http://www.deccanherald.com/content/500851/parents-kill-girl-eloping-dalit.html

4 Held for Molestation - The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/4-Held-for-Molestation/2015/09/15/article3028815.ece

Dalits seek separate school in Tirunelveli village - The Hindu

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/TAMIL-NADU/DALITS-SEEK-SEPARATE-SCHOOL-IN-TIRUNELVELI-VILLAGE/ARTICLE7653423.ECE

Encroachment on patta lands alleged - The Hindu

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/CITIES/MADURAI/ENCROACHMENT-ON-PATTA-LANDS-ALLEGED/ARTICLE7653649.ECE

Tension affects studies of 1,000 students in CM Khattar's village - The Hindustan Times

http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/tension-affects-studies-of-1-000-students-in-cm-khattar-s-village/article1-1390445.aspx

Dharna against atrocities on Dalits - The Hindu

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/KARNATAKA/DHARNA-AGAINST-ATROCITIES-ON-DALITS/ARTICLE7654135.ECE

 'Was locked in a room for two months to be cured' reveals Karnataka's first transgender student - DNA

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-was-locked-in-a-room-for-two-months-to-be-cured-reveals-karnataka-s-first-transgender-student-2118645

Government Plan for Transgenders on Cards - The New Indian Express

http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/odisha/Government-Plan-for-Transgenders-on-Cards/2015/09/15/article3028884.ece

SC farmers get over 2 cr for irrigation pumps - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/SC-farmers-get-over-2-cr-for-irrigation-pumps/articleshow/48966558.cms

SC asks girl facing Khap threat to appear before it - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-asks-girl-facing-Khap-threat-to-appear-before-it/articleshow/48964938.cms

Please Watch:

Rough Roads to Equality - Women Police in South Asia interviews

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W-vJUktRPeU&feature=em-share_video_user

Note: Please find attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF)

Deccan Herald

Parents kill girl for eloping with Dalit youth

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/500851/parents-kill-girl-eloping-dalit.html

Bengaluru: Sep 14, 2015, dhns

Couple arrested for poisoning teen; lover held for kidnap

In a case of honour killing, a 16-year-old girl was poisoned to death by her parents in Ramanagara district on Saturday night as she had eloped with a Dalit youth.

Govindaraju, a barber by profession, and his wife Jayalakshamma fed the girl, a school dropout, food laced with poison. The police on Sunday arrested the couple on charge of murder.

The Ramanagara Rural police have also arrested Manjunath (21), the Dalit youth, on charge of kidnap and provisions of the POCSO Act as the girl was a minor.

The police said the girl fell in love with Manjunath, a painter and native of Hubballi, when staying at her elder sister's house at Sunkadakatte in Bengaluru. 

After learning about the affair, her parents took her back to their village K G Hosahalli. However, the duo continued to meet as Manjunath used to visit her village. 

On September 6, Manjunath went to K G Hosahalli and the duo eloped to Sunkadakatte and from there to Hubballi. 

The girl's parents lodged a missing person's report with the police. The cops learnt about the girl's affair with Manjunath and tracked him down to Hubballi based on his mobile phone call details.

A police team went to Hubballi, traced the duo and brought them to Ramanagara on Saturday evening. After counselling the girl, the police handed her over to her parents. 

Around 9 pm, the parents made her eat the poisoned food, and she died later. On Sunday morning, the neighbours suspected something fishy and informed the police. 

The parents confessed to the killing during questioning, said the police.

"They said they could not live with honour in the village as their daughter had eloped with a youth from a lower caste, and thus decided to kill her," said a senior police officer. 

The New Indian Express

4 Held for Molestation

THRISSUR: Chavakkad police on Monday registered a case and commenced investigation into an incident where a mentally challenged youth from a backward caste was reportedly forced into unnatural sex for over a period of six months.

Going by the case diary, Thankamani, wife of Sukumaran, the mother of the youth has filed complaint against four persons.

According to Kunnamkulam DySP, the police have commenced investigation into the incident.

"We have taken statement from the complainant, according to which the accused had resorted to such deviant acts on four or five occasions over the past six months. We are verifying the veracity of the claims," he said.

A case has been registered under IPC 377 and under various provisions of the SC/ST Atrocities Act. 

The Hindu

Dalits seek separate school in Tirunelveli village

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/TAMIL-NADU/DALITS-SEEK-SEPARATE-SCHOOL-IN-TIRUNELVELI-VILLAGE/ARTICLE7653423.ECE

P. SUDHAKAR

They said Dalit students could not attend classes in Pannai Venkatramaiyar High School in North Gopalasamudram after a murder with caste overtones.

A group of women from South Gopalasamudram, a sleepy hamlet in the district that witnessed a murder with caste overtones in 2013, staged dharna on the Collectorate premises on Monday demanding separate school for Dalit students.

The petitioners sat on the ground in front the District Development Council Hall where the weekly grievance day meeting was going on. They said Dalit students of South Gopalasamudram could not attend classes in Pannai Venkatramaiyar High School in North Gopalasamudram after a murder with caste overtones. Classes for them were being conducted in a community hall in their village since November 2013.

Besides Caste Hindu students, a few teachers of the school also were against Dalit students, which forced them to continue with their studies in the temporary school at the community hall.

Even though the Collector had recommended to the Department of Adi Dravida Welfare to start a new school at South Gopalasamudram for Dalits, no further action had been taken by the higher-ups to convert the temporary arrangement into a full-fledged permanent school.

"While our children cannot go to the North Gopalasamudram school after the murder, they cannot go to the schools at Munneerpallam or Cheranmahadevi also as they have to travel for more than 10 km. Ultimately, good number of children who had been admitted at the temporary school, have put an end to education and have become child labourers. If a high school is started at South Gopalasamudram, Dalit dropouts can continue their education," said M. Perumal of South Gopalasamudram.

The Hindu

Encroachment on patta lands alleged

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/CITIES/MADURAI/ENCROACHMENT-ON-PATTA-LANDS-ALLEGED/ARTICLE7653649.ECE

STAFF REPORTER

Around 60 Dalits from Kuravakudi village in Usilampatti alleged that they had been unable to access patta lands given to them by the district administration in 1999 and assembled at the Collectorate here on Monday.

S. Tamilselvi, a resident said that 66 beneficiaries had been given individual patta lands in the village by the district administration in 1999. "We were shown the patta lands and given documents, but ever since we have been waging a battle with a few farmers who have been doing agriculture there," she said.

The villagers said that despite repeated attempts, they were not able to evict the encroachers and retrieve their lands.

"In the last 16 years, 6 of the beneficiaries have even passed away and none of us have got the chance to live in our lands till date. Earlier last month, we approached the district administration to retrieve our lands and knowing this, the encroachers began plantation activities on the lands," Pochammal, a resident alleged.

The Hindustan Times

Tension affects studies of 1,000 students in CM Khattar's village

http://www.hindustantimes.com/haryana/tension-affects-studies-of-1-000-students-in-cm-khattar-s-village/article1-1390445.aspx

Neeraj Mohan, Hindustan Times, Baniyani (Rohtak)

 The ongoing tension between two communities following a clash over molestation of a minor girl of Thakur community by a Dalit boy, has adversely affected the studies of about 1,000 students in the government senior secondary school at chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar's native village Baniyani in this district.

Following the clash, which left five people injured, heavy police deployment had been made in the village, especially near the school, where the incident of molestation took place on September 9.

Ever since, the attendance of students in the government school in the village has drastically reduced. Out of 50 students in Class 12, only eight (all boys) were present on Monday. Similarly, the number of students in primary classes has also come down to 10-15%, as the parents are not sending their children to school.

"Several students, including the victim of molestation, are not attending their classes. This is very unfortunate as there is no problem at the school. The parents should send their children to school as the board exams are likely to start on September 29", said district education officer Satyawati Nandal. 

"We are talking to parents of the children and urging to send their wards to school as their absence is affecting their studies," she said. "I will also talk to the Rohtak deputy commissioner for removal of the police from the school," she added.

'Dalits not sending children to school'

Majority of students studying in the government school belong to the Dalit community and the members of the upper caste alleged that the Dalits had stopped their children from attending classes to build pressure on the district administration and the police.

"Do you see anything wrong in our village. Everybody is safe. When 10-15% children are attending the classes without any fear, why the others are not coming to the school?" asked Ashok Kumar, a village resident.

Incident brings bad name to CM's village

The villagers say that the clash between Dalits and Thakur communities has sullied the image of the chief minister's village. 

"Though peace prevails in the village, there are some people who, with an eye on the coming panchayat elections, are politicising the issue for their political interests," said Sonu, another resident of village.

Three more arrested

Following the threat by the Dalit community members to leave the village, the Rohtak police on Monday swung into action and arrested three people of the Thakur community, who have been booked under the SC/ST Act attacking the Dalits.

The accused have been identified as Somvir, Umedh Singh and Satish, all residents of Baniyani village. 

Though the Dalit minor boy, the main accused in the molestation case, is under treatment at the PGIMS Rohtak, the police have not yet arrested him and the other three unnamed youths, who were booked on the same charges."The main accused is taking treatment at the PGIMS. Though he is not in police custody yet, we are keeping a vigil on him", said DSP Pushpa Khatri.

The Hindu

Dharna against atrocities on Dalits

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/KARNATAKA/DHARNA-AGAINST-ATROCITIES-ON-DALITS/ARTICLE7654135.ECE

GANESH PRABHU

Members of the district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged a dharna in front of the Clock Tower here on Monday against the increasing atrocities on Dalits in the State.

Balakrishna Shetty, secretary of the district committee, said that it was unfortunate that after 68 years of Independence, Dalits were not being allowed entry in a temple in Sigaranahalli village in Holenarsipur taluk, which was part of the Hassan Lok Sabha constituency represented by the former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Mr. Gowda's son and the former Minister, H.D. Revanna, represented the Assembly constituency there.

On September 6, when four Dalit women tried to enter the temple, members of the upper castes opposed it. To protest against this, members of the CPI(M) and progressive thinkers and Dalit leaders decided to hold a "sahabhojana" (meal partaken by all communities) at Sigaranahalli and then enter the temple on September 12.

But the police arrested all the leaders at Hassan and prevented them from going to Siraganahalli.

This was an illegal act, he allged. The police not only arrested but also slapped legal cases against the State Secretary of the CPI(M) G.V. Sriram Reddy, writer J.H. Narayana Swami and journalist Venkatesh Murthy.

Several phases of protests were held against the boycott of Dalits in Malakumbi village in Gangavati taluk of Koppal district. A person Dodda Veeresh, who was a prime witness to the atrocities against Dalits there, had been killed. Though two months had elapsed since his murder, no one had been arrested.

Instead, the police arrested and foisted cases against leaders of CPI(M), who demanded a probe into Veeresh's murder. The persons against whom the cases were slapped included M.A. Baby, member of the CPI(M) politburo, K. Radhakrishnan, former Minister of Kerala, and Mr. Sriram Reddy. Mr. Shetty alleged that there was an increase in atrocities against Dalits in the State. The Congress government was doing nothing to prevent it, he added.

DNA

'Was locked in a room for two months to be cured'

reveals Karnataka's first transgender student

http://www.dnaindia.com/bangalore/report-was-locked-in-a-room-for-two-months-to-be-cured-reveals-karnataka-s-first-transgender-student-2118645

Wednesday, 26 August 2015 - 3:25pm IST | Place: Bangalore | Agency: iamin.in

Elizabeth Mani

After three years of sex work, Suma quit the profession forever. She started working at Samara, an NGO for sexual minorities where she got promoted as its director.

Suma works from 9 am to 6 pm after which she attends the evening college.

Lot of courage and struggle by Suma M, 26-year-old transgender has finally been fruitful as Suma is in the grounds of St Joseph evening college becoming the state's first transsexual student. Struggle, hard work, harassment, torture, rape are not mere simple terms for Suma M, who is pursuing a bachelors in Journalism, Political Science and Sociology (J.P.S) at the college in Bangalore.

Sharing her story with iamin, Suma said, "I applied for admission at many places like Bangalore University, Maharani College and IGNOU but I was denied admission everywhere due to my sex. Since Akkai Padmashali, transgender activist, had a good relationship with St Joseph administration, they immediately admitted me. I am thankful to the institution."

Before joining college, Suma had a 9 am to 6 pm job. She will now be managing studies and work at the same time as she also has to support her family. She said, "The teachers are very helpful and I have made friends here. So, I do not feel exhausted. I finally feel that I'm at the right place."

Suma has had a bad past because of the kind of horrors she faced in life. It was in 2005 when she was studying BBM in a reputed college in Bangalore when it all began. She narrated, "It was then that I started feeling that I was a female in a male's body. My classmates used to imitate me even though I was good at studies. I never answered any questions asked by the teachers out of shame. Unable to cope up with the physical and mental harassment, I left studies."

She thought she could be happy at home but she was wrong. "My family too thought that I had a mental problem and took me to NIMHANS where the doctor 'taught' me how to walk. I did try but it was very hard for me. Then they took me to a temple as that also did not work. They locked me inside a room also for two months," she said.

Suma finally escaped home and joined the Hamam. "I became a sex worker. Life was not easy. I got raped multiple times by goons, I had nowhere to go. After three years in this trade, I had my physiotherapy and sex reassignment surgery done from the money I had saved," she said. 

After three years of sex work, she quit the profession forever. She started working at Samara, an NGO for sexual minorities where she got promoted as its director. She then shifted to Equations where she is currently handling a website. "Though I am good at work, I always wanted to get educated and that's when I started approaching universities for admission," she said. When Suma was asked why she chose journalism, she said, "Journalists have the power to bring about a change in the society. People choose different tools to identify social injustices. I chose journalism."

Head of Political Science Department Dr. Christopher said, "The management has taken a bold step by granting admission to Suma. We are not only teaching human rights to our students but also practicing it." "We can't discriminate them just because they are different. Many transgenders are not even given an opportunity. Who knows they might be better than the other students! The stigma with transsexuals persists even though we live in the IT hub. We hope other colleges take up this initiative too and give them an opportunity," he expressed. 

Rune Regina, a classmate of Suma, thinks of her as friendly and enthusiastic towards studies. She said, "This is the first time I have a transgender as my classmate. It is our responsibility to make her feel conformable in the college. Everyone has the right to get educated regardless of their appearance.

The New Indian Express

Government Plan for Transgenders on Cards

BHUBANESWAR: The Department of Social Security and Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) has drafted a proposal for recognition of transgenders across the State and subsequently, enumerating them as third gender (TG).

The proposal also suggests that transgenders and eunuchs belonging to the SC/ST communities would be clubbed as SC/ST TGs and enjoy all benefits extended to SCs and STs.

Similarly, transgenders who belong to General category would be inducted into Socially and Economically Backward Communities (SEBCs), Commissioner-cum-Secretary, SSEPD Department Saswat Mishra said here on Monday.

Addressing a workshop on welfare of transgender and eunuchs, Mishra expressed confidence that the proposal was being reviewed at the top level of the Government and would be approved soon.

The Department has set up a 12-member committee which includes transgender community representatives, social workers and Government officials. The committee would frame modalities for effective implementation of these proposals.

This apart, certificates would be issued to transgenders on need basis through which they can avail reservation in education and public appointments.

The State Government move came in the wake of the Supreme Court decision which granted legal recognition to transgenders or eunuchs as third category of gender.

Speaking on the occasion, human rights activist Namrata Chadda said proper research should be done while identifying and recognising transgenders in the State. They should be segregated on the basis of their social and economic status.

"Half of the issues related to exploitation and harassment of transgenders would be solved if the society considers them as human beings first," Chaddha said and added that there should be a synergy among organisations working on transgender upliftment for streamlining of welfare programmes.

"Transgenders should ensure that they have a bank account and report any matter of harassment to the police. Instead of waiting for benefits from the public or Government, transgenders should cultivate a spirit of entrepreneurship," Chaddha added.

Among others, noted social activists and transgender community representatives, Saadhana Mishra, Meera Parida, Madhavi and Namita spoke on several issues related to harassment and public and Government apathy towards the community.

The conference was organised by social organisation Saathi.

The Times Of India

SC farmers get over 2 cr for irrigation pumps

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/raipur/SC-farmers-get-over-2-cr-for-irrigation-pumps/articleshow/48966558.cms

TNN | Sep 15, 2015, 10.42 AM IST

RAIPUR: Chief minister Raman Singh sanctioned Rs 2.69 crore for electric connections at non-feasible irrigation pumps to 344 farmers belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) in the meeting of people's representatives and officers of SC Development Authority (SCDA) on Monday. 

There is a proposal to provide financial help for self-employment to 300 SC youths under Mini Mata Swahalamban Yojana in the current financial year 2015-16. Raman Singh said Rs 1,50,000 will be given to an unemployed SC youth, who is selected by SCDA. On surplus requirement of finance, funds would be provided under Prime Minister's Mudra Bank Yojana. Singh said loans amounting from Rs 50,000 to Rs 10 lakh are provided to unemployed SC youths without any guarantee. 

Singh also said the public utility 'nal-jal' yojanas will not be disconnected even if the electricity bills are not paid. The pending power bills will be cleared by panchayat and rural development department. 

The Times Of India

SC asks girl facing Khap threat to appear before it

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/SC-asks-girl-facing-Khap-threat-to-appear-before-it/articleshow/48964938.cms

TNN | Sep 15, 2015, 07.03 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday decided to get a first hand account of the recent case of a young Dalit woman and her family members from Baghpat district of Uttar Pradesh being harassed and khap panchayat ordering for her rape. 

A bench of Justices J Chelameswar and Abhay Manohar Sapre directed the woman and her family members to be present before it on Tuesday. The court directed Uttar Pradesh police not to take any action against them. 

The young woman approached the Supreme Court for protection against the khap panchayat's diktat which was issued after her brother had eloped with a married woman from the Jat community. The girl, who fled from her village and is residing in Delhi, alleged that her family members were being falsely implicated by the state police in various criminal cases filed under the pressure from the Jat community. 

She alleged that the state police, instead of protecting her, are harassing her family members and sought CBI probe. 

The 23-year old woman said in her petition that she had to flee her village due to atrocities of members of Jat community and police. 

"She and her family cannot return to her village and have been rendered homeless. She has been condemned by the Khap Panchayat to be raped and paraded naked because her brother Ravi fell in love and eloped with her friend Krishna who belongs to the dominant caste of Jat," the petition said. 

                                                             
According to the petition, her brother and the woman from the Jat community were in love but the woman was forcibly married off. A month after the marriage, the woman eloped with her (petitioner's) brother but they had to return due to pressure from the woman's family and UP police. 

The petitioner said her brother was then implicated in a false narcotics case and arrested. He was later granted bail by a local court. 

"The affair invited the wrath of UP police and Jat community as a consequence of which her family members were abducted and tortured by police. Her family had to flee their village and her home looted by the Jats," the petition said. 

News monitored by AMRESH & AJEET

 .Arun Khote

मुंबई में सिर्फ मराठी बोलने वालों को मिलेगा अॉटो परमिट
‪#

Teacher thrashing boy mercilessly in Karnataka - Zee News

http://zeenews.india.com/news/karnataka/karnataka-video-footage-showing-teacher-thrashing-boy-goes-viral_1759236.html

DEAL seeks records from SC/ST panel - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/DEAL-seeks-records-from-SC/ST-panel/articleshow/48947879

No manual scavenging during Mahamaham: Municipality - The Times Of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/No-manual-scavenging-during-Mahamaham-Municipality/articleshow/48970407.cms

Caste bias: House panel warns people of action - The Hindu

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/ANDHRA-PRADESH/CASTE-BIAS-HOUSE-PANEL-WARNS-PEOPLE-OF-ACTION/ARTICLE7656905.ECE

Rajputs, Dalits promise to stay peacefully - The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/rajputs-dalits-promise-to-stay-peacefully/133477.html

SC students approach DC - The Tribune

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/sc-students-approach-dc/133697.html

Third gender's body found in Howrah - Zee News

http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/third-genders-body-found-in-howrah_1795365.html

The door is still not open - The Indian Express

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-door-is-still-not-open/

Note: Please find attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF)

Zee News

Teacher thrashing boy mercilessly in Karnataka

http://zeenews.india.com/news/karnataka/karnataka-video-footage-showing-teacher-thrashing-boy-goes-viral_1759236.html

Mangaluru: Video footage of a teacher thrashing a student who has a fractured arm has gone viral on social media.

A complaint in this regard was yesterday lodged at Vittal police station by Dalit Seva Samiti leader Sheshappa with police, saying that the incident had occurred a few days back.

Sheshappa called for stringent action against Somasundara Shastri, the Veda teacher who is seen beating and abusing the boy.

The footage, shot on mobile phone, shows the teacher beating the boy while asking him whether he was a 'Brahmin' or a 'Kshatriya.'

The complainant said the boy was reportedly punished for some mischief in class.

A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the Women and Children's Welfare department while police said they have sought more details from the complainant. 

PTI 

The Times Of India

DEAL seeks records from SC/ST panel

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/dehradun/DEAL-seeks-records-from-SC/ST-panel/articleshow/48947879.

,TNN | Sep 13, 2015, 09.47 PM IST

DEHRADUN: A week after the SC/ST commission recommended registration of an FIR against a senior scientist of the Defence Electronic Application Laboratory (DEAL), Dehradun, on allegations of bias, the DRDO wing has sought documents and evidence against the alleged accused. 

Complainant Jagdish Kumar, a technical officer, has alleged that his assessing officer, the scientist, was biased against him due to his caste and had reduced his annual grades that are crucial for promotion. 

Kumar had approached the police and the department against R K Aggarwal, group H-level scientist, posted at DEAL, Dehradun. After going through all the material on record, the commission had passed the order of registering the FIR under SC/ST Act on August 31. 

However, DEAL, a wing of the Defence Research and Development Organization, is keen to get supporting documents and evidence before registering an FIR and has also sought certain clarifications in the matter. 

 
DEAL officials had shot off a letter to the panel on September 7. In the letter, a copy of which is with TOI, the DRDO wing sought clarification if the FIR is to be registered before the departmental committee submits its findings or after that. 

 
Speaking with TOI, the SC/ST commission's deputy chairperson Rajendra Barakoti said: "I am yet to see the letter, but it is strange that DEAL is seeking evidence and documents but not taking action as per the order." 

 
Meanwhile, the complainant has written to the commission, seeking compliance report of the order passed on August 31. "It is disheartening that DEAL is dilly-dallying in registering the FIR as per the commission's order. I am also surprised that now a committee has been formed to scrutinize my complaint and evidence submitted in the commission." 

The SC/ST panel has directed the DEAL director to take cognizance of the evidence before registering an FIR against the scientist under relevant sections of the SC/ST Act. 

In his complaint, Kumar had alleged that Aggarwal, his reviewing officer had deducted his annual marks that were crucial for promotion due to caste bias. "Assessing officers have always given me good marks on the basis of my work and contribution. But the reviewing officer, Aggarwal, who was biased against me, deliberately used to deduct my marks. It scuttled my promotion for more than four years." 

 The Times Of India

No manual scavenging during Mahamaham: Municipality

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/trichy/No-manual-scavenging-during-Mahamaham-Municipality/articleshow/48970407.cms

TNN | Sep 15, 2015, 03.05 PM IST:

The Kumbakonam municipality has said that a special vigilance team has been formed and more than 200 bio-toilets connected with underground drainage channels are being installed to make sure that there would be no instances of manual scavenging during the Mahamaham festival, to be conducted in February, 2016. 

The municipality in its reply to the chief secretary, municipal administration and water supply department, government of Tamil Nadu and A Narayanan, director, CHANGE India, also said that steps were being taken to ensure that the festival site remained free of plastic. 

Sections 5, 6 and 7 of Prohibition of Employment of Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013 prohibit the employment of manual scavengers and hazardous cleaning of sewers and drains. Forcing workers into manual scavenging is a non-bailable offence that can lead to imprisonment and fine. 

 
"The previous Mahamaham festival attracted over 35 lakh devotees, which is likely to touch half a crore this time. The toilet facilities become inadequate due to the huge number of devotees who turn up for the festival. Conservancy workers are called from the neighbouring areas on a temporary basis to remove garbage and for cleaning work including manual scavenging," A Narayanan had said in his letter to the chief secretary, municipal administration and water supply department, government of Tamil Nadu. 

Based on his letter, the chief secretary had sought a clarification from the municipality, and the civic body claimed that 148 temporary toilets and 48 bio-toilets were being installed at the Mahamaham festival site, which would be connected to UGD channels, to rule out the possibility of manual scavenging. 

Rajagopal, executive engineer, Kumbakonam municipality, said, "All necessary steps are being taken by the municipality to ensure that there is no manual scavenging during Mahamaham festival. Arrangements have been made to provide safety gears to the conservancy workers, including hand gloves, boots and masks." 

A statutory vigilance committee has been formed under Section 24 of the Act which includes the municipality commissioner, town planning and health officer, sanitary inspectors and social workers, he said. 

Expressing satisfaction over the municipality's move, Narayanan urged to ensure effective enforcement of the plan during the festival.

The Hindu

Caste bias: House panel warns people of action

HTTP://WWW.THEHINDU.COM/NEWS/NATIONAL/ANDHRA-PRADESH/CASTE-BIAS-HOUSE-PANEL-WARNS-PEOPLE-OF-ACTION/ARTICLE7656905.ECE

CORRESPONDENT

Expressing concern over reports on caste discrimination and two tumbler system, being in vogue in the rural areas, SC House committee chairman V. Anita warned people of stringent action under the Act and asked officials to look into it. She was responding to a report submitted by of Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union general secretary P. Chittibabu here on Tuesday.

Mr. Chittibabu informed her about the ban on entry of Dalits in temples at Jakkuva in Mentada and Kota Sirlam in Ramabhadrapuram mandal and the two tumbler practice at Vempadam (Poosapatirega mandal), Narasimhunipeta (Bobbili), Saripalli (Nellimarla), Veerasagaram (Badangi), Gundalapeta (Denkada),and B. Rajeru (Bondapalli mandal).

Approach road

Further, he also complained that officials were not responding to his repeated pleas for an approach road to the burial grounds at B. Rajeru (Bondapalli) and Datti in Dattirajeru mandal. He alleged that the police had registered bind over cases against Dalits for seeking a way to the burial ground at B. Rajeru.

Welfare hostel inspected

Earlier, Ms. Anita along with other members A. Ananda Rao (Amalapuram) and K. Jogulu(Palakonda), Additional Joint Collector Nageswara Rao inspected the menu at the SC welfare hostel at Venugopalapuram in Nellimarla mandal and expressed dissatisfaction over the quality of food.

She directed the officials to change the agency.

 The Tribune

Rajputs, Dalits promise to stay peacefully

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/rajputs-dalits-promise-to-stay-peacefully/133477.html

Sunit Dhawan  Tribune News Service  Rohtak, September 15

 The stalemate between the Rajput and Dalit communities of Baniyani village in the district was finally resolved today after a marathon meeting among members of both communities and top district and police functionaries.

Members of both communities signed an agreement and submitted sworn statements maintaining that they would stay peacefully and not indulge in any clash.

 Deputy Commissioner DK Behera, who chaired the meeting, told The Tribune that both communities sorted out their differences and tendered mutual apologies. They had agreed to withdraw cases against each other, he added.

 "The village peace committee will monitor the activities of youngsters. CCTV cameras will be installed at Government Senior Secondary School at the village," he said.

 Rohtak SP Shashank Anand, who was also present at the meeting, said the village elders had demanded the establishment of a permanent police post at Baniyani. "We have told them to identify a chunk of land or building to set up a police post," he said, adding that police deployment at the village would continue as of now and would be gradually scaled down.

The SP said a proposal to establish a police post would be sent to the state authorities. Till then, regular and frequent patrolling of the village would continue with special focus on the school premises and other sensitive points.

 The district authorities gave an assurance to the villagers that a youth injured in the clash would be provided suitable employment at DC rates.

 Dalit community member Ompal and Rajput community member Mahender said they had resolved to maintain peace and order at the village.

 The Tribune

 SC students approach DC

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/jalandhar/sc-students-approach-dc/133697.html

Tribune News Service , Jalandhar, September, 15

 Students from the SCcommunity studying atthe HMV College for Women, Jalandhar, today approached the Deputy Commissioner seeking his intervention as the college authorities have been asking them to pay examination fee.

 The students alleged that under Post Metric Scholarship Scheme for SC/ST and OBC student, they were entitled free education in the college. However, the principal of the college have been asking them for university examination fees over and over again.

 A BA-I student said, "There are many SC students in the college, who are being harassed by the college officials. They are not able to concentrate on their studies under such circumstances. I have appeared for English examination without much preparation as they college was asking for university fee over and over. I have already paid Rs 5,000 to college when I took admission."

 The delegation of students has been led by the ward no 53 councillor Vipan Kumar, who said that the disappointed has approached him several times on the same issue.

 Speaking to the Jalandhar Tribune on the issue, HMV College Principal Dr Rekha Kalia Bhardwaj said, "We are yet to receive Rs 1.50 crore from the government under the same scheme. How can we run a college without funds? I have discussed the issue with Rajesh Bagha, Chairman, SC Commission, Punjab, several times. Now, I am going to meet DC tomorrow again."

 She said, "Rs 5,000 that has taken from students is refundable. Meanwhile, we are asking for the university examination fee, which we don't use for college purposes. I have asked the students to pay the university fee in installments if they are unable to pay in one go."

 Zee News

Third gender's body found in Howrah

http://zeenews.india.com/news/west-bengal/third-genders-body-found-in-howrah_1795365.html

Last Updated: Saturday, September 12, 2015 - 21:49

Howrah (WB): The body of a thirdgender, who was stated to be a member of thirdgender development organisation, was found at Shyampur area in Howrah district on Saturday, a senior police officer said.

The body of Deepa Haji, a functionary of the thirdgender development organisation, was found from the toilet of the house of another transgender, where she had gone on being invited, the officer said.

A wire was found lying on the side of the body which bore injury marks on throat, the officer said adding police lodged a murder case on its own but none was arrested till now.

According to her family, Deepa got a mobile call in the afternoon hours yesterday about the funeral of a member of the community in Shyampur area and left her residence to attend the function.

As she did not return till late night and her mobile was switched off, her family and friends informed the police and her body was found this morning.

The person, who had called Deepa, could not be traced in her house.

 The Indian Express

The door is still not open

http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/the-door-is-still-not-open/

Debates over affirmative action reflect the resilience of bastions of privilege.

Abdul Khaliq

In the wake of Hardik Patel's theatrics demanding reservation for the prosperous Patel community in Gujarat, there has been a concerted appeal for a review of the policy of affirmative action, based on the well-worn arguments that reservation has hardened caste identities; that discrimination against Dalits is a thing of the past; that reservation is eroding efficiency in administration; that Dalits are now empowered and have a sizeable share of government posts, etc. Convoluted, impractical methods to recalibrate the reservation calculus are being trotted out. Baijayant Panda, a BJD Lok Sabha MP from Odisha, invoked a 2013 analysis by The Economist on the debatable benefits of reservation to endorse the view that making government service representative rather than capable "makes it hard to remove the dysfunctional or corrupt", thereby smearing the beneficiaries of reservation with the most odious attributes. The unmistakable subtext is that reservations must be scrapped

 Casteism in this country has never needed props and it is a mistake to blame the reservation policy for strengthening caste identity. Caste consciousness is integral to our everyday lives; we are all scarred by it. So ingrained is caste in our collective psyche that even a Dalit who converts to Christianity or Sikhism or Islam is hobbled by her social origins. An irrational belief in Dalit inferiority is embedded in our culture. Recognising the social exclusion and oppression faced by Dalits, our founding fathers ensured that the Constitution had provisions such as Article 46, which says: "The state shall promote with special care the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections… and in particular of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation." More than six decades later, we are nowhere near fulfilling this pledge. For purveyors of the myth that discrimination against Dalits is no longer a social problem — the "look at Mayawati" argument — reports from the last few days must be discomfiting. Dalit families in Yellaram village in Telangana recently allegedly faced a social boycott because some of them had been in the vicinity of two temples. As retribution, they were not offered work and their children were denied milk.

 In another incident in Karnataka, upper castes reportedly imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 on four Dalit women for entering a temple. According to home ministry estimates, thousands of atrocities against Dalits are committed every year. In 2013, there were 39,408 registered cases of atrocities against SC/ STs. Many more went unreported. Panda's aforementioned article celebrates the fact that the "proportion of Dalits at the highest levels of the civil services has increased from just 1.6 per cent to 11.5 per cent in 2011". What is conveniently glossed over is the fact that in 2011, out of 149 secretary-level posts at the Centre, where decision-making is concentrated, there was not a single SC officer. SCs and STs constitute almost 45.5 per cent of the safai karamcharis (sweepers) employed by the government. Needless to say, nobody begrudges them the disproportionate share of these posts.

 The resentment against reservation seems heartless when one considers that affirmative action is restricted to only a fraction of the millions of jobs where Dalits are otherwise marginalised. Critics never tire of using the phoney pennant of merit to vilify Dalits, ignoring the complexities and rationale behind affirmative action. In our caste-ridden social milieu, a common mischievous assumption is that Dalits are at the bottom on account of their inherent inferiority. Sadly, recent judgments of the apex court have placed equality of opportunity in the narrowest sense above social justice by undermining reservations as conflicting with efficiency and excellence

 How different that is from the worldview of Aristotle who, recognising the unevenness of social structures and relations, moderated the universal ideal of equal treatment of all human beings with his observation that justice implied the equal treatment of similar persons. Indeed, equal treatment of the unequal is an insidious way of perpetuating inequality. As Justice O. Chinnappa Reddy pointed out in a 1985 judgment: While "efficiency is not to be discounted, it cannot be used as a camouflage to let the upper classes take advantage of the backward classes in its name and to monopolise the services, particularly the higher posts and the professional institutions". In our elitist world, there is not a murmur when the state gives huge annual tax concessions to industry, or when people's representatives sanction generous privileges for themselves. But the same society is outraged at the crumbs given to its most exploited and oppressed sections.

The sheer virulence of the assault on affirmative action is evidence that the bastions of privilege will never willingly open their doors to Dalits. It is not the policy of reservations but the selfishness and prejudice of the privileged that stymie the national goal of a casteless society.

 (The writer, a former civil servant, is secretary general of the Lok Janshakti Party)

 News monitored by AMRESH & AJEET