Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 05.08.15
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With demands met, Pathapally Dalits call off stir - The Hindu
Ambedkar kin targets pariah diktat - The Telegraph
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150807/jsp/nation/story_35856.jsp#.VcQ2mnGqqko
FIR over 1939 poem - The Times Of India
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/FIR-over-1939-poem/articleshow/48384077.cms
Naming, shaming student borrowers a human rights violation: NHRC - Zee News
Maharashtra govt inches closer to acquiring Ambedkar's London house - Zee News
Please Watch:
GLOBAL MARCH AGAINST CASTE-BASED DISCRIMINATION
IN WASHINGTON, DC, JUNE 21, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8kIDgG3BJ8
Note : Please fing attachment for DMW Hindi (PDF)
The Hindu
With demands met, Pathapally Dalits call off stir
Government concedes major demands
A nearly three-month-long ordeal of Dalits in this village of Pebbair mandal came to an end as negotiations between the Struggle Committee for Caste Annihilation and the district administration thrashed out a solution that almost encompassed all of their demands.
For the past three months, the 45 dalit (Madiga) families were subjected to insult, injury and persecution by the 400-odd, dominant families belonging to the Boya community. The Boyas buried five of their dead (of illness and natural reasons), in land that was allotted to the Dalits, adjacent to the road leading to the village. Locals said the Boyas could not digest the fact that the Dalits were given land that was obviously more valuable than their own, while the Boyas disputed it, saying their burial ground did not have anymore space to rest their dead. The agitators were represented primarily by Prof. Anand Teltumbde of the Vinod Gupta School of Management, IIT Kharagpur, social activist and grandson-in-law of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar while the district administration was represented by Special Collector Vanaja Devi and ASP D.V. Srinivasa Rao.
After three hours of negotiations, it was agreed that all the 45 Dalit families would be allocated land near the main road and huts erected on them, while applications would be taken from them for the much-talked-about 2 BHK houses promised by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao. An alternate graveyard would be provided for the Boyas. The legal heirs of Narayana, on whose land some of the bodies were buried, would be compensated with 23 guntas of land that they lost. The 18 huts and a shutter that were pulled down in the presence of senior officials would be erected in a week's time and alternate land for Dalits who lost 54 acres because they got submerged in the lake adjacent to the Dalitwada, under the Priyadarshini Jurala Project would be identified and allocated.
Also, a case under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) would be registered on SI of Police Jitender Reddy, as also similar cases against several more Boyas, apart from suspension of more senior officials. The negotiations were held at the SC Welfare Hostel in Srirangapuram. Mr. Teltumbde said while it was a pleasant victory, it was sad that such instances should take place in the new State of Telangana and wanted the government to ensure that such incidents did not recur.
Others present were Prof. K. Lakshminarayana of the University of Hyderabad, Jayaraj, Joint Secretary and B. Abhinav, State vice-president of the Struggle Committee, M. Raghavachary, convenor , Palamuru Adhyayana Vedika and D.S. Mahesh Jambhav, State convenor, SC/ST Samakhya and some district officials. .
The Telegraph
Ambedkar kin targets pariah diktat
http://www.telegraphindia.com/1150807/jsp/nation/story_35856.jsp#.VcQ2mnGqqko
Our Special Correspondent
Anand Teltumbde at the protest rally
Hyderabad, Aug. 6: Babasaheb Ambedkar's grandson and IIT Kharagpur professor Anand Teltumbde today led a march to a Telangana village from where 45 Dalit families had been thrown out by the dominant Boya tribesmen, rattling the administration enough to promise action.
A year ago, the state government had given homestead land in Pathapally village, 150km from Hyderabad, to these Dalit families from the neighbourhood. But in early May, the village's 400-strong Boya community drove them out and began burying their dead on the plot to prevent the Dalits' return.
Today, Teltumbde, who has written on Dalit issues, led the 8km Chalo Pathapally march, organised by Dalit activists and academics from a point on the highway up to the village.
Anticipating a backlash from the Boyas, the Mahbubnagar district police prevented the procession from entering the village.
But shaken and embarrassed by the publicity triggered by the participation of an Ambedkar descendant, additional superintendent of police D.V. Srinivas Rao and special collector Vanaja Devi, who had rushed to the village, promised justice for the ousted Dalits.
The marchers wanted action against the revenue and police officials for inaction, the issuance of pattas for the land as well as the houses promised to the Dalits by chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, who once represented the parliamentary constituency.
Among the marchers were Dalit activists K.Y. Ratnam and K. Laxminarayana of the University of Hyderabad, Surapaneni Sujata of Satavahana University, P. Jaya of Chaitanya Mahila Sangham and U. Sambasiva Rao.
The Times Of India
FIR over 1939 poem
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/FIR-over-1939-poem/articleshow/48384077.cms
TNN | Aug 7, 2015, 04.54 AM IST
AHMEDABAD: The Odhav police station on Thursday registered an FIR against the publishers, printer and a few others for printing Gujarati author, Tribhuvandas Purushottamdas Luhar's poem, 'Bhukhi' (Hungry Girl) in a children's supplementary book called 'Rang Rang Vadaliya.' (Luhar is better known as 'Sundaram'.) The books were distributed among students of the Ahmedabad Municipal School Board. The poem features in a segment of the book called 'Sundaram Samagra Balkavita'.
'Bhukhi' was written in 1939. It describes a hungry girl from a backward caste waiting for a feast to end at an upper caste household so that she and her siblings can eat the leftover food scattered around on leaf-plates. The poet's sentiments are informed by sympathy but the words used to describe the backward community now seem offensive.
In fact, today, some of the words used in the verse will be deemed derogatory under Prevention of Atrocities Act. Activists have raised concern over the allegedly casteist allusions in the poem. They say the language of the poem is rooted in another age and is, therefore, inappropriate for young minds of today.
The Odhav police have transferred the case for investigation to the SC/ST cell of the police. Making a derogatory remark against a member of the Scheduled Castes is a non-bailable offence and can attract action under the Prevention of Atrocities Act, 1989.
In the FIR registered on Thursday, Sundaram's daughter, Sudha Sundaram, is being named along with Shradha Trivedi, Chandrakanth Sheth and the printer, Nataraj Offset located in Dudheshwar. The supplementary books were distributed in Odhav municipal schools as well.
Sundaram had started writing poetry in 1926 under the pseudonym Marichi, and 'Ekansh De' was his first work. Then he adopted the pseudonym, Vishwakarma. When he wrote the poem 'Bardoli Ne' in 1928, he finally adopted Sundaram as his penname. His works include 'Koya Bhagatni Kadvi Vaani ane Garibo na Geeto' published in 1933. He published another collection, 'Vasudha,' in 1939. His 'Yatra' in1951 was influenced by the philosophy of Sri Aurobindo.
Zee News
Naming, shaming student borrowers a human rights violation: NHRC
Last Updated: Thursday, August 6, 2015 - 22:22
Chennai: Terming the bankers practise of "naming and shaming" of students who defaulted on repaying education loans as violation of human rights, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued notice to the Central Bank of India chairman.
It has also issued notices to the district magistrate and superintendent of police of Nilgiris district in Tamil Nadu and the manager of Central Bank of India`s Majoor Branch, Nilgiris.
In a statement, the NHRC said it has taken cognizance of a complaint alleging harassment by Central Bank of India by a education loan-taker and her family as the bank had displayed the photographs of the girl student and her father as "missing" and "defaulter".
It is alleged that the student borrower`s father died due to shock after receiving threatening telephone calls from the bank despite paying off half of the loan amount in the first month after the moratorium period.
According to the NHRC statement, panel member Justice D Murugesan has observed that enforcing the practise of "name and shame rules" in educational loans would certainly amount to serious violation of human rights.
"Publishing photographs of parents and students (defaulters) have the potential of exposing the students to irreparable loss, injury and prejudice," the statement said.
"Apparently, the bank appears to have believed that shaming the defaulters would pressurise the families to repay outstanding educational loans. Such display of photographs of defaulters of education loan (who normally come from poor families and particularly rural areas) would certainly amount to loss of their dignity apart from violation of their human rights," the apex rights panel said.
Zee News
Maharashtra govt inches closer to acquiring Ambedkar's London house
Last Updated: Friday, August 7, 2015 - 15:25
Nagpur: The three-storey house where Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar once lived in London will be acquired shortly by the Maharashtra government and processes for the same are in the final stages, Minister for Social Justice, Rajkumar Badole said here.
The two surveyors appointed for valuation of the 2,050 sq ft property in London through the Indian High Commission there have cited different prices. While one surveyor quoted the price at Rs 29 crores the other put it as Rs 21 crores," Badole said last night.
Since Maharashtra government has made a budgetary provision of Rs 40 crores for the procurement of the historic monument in London, there will be no difficulty in the process, Badole said.
Also, the state government will set up a committee with the Indian High Commissioner in London for renovation of the house and for its maintenance in the future, Badole, who had personally visited London to expedite the acquirement process, he said.
An MoU will also be signed after taking possession of the house. The entire process may be completed within 15-20 days, the minister hoped.
Meanwhile, Social Justice Ministry will be distributing Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe, Shahu, Phuley, Ambedkar, Karamveer Dadasaheb Gaikwad and Sant Ravidas prizes to individuals and institutes engaged in social work on August 9 in the city.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadanvis, Union Minister for Transport and Shipping Nitin Gadkari and State Energy Minister Chandra Shekhar Bawankule, who is also District Guardian Minister and Badole himself will be present on the occasion of the prize distribution. PTI
The Times Of India
Usha Ganguly's Rudali to be adapted for TV by Suman Mukhopadhyay
Zinia Sen,TNN | Aug 7, 2015, 11.41 AM IST
Usha Ganguly's Rudali has been selected as part of the programme, Ten Classical Plays of Indian Theatre, by a new national channel, directed by Suman Mukhopadhyay.
Rudali, which has completed 38 years, throws light on Dalits in today's India. It's the story of an oppressed woman's struggle against poverty , humiliation and desolation and also weaves in tales of exploitation in the social system. Usha plays the protagonist, Sanichari, in the Rangakarmee production, which is about how she fights a lone battle as a hired mourner.
While there will be plays by renowned theatre personalities in the segment, Usha was quick to suggest Suman's name. She, it's heard, is an ardent admirer of Suman's plays and never misses any . Since the focus is on Hindi plays, Usha's other famous works, Chandalika, Kashinama and Hum Mukhtara are likely to find place in the channel's other segments. Shooting for Rudali is likely to begin next week.Considering that preservation of art is the need of the hour, it's a laudable effort.
News monitored by AMRESH & AJEET
On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")