Monday, April 16, 2012

Dalit teenager raped, killed

Dalits Media Watch

News Updates 15.04.12

 

Dalit teenager raped, killed - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Dalit-teenager-raped-killed/articleshow/12673990.cms

Dalit man ends life, cops blamed - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Dalit-man-ends-life-cops-blamed/articleshow/12669910.cms

Dalit students shun this government school - The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3315446.ece

Ambedkar statue desecrated - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Ambedkar-statue-desecrated/articleshow/12668638.cms

Varsity students meet Punia with demands - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Varsity-students-meet-Punia-with-demands/articleshow/12669703.cms

MHA: arms licences to SCs, STs for safety - The Asian Age

http://www.asianage.com/india/mha-arms-licences-scs-sts-safety-800

Forming separate party will not help Dalits: Chidambaram - IBN Live

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/forming-separate-party-will-not-help-dalits-chidambaram/986237.html

P.Chidambaram to Inaugurate Home Minsters' Conference on Effective Implementation of SC/ST PoA Act - PIB

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=82270

Leader's outburst irks Dalits at Ambedkar Jayanthi event - Deccan Herald

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/242147/leaders-outburst-irks-dalits-ambedkar.html

Row over temple fest claims 3 Dalits - IBN Live

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/row-over-temple-fest-claims-3-dalits/248854-60-118.html

CM bets big on rural sanitation - IBN Live

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cm-bets-big-on-rural-sanitation/248806-60-115.html

Express News Service

DV Sadananda Gowda faces dalit ire at function - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/DV-Sadananda-Gowda-faces-dalit-ire-at-function/articleshow/12668956.cms

 

The Times Of India

 

Dalit teenager raped, killed

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Dalit-teenager-raped-killed/articleshow/12673990.cms

 

PTI | Apr 15, 2012, 01.41PM IST

 

SITAPUR (UP): A 14-year-old dalit girl has been raped and killed allegedly by two persons, one of them a relative, in Imalia Sultanpur area here.

 

The deceased was forcibly kidnapped by Manoj and Rinku while she was sleeping with her mother outside their house in Kurka village yesterday, DSP Jitendra Srivastava said.

 

She was then raped and strangled to death by them, he said.

 

Manoj, who is a relative of the victim, has been arrested while the other accused is absconding.

 

The Times Of India

 

Dalit man ends life, cops blamed

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/madurai/Dalit-man-ends-life-cops-blamed/articleshow/12669910.cms

 

TNN | Apr 15, 2012, 04.22AM IST

RAMESWARAM: Tension gripped Parthabanur near here on Friday when a 28-year-old dalit allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison after three police personnel reportedly assaulted him and his father when they had gone to lodge a complaint at a police station, police said.

 

Police said Balamurugan and his father had gone to lodge a complaint against a neighbour when they were allegedly insulted and assaulted on Friday.

 

Unable to bear the insult, the man allegedly committed suicide by consuming poison, police said.

 

As the news about his death spread, people picketed the police station and demanded action against head constables Paramasivam and Bose and assistant sub-inspector Chittan.

 

The crowd dispersed only after a case was registered against the three police personnel, sources added. agencies

 

The Hindu

 

Dalit students shun this government school

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article3315446.ece

P. V. Srividya

 

54 children eligible for primary schooling from these families prefer private schools  Across the country, doors of even private schools are set to open for the weaker sections, thanks to the Right to Education Act, but here is a government primary school run by a local body in Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu that does not have a single Dalit student.

 

Even though there are Dalit communities in areas such as Pachayankadu and Therukkukadu near Vedaranyam, their children keep away from the school.

 

Until the mid-1980s, Dalit children from these two habitations were being enrolled in the Panchayat Union Government Primary School at Pachayankadu, but alleged discriminatory treatment led to their en masse withdrawal in protest, says Birla Thangadurai, grandson of one of those who led the protest then.

 

"We only go to cast our votes in that school," Birla Thangadurai, a resident and a member of the district committee against bonded labour.

 

The ward has over 100 Dalit families in the Scheduled Caste colony here, but 54 children eligible for primary schooling from these families are studying in private schools in adjoining villages.

 

When the children were pulled out from the panchayat union school, it was a private school run by a caste Hindu that opened its doors to them, but until today, they stay away from the panchayat union school located in their midst.

 

"To my knowledge, there were several Dalit students in early eighties, but none since then," says Ponazhagan, a retired VAO.

 

"But, I am not aware of any overt discrimination, perhaps there were no committed teachers to ensure enrolment of Dalits since then," he says.

 

Acknowledging the absence of Dalit students for years, Anbazhagan, Headmaster of the Panchayat Union Primary School, said he hoped to enrol at least 10 students in the coming academic year by canvassing in Dalit colonies.

 

'A travesty'

"It is a travesty not to have a single Dalit enrolled in a government school, irrespective of one's memories of discrimination," says Mr. Thangadurai.

 

He would like to see his five-year-old daughter join the Panchayat Union School.

 

The Times Of India

 

Ambedkar statue desecrated

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/Ambedkar-statue-desecrated/articleshow/12668638.cms

 

TNN | Apr 15, 2012, 01.33AM IST

 

HYDERABAD: Mild tension prevailed as an Ambedkar statue at Hasthinapur crossroads in Vanasthalipuram was desecrated by miscreants in the wee hours of Saturday. Ironically, locals were decorating the statue for Ambedkar jayanti till late hours on Friday.

 

The Cyberabad police said a case was registered following the incident under section 153 A (Promoting enmity between two groups either in the name of caste or religion) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

 

."On the eve of Ambedkar jayanti, locals were decorating his statue. They left the location at around 1 am. However, at around 5 am, locals noticed that the right hand of the statue was damaged," Vanasthalipuram sub-inspector Y Venkatanarayana said.

 

The Times Of India

 

Varsity students meet Punia with demands

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Varsity-students-meet-Punia-with-demands/articleshow/12669703.cms

 

TNN | Apr 15, 2012, 04.00AM IST

 

LUCKNOW: Continuing their protest, first semester scheduled caste MBA students ofLucknow University met Scheduled Castes Commission chairman PL Punia and handed over a representation to him. The students have alleged anomalies in evaluation process, as a result of which more than 50% students have failed the exams. The students have also alleged discrimination against them by department teachers.

 

Punia told TOI that he has sought a report on the matter.

 

LU had declared the first semester MBA result on April 3. While 29 students have got a year back, 40 have been failed in one or two subjects. Out of these, 18 students belong to SC category. Besides re-evaluation, students are also demanding the removal of head of the department. 

On Saturday, these students came out with a list of complaints against the university. These included lack of placement cell, 24 hours closure of computer labs, regular teachers taking irregular classes and no remedial classes for SC/ST and poor students. "The university charges Rs 8,000 in the name of placement cell. However, no such cell exists,'' said a student. They added that despite charging Rs 75,000 (though it is reimbursed by social welfare department), students are deprived of basic facilities.

 

SC students have also alleged that teachers in MBA department are indifferent towards them. The students have demanded promotion to the next semester and postponement of second semester exams scheduled from April 23.

 

LU spokesman Prof Rajesh Mishra said: "The charge of opening and closing the computer lab is given to the students as there are limited staff. Management teachers have been taking extra classes but there is no such terminology as remedial classes. Also, there are nine regular teachers for first and second semesters who take regular classes.''

 

He added that the university does not discriminate against students. "No discrimination of any kind, caste, creed, religion or gender is done in the university. The students have failed due to poor performance in both internal assessment and external examinations.''

 

On the absence of placement cell, LU says the management teachers themselves act like a cell.

 

The Asian Age

 

MHA: arms licences to SCs, STs for safety

http://www.asianage.com/india/mha-arms-licences-scs-sts-safety-800

 

Apr 14, 2012 - Namrata Biji Ahuja

Attaching the highest importance to prevention and control of crimes against SCs and STs, the Union home ministry has told states that "arms licences should be provided to members of SCs and STs" in "atrocity-prone areas" to safeguard themselves and their property, and if necessary arms licences of those persons who are not members of SCs and STs should be cancelled. Not only the SC/ST members in atrocity prone areas can face cancellation of their arms licences, their near relations, servants or employees and family friends will also face the same action, if deemed necessary, and their arms would be deposited in the government armoury, the ministry has said citing the Prevention of Atrocities (POA) Rules.

 

The home ministry has also suggested "externment of persons likely to commit atrocity offences from scheduled areas" or tribal areas under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The preventive steps outlined by the MHA also includes seizure of illegal fire arms and deploying special force in identified areas.

 

The home ministry's note to states comes ahead of the first meeting convened by the MHA with state home ministers on April 17 to review the implementation of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act across the country. In many states, the chief ministers are holding charge of the home portfolio and will attend the meet which comes a day after the chief ministers conference on Internal Security.

 

Thirteen states including Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat, Chattisgarh , Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Karnataka have already identified the "atrocity prone" or sensitive areas.
Latest figures with the home ministry show that there is a high pendency of SC related cases in courts during 2008-2010

 

IBN Live

 

Forming separate party will not help Dalits: Chidambaram

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/forming-separate-party-will-not-help-dalits-chidambaram/986237.html

 

PTI | 11:04 PM,Apr 14,2012

Chennai, Apr 14 (PTI) Union Home Minister P Chidambaram today said Dalits forming a separate party would not help them get political power. "In my opinion, there should not be a separate party for Dalits. They can join Congress or Communist parties or the state parties. But forming a separate party for Dalits will not help them get political power," he said speaking at the birthday anniversary of Baba Saheb B R Ambedkar here. Jagjivan Ram became Defence Minister and Meira Kumar was made Speaker of the Lok Sabha only during Congress' rule, he said. "Look at who were the Home Ministers, Finance Ministers and PWD Ministers during DMK and AIADMK governments. But Congress had made P Kakkan Home Minister long back," he said. Underlining the importance of the recent Supreme Court verdict on the Right To Education Act, he called upon his partymen to ensure implementation of the Act in letter and spirit from this academic year.

 

PIB

 

P.Chidambaram to Inaugurate Home Minsters' Conference on

Effective Implementation of SC/ST PoA Act

http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=82270

 

 Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India, will host Conference of State Home Ministers on effective implementation of SCs/STs Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989 in New Delhi on April 17, 2012. Union Home Minister, Sh. P. Chidambaram will inaugurate the conference. Union Minister for Social Justice & Empowerment, Shri Mukul Wasnik and Labour Minister, Shri Malliakarjun Kharge will also attend the conference.

 

The conference will deliberate on the status of necessary institutional framework for the protection of SCs/STs rights, registration and investigation of offences under PoA Act, delineation of atrocity prone areas and preventive action in regard thereto, and pendency nd conviction rate of cases under PoA Act. Issues of awareness, sensitization and training will also be discussed so as to make the Act more effective.

 

Deccan Herald

 

Leader's outburst irks Dalits at Ambedkar Jayanthi event

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/242147/leaders-outburst-irks-dalits-ambedkar.html

 

Kolar, Apr 14, 2012, DHNS :

 

The contractors supplying food at Scheduled Caste hostels are Dalit leaders, yet, the residents of the hostels are deprived of good quality food, accused local Dalit leader Vijaya Kumar.

 

He spoke out during the programme at T Chennayya Rangamandira observing the 121st birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar on Saturday.

 

His allegations, however, led to commotion, disturbing the flow of the programme, which began at 3.15 pm.

 

Dalit leaders Dr M Chandrashekhar, Pandit Munivenkatappa and Chalapathi spoke during the event.

Kumar, who spoke next, expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of food provided at hostels for scheduled caste students. "Dalit leaders have taken up contract for providing food at the hostels, but they are cheating by depriving students of their communities of quality food," he added.

Midway

Even as he was speaking, however, Dalit leaders who were part of the audience started objecting to the allegations. Many of them even climbed on the dais and besieged Kumar.
Some of the Dalit leaders also challenged Kumar demanding that he 'provide records of his property before making allegations'.

 

The sudden change in situation took the District In-charge Minister Varthur Prakash and Deputy Commission Manoj Kumar Meena by surprise.

 

The Superintendent of Police, Ram Niwas Sepat, however, took charge immediately, rushing to the steps to the dais, to prevent members of the audience from climbing on stage. The DC and tahsildar Muniveerappa, who were still on dais, also tried to pacify the angry audience.

 

After about 10 minutes of confusion, during which many persons among the audience left the hall, Vijaya Kumar's speech was cancelled. The programme continued peacefully.
'Anti-Dalit policy'

 

Ambedkar Jayanthi was observed in Malur on Saturday in the midst of protests by Dalit organisations accusing the taluk administration of implementing anti-Dalit policies.

 

The taluk administration had unanimously decided during the preparatory meeting on April 2 to honour 10 Dalit achievers. The invitation to the programme, however, carried names of 23 BJP activists in addition to 10 achievers.

 

Upset by the 'anti-Dalit policy' of the administration, activists of taluk Dalit organisations boycotted the programme. Instead, they sat outside shouting slogans against the taluk administration.

 

S N Krishnaiah Setty, legislator, meanwhile arrived for the formal programme, involving garlanding the statue of Dr B R Ambedkar at the park near the bus stand. He continued with the ceremony amidst shoutings by the protesters.

 

Activists demand land

Dalit activists staged a protest outside the Deputy Commissioner's office in Kolar on Friday, accusing the Central government of failing to live up to its promise of providing land to Dalits.

 

The Central government had promised to distribute three-fourths of its additional land among Dalits on the occasion of Dr B R Ambedkar's birth centenary. But, it has taken no move in this direction so far, alleged members of the District Human Rights' Forum for Dalit Freedom.

 

"It is already two decades since the Central government declared in 1992 to reserve and distribute government land among Dalits and tribals. But the process is yet to begin," the protesters said and urged the government to implement the plans at least now.

 

"People, who have submitted forms 50 and 53 under Survey number 65 of the gomala land in Hirekarapanahalli in Kasaba hobli of Bangarpet taluk and are carrying out cultivation, are yet to get the cultivation chits.

 

In contrast, one person from Bangalore has encroached upon about 100 acres of land under Survey number 157 in Balamande gomala of Boodikote hobli. The government should take action to gain the land back," they urged.

 

The protesters also submitted a memorandum to Additional Deputy Commissioner R S Peddappaiah.

 

IBN Live

 

Row over temple fest claims 3 Dalits

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/row-over-temple-fest-claims-3-dalits/248854-60-118.html

 

Express News Service

 

BATLAGUNDU.doc: Three persons were killed and 11 injured when a group of people attacked members of the same Dalit community near Nilakkottai in Dindigul district on Saturday.

 

According to police, there was a previous enmity between two groups, headed by Rathinam and Periyabose, over conduct of festival at Muthalamman Temple in Vilaampatti village. This led to a tussle between the groups on Friday, but the police pacified them.

 

Meanwhile, a gang of 30 persons of Rathinam group armed with deadly weapons on Saturday morning entered the East Street of the village, where Periyabose and his supporters are living and allegedly attacked them.Of the three victims, two were identified as Satishkumar (35), son of Periyabose and V Pitchai (50) were killed and 11 others were injured in the attack.

 

Vilampatti police have registered murder case against 15 persons. Police security in the area has been beefed up.

 

Police said the the Periyabose group, which conducted the Muthalamman festival, did not involve the Rathinam group in the festivities that ended on Saturday morning and this might have led to the attack.

 

IBN Live

 

CM bets big on rural sanitation

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/cm-bets-big-on-rural-sanitation/248806-60-115.html

Express News Service

 

BANGALORE: Expressing concern at the lack of sanitation facilities in backward regions of the state, Chief Minister DV Sadananda Gowda announced to enhance the subsidy for constructing individual toilets in such places from the existing Rs 3,000 to Rs 10,000.

 

Speaking at the 121st birth anniversary celebrations of Dr BR Ambedkar organised by the social welfare department at the Vidhana Soudha on Saturday, he said that this would be effected in Gulbarga, Raichur, Yadgir, Koppal, Bellary and Bidar districts this year. "More districts will be considered after discussions with the social welfare department," he said.

 

He vowed to end the practice of Dalit women in parts of rural Karnataka waiting till sunset to relieve themselves by extending financial assistance to construct toilets free of cost. "This practice will be history when we meet this time next year."

 

He stated that his government has taken several steps for the empowerment of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes. He said that the annual outlay for the social welfare department has been fixed at a record Rs 7,200 crore. "The doors of my office are wide open to all round-the-clock."

 

Social Welfare minister A Narayanaswamy appealed to the oppressed classes to avail the Right to Education Act.

 

"The state government is committed to implementing the RTE Act, which has been approved by the Cabinet."

 

Kannada and Culture Minister Govind M Karjol expressed concern at the trend of facilities meant for Dalits being misutilised by other communities.

 

Several dignitaries, including former state BSP president B Gopal, Unviersity of Mysore professor D Ramaswamy were presented with the Dr Ambedkar award.

 

The Times Of India

 

DV Sadananda Gowda faces dalit ire at function

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/bangalore/DV-Sadananda-Gowda-faces-dalit-ire-at-function/articleshow/12668956.cms

 

TNN | Apr 15, 2012, 02.21AM IST

BANGALORE: Chief minister DV Sadananda Gowda on Saturday faced some embarrassing moments when he was prevented by agitating dalits from garlanding the statue of Dr BR Ambedkar on his 121st birth anniversary. Police arrested three protesters before they chased away other agitators and making way for the CM to pay the floral tributes at the statue of Ambedkar at the east gate on Vidhana Soudha premises.

 

Karnataka Dalita Vedike, under the banner of the SC, ST Act Monitoring and Strengthening committee, Karnataka, an NGO working to monitor and prevent atrocities against SC and STs, staged protest as they were agitated against CM for not convening a review meeting on dalit atrocities. Reacting to the incident, Gowda said: "It is a very unfortunate incident at a time when the BJP government is taking all efforts for the welfare of the SC/STs. This only amounts to showing disrespect to a national leader.''

 

Kannada and culture minister Govind M Karjol said: "It is not proper for anybody to raise slogans and disrupt this programme. It is showing disrespect to Ambedkar himself."

 

 

-- 
.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. 

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