Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 01.07.12
Land recovery main focus at dalit meet - The Times Of India
Caste council in Rajasthan ostracises 40 Dalit families - News Track
Focus on SC, STs: Dy CM - Deccan Chronicle
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/136600
Committee for filling backlog posts in govt - Deccan Herald
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/260857/committee-filling-backlog-posts-govt.html
"Melavalavu massacre is a blot on grassroot democracy" - The Hindu
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article3589060.ece
The Times Of India
Land recovery main focus at dalit meet
M T Saju, TNN | Jul 1, 2012, 06.44AM IST
MADURAI: A year ago, when Chellammal questioned a non-dalit for executing a lease deed on her paddy land in Narasinganallur village in Tirunelveli after getting a thumb impression from her alcoholic husband, she had to face the wrath of the upper caste members. Attacked by a group, one of her eyeballs came out in the impact. So much was the force that the 50-year-old succumbed to her injuries the next day.
Chandra, another dalit, faced stiff opposition from the non-dalits when she conducted the marriage of her son V Ayyanar, an MPhil-holder. They even tore the interview cards being sent to Ayyanar from various companies. The non-dalits, who grabbed the paddy land of Chandra in Vellalakudi in Vazhapadi wanted the only Arundathiyar family to leave the village. So, when the deceased Chellammal's son Lakshmanan and Chandra along with other 27 dalits raised their issues before the People's Tribunal for Legal Redressal, an informal jury comprising activists, professors and writers, what they wall wanted was their paddy lands back. Apparently, the main focus was the grabbing of panchami land by the non-dalits from the dalits. At least 28 cases of land rights violation were heard at the tribunal, conducted by Evidence, an NGO, based in Madurai on Saturday. Among the 300 dalits, taken for study from the villages of Tamil Nadu, almost all were subjected to violations related to land rights.
About 3.2 lakh acres of panchami lands were distributed to dalits in 1892, thanks to the initiative by J H A Tremem Heere, then district collector of Chengalpet. A study conducted by Evidence claims there are only 1,26,113 panchami lands in Tamil Nadu now. "Only 3,000 acres of lands are in the hands of dalits. The remaining were grabbed from the dalits over the time," says the study.
The jury, however, advised the victims to be more practical in taking their decisions. "If we ask you to come for a workshop or function, you will first ask whether we get food or travel allowance. You should realise the potential of the panchami lands and the role played by them in our lives. So you have to unite. If you don't, you will not be able to reclaim your lands," said P Sivakami, founder-president of Samuga Samathuva Padai.
Talking about an episode from her own life, the Tamil writer said it was the decision of her father not to sell his paddy land which helped her get an IAS. "My father didn't sell the paddy land. He was aware of grabbing. So I could complete my study from income we got from the land," she said. At least 300 dalits from various parts of the state participated in the event. Grabbing of panchami land and other lands of dalits is on the rise, according to Prof Palaniduari of Gandhigram University, a jury member.
News Track
Caste council in Rajasthan ostracises 40 Dalit families
Rajasthan,Crime/Disaster/Accident,Immigration/Law/Rights, Sat, 30 Jun 2012 IANS
Jaipur, June 30 (IANS) A caste council in a village in Rajasthan's Udaipur district ordered residents to ostracize 40 Dalit families when one of them disobeyed its dictat to stop constructing a new house, police said.
According to police, the incident took place Cheepala village in Udaipur district, some 400 km from Jaipur.
"A Dalit family was constructing a house in the village. The neighbour who belonged to Rajput community objected to the construction of a sun shed and demanded that the entire portion of the house on his side be razed down," said a police officer.
He added that when the family did not raze down the portion, the neighbour approached the caste council in the village.
"It slapped a fine of Rs.21,000 on the dalit family and ordered to expel all the 40 families belonging to Dalits in the village from the society. It means that they would not be able to mingle with others and would not be able to buy grocery items from the shops. Supply of milk, water and other items were also prohibited," said the officer.
These Dalit families approached the police Friday evening and lodged a case.
"We are investigating the case," said the officer.
Deccan Chronicle
Focus on SC, STs: Dy CM
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/node/136600
July 1, 2012
By DC Correspondent
The deputy chief minister and Cabinet SC, ST sub-plan committee chairman, Mr Damodara Raja Narasimha, said that funds would be allocated for development of SCs and STs based on their population in the state.
The deputy chief minister and Cabinet SC, ST sub-plan committee chairman, Mr Damodara Raja Narasimha, said that funds would be allocated for development of SCs and STs based on their population in the state.
Speaking at the SC, ST sub-plan meeting here on Saturday, he said that the sub-plan committee was touring the state to get public opinion on the issue.
Mr Raja Narasimha said that based on suggestions received from people steps would be taken for the development of SCs and STs. He said that the committee had so far toured four districts and would tour remaining districts in the coming one month and submit a report to the government by August 15.
Mr Raja Narasimha said that the report would be prepared after discussing the steps needed to be taken for development of SCs and STs, avoiding misuse and diversion of funds allocated for them and receiving feedback from people. The deputy chief minister said that former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had announced in 1979 that SC, ST sub-plan would be implemented. As it was not implemented so far, the UPA chairperson, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, had written a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, in last December on the issue.
Mr Raja Narasimha said that the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, had appointed a committee for the implementation of the sub-plan. He said that steps were taken to ensure that Rs.1,500 crore allocated for the development of education among SCs and STs was properly used.
The minister for major industries, Dr J. Geeta Reddy, said that orders were already issued to give priority to SCs and STs in setting up of industries. She said that SCs and STs should unitedly fight for their rights.
The law minister, Mr Erasu Pratap Reddy, said that the sub-plan committee was formed by the Chief Minister to help Dalits.
He hoped that Dalits would make rapid strides with the steps taken by government after the submission of report by the sub-committee.
Mr Pratap Reddy said that steps would be taken to allocate funds in all sectors for SCs and STs and funds were properly used.
The medical education minister, Mr Kondru Murali, MLAs Labbi Venkataswamy, Murali Krishna, Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, Sobha Nagi Reddy, K.E. Prabhakar, Katasani Rami Reddy, MLC Sudhakar Babu, district collector Ram Shanker Naik and others were present.
Deccan Herald
Committee for filling backlog posts in govt
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/260857/committee-filling-backlog-posts-govt.html
Mysore, June 30, 2012, DHNS:
Chairman of Legislative Committee for SC/ST Welfare M Chandrappa said the prohibition by the finance ministry on 26,000 backlog vacancies in various departments would be lifted and recruitment resumed to fill the posts by August 31.
Speaking to media persons here on Saturday, he said a recommendation in this regard has been forwarded to the government. If the government does not fill up the vacancies, a criminal case would be registered against it, he added.
He alleged that the forest department officials have been inhuman in committing atrocity against tribal people. "According to Forest Rights Act, tribal people should be allowed to make use of minor forest produce for their livlihood and forest officials should not take severe action against them, such as firing at them. The officials can only question them, if they are abiding by law. The officials have been directed not to restrict tribals from fishing, collecting fruits, honey and other produce," he said.
Chandrappa announced that Rs t7,500 crore has been reserved for SC and ST welfare programmes and urged the people to make use of the benefits. He said recommendations would be forwarded to the government for many other appropriate packages for the tribals.
Emphasising on harmony between tribal people and forest officials, he said there should be equal cooperation from both sides and both the parties should try to make adjustments under peculiar situations and strive for mutual peace. He said criminal cases would be registered against officials who treat tribal people inhumanly. Committee members Siddaraju,
uttarangashetty, Veeraiah and Ambarish were present.
Action against RFO, guards
Chairman of the Legislative Committee for SC/ST Welfare M Chandrappa said he has recommended for suspension of forest guards Govind and Makbul on charges of atrocity on tribal people and a transfer for Metikuppe range forest officer Santhosh Nayak for not taking action against the guards.
He said the forest department personnel have been inhuman in committing atrocity against tribal people at Hunasekuppe and G M Hadi hamlets in Hunsur taluk, in the district. The cases have come to light when we investigated into the allegations by tribal people when we toured the hadis, he added.
The Hindu
"Melavalavu massacre is a blot on grassroot democracy"
http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/article3589060.ece
D. Karthikeyan
Murder of six Dalits is a scar on history of oppressed classes: Thirumavalavan
It is only in India we have this practice of a human being cleaning and carrying the faecal matter of another human being, it is a shame that even during this age of advanced technological developments we have manual scavenging, said Thol.Thirumavalavan, MP, and president of Vidhuthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi.
Addressing the cadres who had gathered in thousands at Melavalavu near Melur in Madurai district on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of 'Melavalavu Massacre' on Saturday, he said that manual scavenging issue was raised by him in the parliament during the discussion on 'Railway Budget' and asked the Railways Minister to do away with the dry latrine system but there was no reply from him, Mr.Thirumavalavan said.
The VCK leader said that the gruesome murder of six Dalits including Murugesan, president of Melavalavu panchayat in broad daylight was a scar on the history of oppressed classes and a blot on rights of Dalits on grassroot democracy in Tamil Nadu. The sacrifice made by Murugesan and other Dalits in the face of various atrocities were important for the Dalit movement as they were made to claim lost rights. They lost their lives in the battle to uphold basic democratic and political rights and give shape to the dreams of Dr. Ambedkar.
Welcoming the Marxist's struggles against untouchability, he said that it was only after Ambedkar Centenary celebrations they started taking Ambedkar seriously and read him. "For both the Marxists and Tamil Nationalists caste was not at all an issue, they felt talking about caste could be detrimental to class struggle and Tamil nationalist solidarity," the MP said. VCK is the only party in Tamil Nadu which talks about the abolition of caste, even as the other progressive parties talk about abolition of untouchability.
He alleged that even the major Dravidian parties talk about caste and give importance to Dalits these days only to make sure that there is no Dalit assertion based on Thirumavalavan's emergence in Tamil Nadu politics. It is really a dangerous situation to note that a few caste-based political parties talking openly against inter-caste marriages and is issuing threats of dire consequences against such attempts. It is antithetical to the concept of social equality as State itself welcomes such moves and supports inter-caste marriages.
At Melavalavu, unmindful of threats from the dominant castes, Murugesan contested the election with the support of VCK and won. The VCK leader also remembered the sacrifice of two Dalits at Sennagarampatti who died fighting for land rights and few other Dalits who died fighting for auction rights over common property resources and fighting for stone quarrying rights against the oppressors. "We take oath here at Melavalavu every year to ensure that we are on the track to organise the oppressed and fight for their political rights," he said.
Clarifying that he had no desire for gold or jewellery, the call for donation of gold coins on his birthday on August 17 is part of fund drive to build the party and modernise it.
Earlier he paid floral tributes at the 'Viduthalai Kalam' memorial, gave dress materials to members of the families of victims, christened babies in chaste Tamil names. Cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), led by former MLA N. Nanmaran, S.K.Ponnuthai, All India Democratic Women's Association and members of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, including K. Samuel Raj, state general secretary, paid tributes at the memorial. Both VCK and CPI (M) alleged that police and district administration were curbing the rights of Dalits to paste posters and erect flex boards to observe an anniversary where the oppressed were victims.
Superintendent of Police V. Balakrishnan camped at Melur and monitored the movement of vehicles and supervised the security arrangements. The police took positions at vulnerable points along the Madurai-Melur National Highway.
.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.
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