24.09.2023.Untouchables news.by Sivaji.G.S.Dr Ambedkar Ambulanc Assn.Chennai.
Hundreds of women safai karmacharis take part in #StopKillingUs campaign in Delhi
Hundreds of women safai karmacharis gathered at the Jantar Mantar on August 28 in order expose the lies of the government about sewer and septic tank deaths at the Safai Karmachari Andolan’s (SKA’s) 475th day of #StopKillingUs campaign.
BEZWADA WILSON
SKA gave a national call to stop telling lies and end sewer and septic tank deaths. At the protest, the women safai karmacharis stated that dalit lives and dalit deaths are invisible to the government. They declared that sewer and septic tank deaths are caste atrocities. So they don’t matter to the government with its casteist mindset.
As many as 59 Indian citizens were killed in sewer and septic tanks in 2023 but the government denied and lied to Parliament that only nine persons died. Pained and deeply anguished by these blatant and continuous lies, SKA gave this call.
Women who lost their family members in sewer and septic tank cleaning came with evidences of the deaths along with photos of the deceased persons and exposed the government’s lies. They narrated that the government denial and negligence has increased their trauma. The country has forced youth as young as 18 to 25 years to get killed in sewer and septic tanks.
Infants and children of the deceased were also present in large numbers at Jantar Mantar with their mothers, asking, “Where is my father, who killed him?” Not even in a single case has the government done any justice by way of employment, pension, housing, education etc.
SKA has been raising the issue since very long that the government is repeatedly and deliberately fudging data on sewerage workers deaths. Why is the government making such false and misleading statements? How will we stop this atrocity of deaths in sewer and septic tanks if the government that is responsible to protect us is only interested in protecting the perpetrators of these caste atrocities?
SKA raised slogans, banners and placards at the protest site that pushed the demands; Guarantee Right to Life with dignity (Article 21), budget allocations to remove caste based discrimination in sanitation work, rehabilitation with dignity, zero tolerance for sewer and septic tank deaths etc.
Courtesy : Sabrang India
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News no. 2.
Adivasi Manch Pledges to Fight BJP Govt’s ‘Anti-Tribal’ Policies at National Conference
The fourth conference of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) stated that the present government is depriving adivasis of their forest, water, land, education, employment, and even gram sabhas.
SRUTI MD
Chennai: The Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM) pledged to safeguard and expand the hard-won customary rights of the forest-dwelling people in its fourth national conference held between September 19 and 21. It resolved to strengthen the struggles against the “anti-tribal policies of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Union government and the multi-pronged attacks on adivasi people”.
The three-day conference discussed a number of pressing issues affecting tribal people on Thursday. Large-scale land grabs, fund cuts, attacks on gram sabhas, shrinking education opportunities, unfulfilled vacancies in ft the public sector and the struggle to obtain Scheduled Tribe certificates were some of the issues.
On the final day of the conference, AARM elected a 61-member executive committee and 17-member national coordination committee (NCC) to lead the struggle at the national level. Jitendra Chaudhury was elected as the chairperson, Brinda Karat as vice chairperson, Pulin Bihari Baske as convenor, Dhulichand Meena and Thirupathi Rao as vice convenors and Dilli Babu as treasurer.
INAUGURAL SESSION
As part of the inaugural session, president Baburao hoisted the AARM flag, delegates paid homage to martyrs and vice president Tirupathi Rao moved the condolence resolution.
P Rajeeve, Kerala minister for industries and law, delivered the inaugural address. He said, “Although we belong to different ethnic groups, cultures and traditions, we are united by one point, that of being Indians. But the present BJP-led Union government is trying to destroy the philosophy of unity in diversity.”He added, “As a basic right, internet facility is taken to all parts of Kerala. Underprivileged and backward students are given financial assistance of up to Rs 25 lakh to study up to post-graduation. Poverty-free Kerala project plans to provide housing to the homeless by 2025.”
RESOLUTIONS PASSED
The conference rejected the recent amendments to the Forest Conservation Act of 1980, stating that they undermine the constitutional and legal rights of gram sabhas to own and manage forests. The amendments also usurp powers of the state government, the Manch observed.
The Manch expressed deep concern about the situation in Manipur underscoring that even after four months, the Northeastern state is far from returning to normalcy with thousands of people displaced. The conference condemned the horrific cases of sexual assault on Kuki-Zo tribal women, and the prime minister’s refusal to intervene – giving a free hand to the chief minister.
Brinda Karat addressed the delegates at the conference.
The AARM opposed the demand made by some RSS-affiliated organisations that adivasis converted to religions other than Hinduism, particularly Christianity, should be delisted from Scheduled Tribes. The resolution read: “A sinister objective of this campaign is to bring land belonging to Christian adivasis outside the coverage of protections granted by the Schedule V of the constitution to make land-grabbing easier.”
The conference also noted that adivasi/tribal does not refer only to people living in the hills, but the issues of urban people belonging to tribal communities will also be addressed by the Manch.
COMMISSIONED PAPERS
Studies were commissioned by the AARM to understand communalism among adivasis, the status of adivasi women, and the state of education among the tribes of India.
The paper on growing communalism among tribal people read: “The continual denigration of converted communities and the aggressive ‘ghar vapasi’ campaign by Hindutva forces have resulted in a significant divide between Christian and non-Chrisitan groups.”
The commission paper on everyday challenges and struggles of adivasi women argued that with the deepening capitalist and neo-liberal transformation, adivasi women emerge as the most vulnerable. “The limited rights that women in certain adivasi communities possessed, such as property transfer, are also being snatched away from her,” it said.
With the “disintegration of the adivasi world and proletarianisation”, adivasi women form a large part of the migrant labourers, and human trafficking and sex rackets are an offshoot of the migration, noted the paper.
The paper on the education of adivasi children observed: “Under the Modi government, the approach of the Indian State towards compulsory and universal education for all children shifted from an indifference to one of active obstruction. […] The prolonged closure of schools during the Covid-19 pandemic resulted in an irreparable loss to the education of adivasi children.” This has led to a large number of dropouts, irregular disbursement of scholarships, and learning gaps among students who returned to school, it states.
Leaders from fraternal organisations participated in the conference and extended their solidarity. Among them were Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) secretariat member G Sukumaran, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) general secretary Vijoo Krishnan, All India Agriculture Workers’ Union (AIAWU) general secretary B Venkat, Students Federation of India (SFI) president V P Sanu, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) secretary P Suganthi, and Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) leader Samuel Raj.
News no 3.
Bullies beat up Dalit youth for sitting in the temple: Victim said – They were saying that because of you he became untouchable, police did not take action
A case of a Dalit youth being beaten while sitting in a temple has come to light in Kanpur. The victim youth told that he was sitting in the temple on the morning of 21st September. Then some people living in the village came and forbade him to sit in the temple. When he protested, people beat him with sticks. The victim went to the police, but even after two days no action was taken.
The victim and his family and village people reached the Police Commissioner’s office on Saturday and complained, after which the police assured that the matter will be investigated and action will be taken. The matter pertains to Mahadevan Pataleshwar temple of Sen West Para policce.
Victim Gulshan Nagar told that he was sitting in the temple at around 10 am on September 21. Sonu Pal, Monu Pal and Shiv Balak, residents of the same village, saw him sitting in the temple and said that because of you the temple has become untouchable. Therefore, give 10 thousand rupees, the temple has to be washed. I said that everyone can sit in the temple. After this, the youth who refused beat him with sticks. After this he also went to the police station, but even after two days, no hearing took place. Gulshan Nagar’s brother said that the application itself was written in the police station. Apart from this, the medical report was also not shown despite asking for it. Therefore, a complaint has been lodged with the Police Commissioner on Saturday at the Police Commissioner’s office located at Civil Lines.
Action will be taken after investigation
ADCP Ankita Singh said that cognizance has been taken of the matter. Along with this, instructions have also been given for investigation. After investigation, if the allegations are found true, strict action will be taken.
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News no 4.
Kolar | Assault by Savarna woman; Dalit youth commits suicide
An incident in which a dalit youth committed suicide after being attacked by a savarnaiya woman with a broom took place in Ulagere village of Malur taluk of Kolar district.
Srinivas (32), a Dalit youth, and Ashok (32), an upper caste, were friends and daily laborers.
“Srinivas had raised doubts about Ashok’s wife’s behaviour and scolded Ashok. Due to this, Ashok had a fight with his wife. Enraged by this, Manjula took her husband and went to Srinivas’s house, saying that because of this, there is a problem in their family.”
After the incident Srinivas, unable to bear the humiliation, committed suicide by hanging himself. It is reported that Ashok and his wife Manjula, who belong to the Tigla community, have been detained and are being investigated.
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News no 5.
DALIT WOMEN MADHYA PRADESH NEWS STATE
MP witnesses rising violence against tribals as BJP youth wing leader is caught beating an elderly tribal
The opposition has condemned the incident, accusing the ruling BJP government of being “anti-tribal”, after the video went viral this week on social media. However, even more videos of tribal being beaten and assault continue to emerge from the state.
A video capturing an office bearer of the BJP’s youth wing allegedly assaulting an elderly tribal man near the body of another tribal man who had tragically lost his life in a road accident has caught the headlines. The opposition has seized upon the incident, criticising the ruling BJP government for being against the interests of tribals. The attack comes at the heels of a rising number of violence against Dalit and Tribal populations in Madhya Pradesh. The state only last month saw the brutal murder and rape of a young tribal child by a dominant caste Thakur man.
This is another incident of violence and humiliation by upper castes against tribal people. On September 18, Bhoma Singh, a 60-year-old individual, was involved in a fatal accident while riding his motorcycle. The accident occurred when his bike collided with a pickup truck, and it led to his death. Barnu Singh Marawi, aged 57 on the other hand was the passenger on the bike riding with the now deceased Bhoma Singh, survived the accident only to become the target of an assault by the accused. He was beaten viciously with slippers as he tried to recover from the accident. The accused is identified as Jaiganesh Dixit, who held the position of Anuppur (rural) Mandal president within the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha.
The incident gained significant attention after a video of the altercation went viral. It led to Jaiganesh Dixit’s removal from his position. In a formal communication addressed to the accused, Ravindra Rathore, the district BJP Yuva Morcha president, stated that Dixit’s actions constituted “gross indiscipline.”
The incident has triggered vehement condemnation from the opposition, which has accused the ruling BJP government of fostering an “anti-tribal” environment. Taking to social media, Congress leader Kamal Nath directed a pointed message at Chief Minister Chouhan, declaring, “You cannot ignore this gruesome video. Next to the dead body of a tribal man in Anuppur district, a BJP leader is seen beating another tribal man with a slipper. When you cannot stop atrocities on tribals, at least resign from the post of CM. The hypocrisy of washing feet cannot atone for your cruel rule. You have not only made Madhya Pradesh number one in atrocities against tribals but have also made the state number one in the level of cruelty in such incidents.”
Nath continued, “Have you given a licence to BJP workers to commit atrocities against tribals? A tribal daughter and five family members are buried alive in Nemawar. In Neemuch, a tribal youth was tied to a vehicle and dragged to death. A tribal youth in Sidhi was urinated upon. And every time, the person committing atrocities against tribals is either a leader of BJP or someone associated with it.”
The All India Trinamool Congress to spoke on the event, asking if the BJP government has given a licence to BJP workers to assault a tribal.
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh
In the state of Madhya Pradesh, specifically in Shahdol, a young tribal girl was beaten violently at the hands of a group of assailants while she was on her way to college. In the video that was posted on social media on September 16th, one can see the assailants repeatedly come to try and beat her again despite there being others present with a camera recording going on.
Shahdol, Madhya Pradesh
Once again in Madhya Pradesh’s Shahdol a horrifying incident occurred where a 55-year-old elderly tribal woman was brutally assaulted at the hands of three women. This attack was reportedly fuelled by suspicions of witchcraft against the victim. Incidents of violence against tribal women have seen increasingly less coverage except by alternate media.
These horrifying incidents against tribals come from the BJP-ruled state even as top BJP leaders visit the state every now and then. Just in July this year in fact, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the state and held special sessions with tribal women in Shahdol itself.
According to an analysis by CJP, the surge in anti-tribal violence has become an alarming concern. There is also a significant backlog of cases that are awaiting investigation. As of the year 2021, there were a staggering 70,818 reported cases of atrocities against Scheduled Castes and 12,159 cases against Scheduled Tribes pending investigation. According to data sourced from the National Crime Records Bureau report of 2021, a total of 2,63,512 cases involving SCs and 42,512 cases involving STs had been brought before the courts for trial.
Furthermore in in 2020, the Citizens for Justice and Peace initiated action by approaching the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes in response to the injustice faced by members of the nomadic Van Gujjar tribe within the jurisdiction of Rajaji National Park in Dehradun. Starting from June 16, 2020, forest officials had reportedly been subjecting the community residing in the Asharodi Forest of Rajaji National Park to continuous harassment. This relentless persecution culminated in the arrest of several members of a particular family, as well as injuries sustained by others who were subsequently admitted to hospitals. Tribals in India suffer from increasing marginalisation and violence. There is a dire need for these issues to be addressed robustly in order to ensure violence against the marginalised group stops.
Courtesy : Sabrang India
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News no 6.
The government has also appointed five others as the members of the Commission.
Hyderabad: The State government, which appointed Bakki Venkataiah as chairman of the Telangana State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes, issued orders via Chief Secretary A Santhi Kumari in the name of the Governor on Saturday.
The government has also appointed five others as the members of the Commission.
Bakki Venkataiah, (SC- Mala), a resident of Bhompally, Dubbaka mandal of Siddipet district will head the Commission. Those appointed as members are Kusram Neela Devi (ST –Gond) from Adilabad district, Rambabu Naik ( ST – Lambada) from Nalgonda district, Konkati Lakshmi Narayana ( SC- Madiga ) from, Karimnagar district, Jilla Sjhankar (SC- Madiga) from Nalgionda district and Renikunta Praveen ( SC – Madiga ) from Adilabad district.
News no 7.
How caste discrimination claim by Pinarayi cabinet minister has stirred Kerala
Political parties are in solidarity with K. Radhakrishnan even as the temple association says the incident was misinterpreted
Kerala devaswom minister K. Radhakrishnan’s allegation that he was subjected to caste discrimination at a temple event back in January has sent shockwaves across the state. Radhakrishnan, a Dalit, has claimed that priests at the Nambyathra Kovval Siva Temple in Payyannur, Kannur district, treated him like an untouchable while he was attending an official function.
Inaugurating a meeting organised by the Bharathiya Velan Service Society on September 19 in Kottayam, the CPI(M) leader shared the alleged incident. Recalling the matter with INDIA TODAY, Radhakrishnan said: “It all happened on January 26 at the Nambyathra Kovval Siva Temple. I was inaugurating a courtyard shed sponsored by the Devaswom Board. During the inaugural, the main priests lighted the lamp and handed it over to the assistant priest. After lighting the lamp, the assistant priest put the lamp on the floor without handing it over to me. The priests, however, practise no discrimination while accepting funds from a Dalit minister or Dalit worshippers. The incident really shocked me.”
According to Radhakrishnan, he decided to reveal the incident not to trigger a controversy but to expose how caste system lurked in Kerala society. “Some people stuck in the olden times believe caste system still exists even as the country has progressed with scientific achievements like the Chandrayaan mission. Their mindsets need to be changed,” he said.
Radhakrishnan, 59, is a central committee member of the CPI(M) and represents the Chelakkara assembly seat. A minister in his second term and a former assembly speaker, he is one of the most respected politicians in Kerala and enjoys a clean image.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said the “caste discrimination against minister Radhakrishnan was shocking”. “Based on the details, we will take action against persons, if necessary,” he said.
After Radhakrishnan’s remarks went viral, the Akhila Kerala Thanthri Samajam (priests’ association of Kerala) issued a press release that during puja, temple priests were forbidden from touching anyone, and that the minister was ignorant about temple practices.
Radhakrishnan countered this by saying that when the priests came for the event through a public gathering, they were touched by many people.
Later, the chief priest of the Nambyathra Kovval Shiva Temple told the media that “no custom or tradition prevented the chief priest from handing over the lamp to the minister for the inauguration”. “The inexperience of the priest might have led to the unfortunate incident of the lamp not being handed over to the minister,” said Tharananallur Padmanabhan Unni Nampoothirippad. According to him, while every temple followed its own established customs and practices, there were no restrictions in place regarding the lamp-handing protocol.
Leaders across political parties have shown solidarity with Radhakrishnan. While Congress leader and leader of the Opposition in the state assembly V.D. Satheesan demanded action against those who had discriminated against the minister, the CPI(M) said the incident had shamed Kerala. “It’s shocking that some people follow the caste system and make lame excuses. They will soon realise that they have no place in Kerala society, which has progressed and changed radically,” said A. Vijayaraghavan, CPI(M) politburo member.
The end.
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