with the Madurai bench of Madras High Court, which directed the
district administration, Superintendent of Police and the Muthayapuram inspector to rescue the family.
Muthukrishnan said after the court order, three persons of the village, Muthu Ganapathy, Gunasekar and
Sandhanaraj, formed a kangaroo court and had ordered that villagers do not maintain links with the family.
They had also decided that donations from the family should not be accepted, said Muthukrishnan.
On Monday, he petitioned the Muthayapuram police to arrest the persons responsible for the excommunication
of his family and also urged the Collector to help set the situation right ahead of the upcoming temple festival
that is scheduled to be held on 28 August.
The Times Of India
Caste census to determine economic status of communities
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Times_of_India/400x60/0
BANGALORE: Nine years after it was mooted, Karnataka will have a caste census done to determine the
economic status of each community.
Siddaramaiah as deputy chief minister in the Congress-JD(S) coalition government had provided Rs two crore
in the budget. However, the proposal had not moved forward since then. The Centre has also contributed and
amount available now for the purpose is Rs 23 crore. "More than Rs 60 crore is required for the purpose. The
government is ready to fund the rest," he said.
Siddaramaiah maintained that census will help to know the exact number of population of the particular caste.
"It will also be possible for the government to socio-economic status of each caste and accordingly welfare
schemes of government can be reached to marginalized section," he said.
Welcoming the move by the government sociologist Prof G K Karanth of Institute of Socio Economic Change
(ISEC) said the census will help the government in preparing development and public expenditure and will
have clear idea of benefits to be reached. "All most all caste demand benefits from the government claiming
the numbers in them. The government can prioritize the schemes depending on the socio-economic status of
the particular community," he said.
According to him the move will put an end to speculation to the numbers they claim. "The proposal should
have political back up as it involves many things while doing the census. Karanth was apprehensive about the
mode of the carrying the survey.
He raised doubts on the government departments conducting census operations impartially and recommended
that a reputed research institutes with sociologists and socio-anthropologists should be given the task to do
the census. "Who will do it and how will you do it is the big questions. Appropriate methodology and human
resources should be adopted in this," he maintained.
Siddaramaiah's move for the caste census has found support from BJP quarters. MLA and former minister
Aravind Limbavali said census of each was necessary. "Census should have done long ago. At least this
government has shown interest in the doing it, which is welcome step," he said.
The Times Of India
Lucky to get community certificates on time, else approach court
http://www.indiapress.org/gen/news.php/The_Times_of_India/400x60/0
MADURAI: One may belong to a community, but where is the proof? But getting one is a tough task as it
depends on the whims of revenue authorities. Those who are denied community certificates finally approach
the courts and several cases are filed before the Madras high court bench every year in connection with these
prized document. In a recent case, the court had to intervene by directing the tahsildar of Agastheeswaram in
Kanyakumari district to issue a community certificate to a minor girl B Malhiya.
In fact, as per court rulings, obtaining a community certificate should be easy. In two separate cases, both the
Supreme Court and Madras high court had ordered that once the father and relatives are issued with
community certificates, the authorities are bound to issue community certificate to the legal heirs. But in
reality, the revenue authorities deny community certificates to applicants.
Malhiya needn't have approached the high court bench through a writ petition if the revenue authorities had
considered the proof that her father, V Baskaran, and elder sister, B Nandhini, had obtained certificates
indicating that they are Hindu sambavars, a scheduled caste community. It was the tahsildar of
Agastheeswaram who had issued community certificates to Baskaran and Nandhini in 1990 and 2004,
respectively. However, when Baskaran applied for the same to the same authority in 2012 for Malhiya's
educational purpose, it was denied, forcing the filing of the writ petition, said advocate Arunachalam who
appeared for the minor girl.
The case of final-year MBBS student, Soniya, indicates that for some reasons revenue officials are averse to
process applications on community certificates on time. Though, Soniya herself, her father and brother were
issued with scheduled caste certificates, when her certificate was referred for verification by her college
authorities, the revenue authorities ignored it, leading to the filing of a writ petition.
Both the petitions of Malhiya and Soniya were heard by the same division bench and orders were passed in
their favour last week, said senior counsel Ajmal Khan. "Time-bound action by the authorities is also required
in matters like this. Otherwise, concerned people will suffer," Khan said.
Revenue authorities should be sensitized on the timely issue of community certificates, said S Arunachalam, a
practicing lawyer at the Madurai bench. He further suggested that the matters relating to community
certificates have not been dealt under a codified law. It is dealt by the court's judgments. Revenue officials
should be apprised about them by conducting special classes, Arunachalam added.
Bellevision.com
Mangalore: Dalit Sangarsh Samiti seeks City Police Help in Awarding Justice for Domestic Help
http://www.bellevision.com/belle/index.php?action=topnews&type=6391
Mangalore, 1 Jul 2013: The delegation of district Dalit Sangarsh Samiti (DSS) met City Police Commissioner
Manish Kardhikar, here on Sunday June 30, in order to seek justice for a certain woman, who worked as a
domestic help in the city.
DSS briefed Commissioner Manish that Shwetha, a woman hailing from Chandrapur village of Mudigere taluk
of Chikmagalur district worked as a housemaid for over 5 years with Anita Celly, who is living in Urwa, here.
Anita is married to a German national and visits her husband very often. Shwetha fell in love with a certain
Ashraf who was working in a mobile recharge shop in the same locality. This person had hidden his true
identity tried to exploit her innocence and she became pregnant. Shwetha reported the matter with her
employer Anitha, when she was 2 months pregnant. Anitha advised Shwetha not to abort her baby, instead
assured of caring after the childbirth. Her lover was gone untraceable.
Meanwhile, Shwetha delivered the baby prematurely at the state-run Lady Goschen Hospital, here. She was
discharged in a few days from the hospital and returned to her employer's home along with the newborn.
Shwetha tried to juggle her household chores along with caring for her baby. However, one day Anita advised
Shwetha that its better the baby can be given away to an ashram as juggling both the tasks are straining.
Anita asked Shwetha to get some fish and vegetables from the market, when she had returned her baby was
missing. Shwetha asked Anita about the baby, while Anita said that she had given away to an ashram that will
look after and return.
Anita began to mentally and physically harass Shwetha who had to work meekly hoping for the safety of her
baby whose whereabouts known by only Anita. After suffering for many years, Shwetha left the service with
Anita who was paying her just Rs 1,500 per month and over the years accumulated several thousands of
unpaid wages.
Once Shwetha was employed elsewhere in the city, her case was referred to DSS by some samaritans. DSS
lodged complaint with Urwa police for mental abuse on Shwetha by Anita on May 19 2013. A complaint was
lodged with women and child welfare department and SC/ST – CR cell on June 28 2013, seeking justice for
Shwetha in tracing her baby, to recover unpaid wages and get compensation for mental abuse.
When DCC called Anita to know about the baby where it was cared for, she was ambiguous in her reply. It
further complicated the issue, in seeking the intervention of city police.
DSS district president Anandadas, Sadashiv, Sridar, Bhoja and Ravi Kumar were present at the occasion.
Deccan Herald
Protection of Dalits
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/342094/protection-dalits.html
The government's decision to widen the scope of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
(Prevention of Atrocities) Act, to make its provisions more stringent and to make their enforcement
more effective is welcome in view of the increase in the number of offences committed against Dalits
and the failure of the existing law to deal effectively with them. The proposed amendments are
expected to be introduced in the monsoon session of Parliament. The move may have an electoral
intent but that does not detract from the case for strengthening the law. The experience of
implementing the law in the last over two decades has shown that it does not cover some offences
and that there are many loopholes which are often taken advantage of. Caste biases, discrimination,
violence, insults, and unfair and unequal practices directed against the weakest sections continue in
various ways in personal interactions and social and economic life.
Unjust practices like denial of common resources and prevention of entry into places of worship, dispossession
of land, social and economic boycott, forced labour and obstacles to political activity will come under the
purview of the amended act. Refusal of police and other authorities to recognize complaints or register cases
has been a problem. A deadline for investigation and action has been proposed with penalty for violations.
There will also be special courts for faster trials and time-bound completion of cases. Loopholes like the
provision relating to proof of identity have also been taken care of.
In spite of the existence of the law, crimes against SCs and STs have been increasing in the country, though a
large number of offences are not even recorded. This may be because of increased awareness of the law. But
it might also show that the treatment of Dalits and societal attitudes towards them are worsening and that they
need greater legal protection. What is worse, conviction rate in cases relating to caste offences is very low.
Personal, social and institutional biases have all been at work in the treatment of SCs and the STs. This
cannot be countered only with the help of law, however comprehensively it is drafted and however efficiently it
is implemented. While effective law is an essential requirement, it is equally important to improve the social
and economic status of SCs and STs.
News Monitor by Girish Pant--
.Arun Khote
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
...................................................................
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.
Dalits Media Watch is a collective intervention of SWADHIKAR- PMARC.
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.
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