The immediate casualty of the alleged abduction, rape and murder of a 20-year-old Dalit girl from Baniyakheda in Jind district of Haryana is that girls from the village are refusing to go to school. The mutilated body of the girl was found more than a week ago, after she had gone missing while on her way to write a compartment exam in Basic Teacher Training.

"My daughter and other girls are just refusing to attend school," said a villager, who was beaten up by the police while participating in a silent protest against police negligence in Jind. Perpetrators of the crime are still at large and Dalit girls are scared to step out of their homes.

"Will Dalit girls stop studying now?" said Vimal Thorat, national convenor for the All India Dalit Mahila Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM) at a conference to release the report of a fact finding team from Delhi that visited Jind on August 29. The girl's father, who was in the Capital to collect the third post-mortem report from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, addressed journalists and said: "Half the village has suffered injuries from police lathi charge. We want justice."

It is the fifth day and the family has not received a copy of the report yet.

"AIIMS told us to collect the report from Jind police," said advocate Rajat Kalsan, counsel for the girl's family.

"When the family first went to the police, they did not register a missing person's case, nor did they send out a search party. They told the family to go looking for the girl on their own. An entire night passed before they did anything. And this happened because she was a poor Dalit's daughter. Had she been the daughter of a Superintendent of Police an or a politician, the entire Jind would have been cordoned off at that very instant," he said.

The fact finding team, comprising Asha Kowtal of AIDMAM; Kalyani Menon Sen of Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression; Nisha Kumari of Action Aid; Jenny Rowena of Savari and others, is demanding the transfer of the case to the CBI or an independent inquiry into the matter.

Pointing to subversion of facts and misleading of public opinion, advocate Vrinda Grover said the police must make the post-mortem and viscera reports public as soon as possible.

"It is unclear as to whether inquest proceedings were held at all in this case," she said. As per Section 166 (A) of the Indian Penal Code, action can be taken against any police personnel found to be delaying or subverting the investigation of a case.

"It is an open challenge to the Haryana Government to show that they have taken action against a single police person under 166 (A)."

Giving a call for a separate Dalitstan in Haryana, Ms. Thorat said: "From Gohana to Mirchpur to Kaithal, it seems like a conspiracy to drive Dalits out of Haryana. Should we ask for a separate State for Dalits where our girls will be safe and attend school?"

According to the National Crime Records Bureau, more than four Dalit women are raped everyday and this figure is under reported. Compiling data from news reports, People's Media Advocacy and Resources Centre states that 101 heinous crimes were committed against Dalit women from the December 16 gang-rape case to the self-styled godman Asaram Bapu's case.

"Where is the public outcry when a Dalit girl is raped?" said Asha.

NIB

Some rapes are more newsworthy than others in India –

http://newint.org/blog/2013/09/03/some-rapes-more-newsworthy-india/#sthash.7LzQ2iQs.dpuf

Since the famous or, more appropriately, infamous, Delhi rape case hit global headlines last December, every newspaper carries a daily dose of rape crime reportage from all over India. Many of us Indian women are in a state of perpetual, simmering rage as we read these reports – as should be the case. Tolerance for sexual violence is at a historic low in urban, middle class India.

Last week, a new rape case made the headlines in Mumbai. It set every TV channel ranting and raving because traditionally, all of us consider Mumbai to be India's safest city for women. I lived there for eight years in the 1970s and took taxis back and forth to the airport at midnight with little fear. In 2000, my daughter moved to Mumbai at 17 for university and I felt no apprehension whatsoever about her safety, whereas Delhi was always a no-no for most parents. The newest Mumbai victim was a photojournalist which shocked the media and totally jolted everyone out of their complacency. 'It could have been one of us!!' was the understandable media reaction.

All sexual harassment, violence and rape is abhorrent. And women's groups in every corner of India are screaming 'enough!'. But Dalit groups are asking a different question, a very valid question: 'why are some rapes more outrageous than others? Why does the Indian media scream from the rooftops about middle class girls from Delhi and Mumbai, but ignore the daily attacks on poor, mostly Dalit, women and girls?' These routine rapes, and I cringe as I write this phrase, barely merit inside column inches on a dull newsroom day.

Forget Dalit rapes making headlines, they are just not newsworthy. They are dismissed as rapes that do not interest readers.

Why are these rapes under-reported? Why are they never sensationalized like the infamous Nirbhaya rape in Delhi? December 2012 is seared into our brains, into our collective, national memory. All of us are outraged that the most brutal rapist will walk free in three years because he is a minor. 'Castrate the bastards' was a popular sentiment when the verdict was announced a few days ago. The nation expressed outrage and anger all over again.

But when Dalit women are raped, the silence is deafening. The indifference is palpable. A few newspapers diligently report the incidents but even passionate young reporters, journalists who really care, cannot inspire anger or outrage in a cynical, blasé readership. India is enveloped in ennui when the violated women are Dalit – rural or urban, domestic servants or adivasi (indigenous) people.

Yesterday, I received a shocking report entitled '101 brutal atrocities/heinous crimes against Dalit women: from the Damini incident (16 December 2012) to the Aasaram arrest (31 Aug 2013)'. It listed crimes against Dalit women and girls from all over over India: Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bihar, Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka. The list went on, its cases came from the north, south, east and west. None of them inspired interest or outrage. Few made headlines.

I get these missives every day and I read them with a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach. But it's only when you see a dossier, all the incidents neatly chronicled one after the other, all the newspaper clippings, the information from the public domain that the sheer horror, the rank injustice, the absolutely indigestible bitter truth hits you.

We need special fast track courts with individuals who are passionate about combating caste atrocities. We need anger and outrage, media coverage and public action. We need a concerned proactive judiciary. We need a comprehensive plan to combat rape and sexual violence, and we need it right now.

Business Standard

Youth held on charges of molestation, attempt to murder

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/youth-held-on-charges-of-molestation-attempt-to-murder-113090300947_1.html

A 19-year-old Dalit girl was today allegedly molested by a youth at Bharawas village, around 7 km from here, police said.

The victim, a student of BA (Part II), was molested by the Rahul (21) when she was on her way to her college, they said.

Later, when she resisted, Rahul inflicted grievous injuries on her with an axe, police said.

However, hearing her cries for help, the locals rushed to the spot and nabbed the accused, who was thrashed by them.

Later, the youth and the victim were rushed to hospital, where their condition was stated to be stable.

A case of attempt to murder and molestation has been registered against the accused, police added.

The Indian Express

'Harassed' by colleagues, Dalit clerk kills self

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/harassed-by-colleagues-dalit-clerk-kills-self/1164303/

A Dalit employee of the Udyog Bhavan in Gandhinagar allegedly committed suicide in his office toilet after he was allegedly humiliated by his senior and harassed by his colleagues for the last few months.

The victim, Naresh Ganpat Chavda, was a clerk in industries commissionarate at Udyog Bhavan. The Gandhinagar police said the incident happened late Monday when Naresh was allegedly snubbed by his boss, Pathak, who is a General Manager.

Naresh consumed a bottle of pesticide and was found lying on the floor near the toilet. His family rushed him to the Gandhinagar civil hospital. However, he was declared brought dead by the hospital. The family found the suicide note from his office belongings late on Monday night.

The New Indian Express

Cops help Dalit girl reunite with caste Hindu husband

http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/Cops-help-Dalit-girl-reunite-with-caste-Hindu-husband/2013/09/04/article1766905.ece

By Express News Service – PUDUKKOTTAI

The district police have helped to reunite a Dalit girl and her husband belonging to a dominant caste, who were forced to live separately by the bridegroom's parents.

Sources said, Pandiselvi (22) of Vaththanakottai belonging to Kulathur taluk in the district, hailing from a Dalit community, lodged a petition with ES Uma, superintendent of Police on Monday.

She stated that she went to Tiruppur to work in hosiery textiles owing to her poor economic condition. She fell in love with one Sarathkumar, a resident of Vilappatti near Annavasal in the district, belonging to a dominant community of the region, and working as supervisor in a hosiery firm.

The lovers got married at a temple, in Tiruppur, on July 10, 2013.

On August 11, the couple came to Tiruchy along with Murugesan, father of Sarathkumar and his relatives Suresh and Jeyaraman from where they proceeded to Vilapatti by a car.

On the way, Sarathkumar's relatives allegedly pushed out Pandiselvi from the car when the vehicle was approaching Mangathupatti near Keeranur after snatching away her mangalyam. They also verbally abused her mentioning her caste name.

Immediately, Pandiselvi went to the All Women Police Station at Keeranur and tried to lodge a complaint.

However, the police officials refused to receive the petition without any valid document for their marriage.

So, she went to Tiruppur and collected the documents for their marriage including photographs and receipt given by the temple, where the marriage took place.

When she came back to the police station to lodge a petition with the police on August 13, again they refused to receive the complaint.

On Monday, she approached the Superintendent of Police and appealed for her intervention in the issue and take steps to reunite her with her husband.

After receiving Pandiselvi's Complaint, the SP ordered the police officials to take immediate action.

A team of police officials comprising Keeranur police and members of the all women police station, Keeranur rushed to Vilapatti and enquired Sarathkumar, who confessed about their marriage and was ready to reunite with Pandiselvi.

The couple were united and the parents were warned not to cause problems for them.

The Hindu

Samiti protests against social boycott of Dalits

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/samiti-protests-against-social-boycott-of-dalits/article5091545.ece

Karnataka Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Bheemavada) members took out a protest march in Bidar on Tuesday against the social boycott of Dalits in Jampad village in Bidar district.

Members marched to the Deputy Commissioner's office and submitted a memorandum.

They complained that members of other castes had stopped hiring Dalits as farm labourers, forcing families to migrate to Hyderabad. They urged the government to start work on the Ambedkar Bhavan in the village, either on the site sanctioned by the gram panchayat or the government school grounds.

They said Gurupadappa Nagamarapalli, MLA, who had promised to settle the issue in a week, was yet to act on his promise. Samiti members Kalyan Rao Bhosle, Shambhuling Amalapur, Ashok Sangam and Ashok Jampad were present.

PTI

"Have CBI probe into Jind case involving dalit girl"

http://www.ptinews.com/news/3946767_Demand-for-CBI-inquiry-in-Jind-case-involving-dalit-girl

New Delhi, Sep 3 (PTI) Alleging discrepancies in autopsy reports of a 20-year-old dalit girl who was allegedly raped and murdered in Jind, an NGO has demanded that the case be handed over to CBI or an "independent inquiry" ordered at the earliest.

Zee News

Jind rape-murder case: Distraught father to move court for girl's 3rd autopsy report

http://zeenews.india.com/news/haryana/jind-rape-murders-case-distraught-father-to-move-court-for-girl-s-3rd-autopsy-report_873929.html

New Delhi: The distraught father of the 20- year-old dalit girl who was allegedly rape and murdered in Jind, on Tuesday claimed he was not being given the report of her third autopsy conducted at AIIMS here and will move court.

The third autopsy was conducted after her family contested Haryana police claim that she had committed suicide and the two previous postmortems were allegedly botched and there were discrepancies in their reports.

The counsel for the victim' family Rajat Kansal said that they will now move court to obtain a copy of the post-mortem report that was conducted in AIIMS on Wednesday and handed over to the Jind police on Thursday.

A native of Baniya Kheda and a daily wager, the father had come to Delhi today to collect the report.

The two earlier postmortem examinations were by doctors in Jind and doctors of PGIMS, Rohtak in Haryana.

"Hayana police is not showing us the post-mortem report given by the AIIMS. They asked us to get it from the hospital. Now that we have come here, the hospital told us that they have already handed over the report to the investigating agencies and that we should take it from them," he said.

The father said that the case should be handed over to CBI, a demand echoed by activists including those of All India Dalit Adhikar Manch (AIDMAM).

"We are poor and dalits and that is why police and authorities are treating us this way. They have not yet arrested the culprits," the girl's father said while struggling to hold back tears.

Remembering his daughter, he said she was more educated than other girls in the village and wanted to be teacher.

The 20 year-old was found dead on August 25, near Amarheri area in Jind, Haryana where she had come to appear for the Junior Basic Teachers Test. The family members of the victim alleged that she was raped and murdered though police said they suspected suicide. Following protests, Haryna authorities decided that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of state police will probe the case.

"I and my daughter shared a close bonding. She would always make sure that I eat properly before leaving and after returning home from work.

"She was good at studies and wanted to become a teacher. As she more educated than other girls in the village, people were jealous of her," the father said.

He said he will continue his fight for justice.

"I want the case should be transferred to CBI. I want justice and that the culprits should be put behind bars," he said.

Meanwhile, a "fact finding team" constituted by AIDMAM alleged discrepancies in the first two autopsy reports.

It claimed to have found that while the first post mortem report stated that the hymen was ruptured, the findings of the second autopsy at Rohtak state that the hymen was intact and said it "clearly indicates callousness on the part of the authorities".

It also alleged that the post-morten was delayed and was conducted "with a shocking lack of care probably by an unqualified member of the mortuary staff and the two botched post-mortems have destroyed valuable evidence in the case".

The mother and other women who had examined the girl's body found that her salwar was drenched in blood, there were scratches and wounds on both of the girl's thighs and calves and there were cigarette marks on her upper torso, it said.

The team on the basis of their findings today demanded that the case should be transferred to the CBI or a separate committee should be constituted to conduct an independent enquiry. -PTI

Live Punjab

Dalit Sarpanch's suicide agitates village, NRI held responsible

http://www.livepunjab.com/content/20130903/dalit-sarpanch%E2%80%99s-suicide-agitates-village-nri-held-responsible-111093.html

Suicide by Sarpanch of Khangura village has left the villagers agitated and they are angrily demanding the arrest of an NRI in the case. The Sarpanch is said to have jumped before a train after the NRI had insulted him by using caste specific insulting language against him.

Dalit Sarpanch commits suicide

The incident took place at the Khangura village that falls under the Phagwara sub-division. The Dalit Sarpanch of the village, 40-year old Des Raj, committed suicide after jumping in front of the train between Sapror and Mehtan villages.

The surprising turn of events was the suicide note that was recovered. It seems that Des Raj had turned down the plea to sign some papers required by a Canadian NRI in the village. As a result the furious NRI had used blasphemous language against the Sarpanch and had goaded him to jump in front of a train.

The death of the Dalit leader has prompted a strong reaction from his kin and the agitated villagers marched on to violent protests on Sunday. Balkar Singh, son of the deceased Des Raj, gathered support from the BSP activists and went for the rail tracks.

Village agitation starts

The angry family members holding the NRI responsible for Des Raj's suicide, squatted on the railway tracks, blocked the train movements and urged the police to arrest him. The angry villagers put Des Raj's dead body on a small sized truck near the tracks and sat on the tracks themselves. The air rang out with their loud protests asking for the arrest of the Canada-based NRI.

On the outskirts of Phagwara, near Santokhpura railway barrier, the villagers stopped the Amritsar-Jai Nagar Shaheed Express, for nearly 45 minutes. With this, hundreds of passengers traveling by the train were left high and dry, confirmed the police officials.

They demanded that the Canada based NRI should be arrested under relevant sections of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and under other relevant sections of IPC.

Promising to take a strong action against the accused Phagwara DSP Manjit Singh , Government Railway Police (GRP) DSP Hardip Singh, and Executive Magistrate Manvir Singh Dhillon, who were present at the site, tried to calm down the agitated protesters.

As a result of this instance, raids are being organized to arrest the Canada-based NRI and all the airports of the country have been sent a 'look-out' notice, in order to prevent his escape.

IBN Live

Dalit boy's killing: NHRC issues notice to Akhilesh govt

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/dalit-boys-killing-nhrc-issues-notice-to-akhilesh-govt/419440-3-242.html

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Tuesday issued notice to the Uttar Pradesh government over a Dalit boy's killing for refusing to clean plates at an eatery.

The commission has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report that a customer shot dead the 11-year-old boy working at an eatery in Shamli district for refusing to clean his plate.

"The accused had come to the eatery on the night of August 28 and ordered food. Inebriated, he hurled abuses and asked the boy to clean his plate. Upon being refused, he lost his cool and shot the boy dead," said the commission.

t added: "Reportedly, a criminal case has been registered against the accused under the provisions of Indian Penal Code for murder as well as the provisions of SCs/STs (PoA) Act, 1989."

The NHRC said if the report content was true, it raised a serious issue of violation of victim's human rights and hence issued notices to the district magistrate and senior superintendent of police, Shamli, to submit a report within four weeks.

The commission also asked them to inform about the monetary relief being granted to the next of kin of the deceased.

Kashmir Times

India needs to integrate against caste prejudice

http://www.kashmirtimes.com/newsdet.aspx?q=22190

By Kuldip Nayar

A dalit (untouchable) was killed. His house was destroyed and his family, including a 10-year-old, was thrown out. The upper caste members did not like his audacity to hoist the national flag on the Independence Day at a disputed property, which they had appropriated forcibly.

The discrimination is the bane of India where the caste prejudiced Hindus constitute 80 per cent of the population. The story of this dalit came to light because one TV channel highlighted it. Otherwise, thousands of dalits undergo similar rigours every day. They face the arrogance and zulum (tyranny) of upper castes. And there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

More than 60 years ago, the constitution banned untouchability. The freedom struggle had promised to break the shackles of the caste system after independence. First prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru even deleted the column of caste from applications, registers and forms for admission to schools and entrance examinations. Yet, the caste considerations have not lessened. Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, named the dalit, Harijan (bearing a sacred status). But the dalits found the nomenclature too patronising and preferred to be called dalits.

A social evil or whatever the explanation, the feeling of discrimination in the Hindu society has not abated. Even today a dalit bridegroom cannot ride a horse while taking the barat (wedding procession) to the bride's place. Roads at many places are closed to the dalits. As for their habitation, they continue to live in slums in the urban areas and on the outskirts of villages in the rural areas.

Some who claim to speak on behalf of Hindus seldom endeavour to eliminate the discrimination against the dalits who are also Hindus. I have not seen the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticising the caste system although the party is all for the Hindu Rashtra (state). The party's attention is focused on politics, not on social reforms. Its problem may well be the dictation by Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a group of Brahmins, the uppermost caste.

Unfortunately, the caste has penetrated the thinking of Muslims and Christians. The religion of both the communities forbids discrimination. They preach equality, but when it comes to practice, they are not different from Hindus. Both of them treat with contempt the dalits, who embrace Islam or Christianity to escape the caste hatred of Hindus.

However, there is a case for concessions to such dalits which former UP chief minister Mayawati, a dalit has suggested. But her fault is that she has gone beyond. She wants a quota in promotion of public servants. The demand has justifiably raised an uproar in India.

I think that whatever reservations, they should be given at the time of recruitment. Any reservation during the career will affect the morale of civil servants of other castes, who have come through a tough competitive examination. The dalits wanting to join civil services also take the examination, but the reservations give them an edge.

The two main political parties, Congress and BJP, are supporting Mayawati's amendment because they have their eyes set on votes in the 2014 elections. The quantum of reservations has gone up because the quota has been extended to the Other Backward Classes (OBC). They too want reservation in promotions. Many others also want reservations. This is not possible because of a Supreme Court judgement. It has fixed 49.5 per cent as the maximum limit for reservations. Even if Mayawati's amendment is passed by parliament, the court may consider it unconstitutional.

A constitutional amendment to introduce reservations in promotions is sought to be passed in the Lok Sabha. The Rajya Sabha has already passed it despite the opposition by Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party from the OBC.

It appears that the political parties in the opposition had their way when the ruling Congress party, after putting up a brave fight against the quota in promotions, caved in. True, the Congress did not have a majority in the Lok Sabha, but it could have mustered the numbers if it had stood firm.

The reservations have been spelled out in the constitution for the dalits and the tribals. But as the Supreme Court has pointed out that the benefits have been cornered by the creamy layer among the dalits.

So is in the case of OBC. The dalits and the OBC members should allow the advantage from reservations to go below. The problem is that the leaders, vocal as they are, manipulate to appropriate the maximum concessions.

My knowledge of law, however limited, tells me that the column of caste in the form that the census enumerators ask violates the basic structure of the constitution. They inquire about caste. On the basis of such information the economic benefits are distributed. This makes a mockery of the constitution. Its preamble says that the people resolve to constitute India into a "sovereign socialist democratic republic". Democracy and discrimination do not go together.

My objection is also on another point. In the Keshvanand Bharti case, the Supreme Court has said that the objectives in the Preamble constitute the basic structure of the constitution. It means that parliament, although elected directly by the people, cannot alter the basic structure.

Surprisingly, the government does not realise the effect the introduction of quota in promotions will have on the bureaucracy, the sheet anchor of the administration. Divide and rule was the dictum of the British who held India in bondage for more than 150 years. The nation needs to be integrated, however strong are the forces to stratify it.

The introduction of quota in services is an important policy decision.

The government should have called a meeting of the National Integration Council, which is meant to discuss such problems. Caste is something that affects the nation on the whole. The country cannot be pushed back to the dark ages. Affirmative action, which America follows to give benefits to the black, is far better than the reservations which see no end of expiry. However, that is a different story, although Dr B.R. Ambedkar, a dalit, who outlined the constitution, agreed unwillingly to reservation for 10 years only.

The Hindu

Bungling Govt. deprives SC, ST kids of welfare schemes

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/bungling-govt-deprives-sc-st-kids-of-welfare-schemes/article5088579.ece

Delhi Government not maintaining any relevant data, says NGO Pratidhi

Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe children entering the Juvenile Justice System are not able to avail of welfare schemes meant exclusive for them. This is because the Delhi Government has not been maintaining any relevant data despite an amendment to the Delhi JJ Rules 2000, which was notified by the Department of Women and Child Development.

This was revealed in an RTI reply to an NGO, Pratidhi. Neither the Department of Women and Child Development nor the Child Welfare Committees has been maintaining such data.

"The institutions also have no such records and as a result, SC/ST children are deprived of certain welfare schemes meant exclusively for them," Pratidhi director Raaj Mangal Prasad said. Mr. Prasad has brought the issue to the notice of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.

He has urged Ms. Dikshit to ensure that caste is brought on record so that SC and ST children get the benefit of the schemes meant for them.

According to the amended Delhi Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules, 2009, notified by the Delhi Government in 2011, under Form No. IV (Social Investigation Report) and X (Order of Short Term Placement Pending Inquiry), caste as reported by the child should be incorporated in relevant columns. In order to protect the interests of SC/ST/OBC children, the Association for Development had in April this year urged the Union Minister of Women and Child Development to provide reservation for one SC, ST member in the Child Welfare Committee.

This, child rights activists believe, will help in providing better treatment to the children, particularly those belonging to these groups.

"Given the large number of SC/ST children, at least one member should represent them in the committee. It can be done on the lines of reservation of one seat for women," the petition had stated.

Business Standard

Uproar in RS over SC, ST, OBC quota in govt jobs

http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/uproar-in-rs-over-sc-st-obc-quota-in-govt-jobs-113090300523_1.html

Despite Law Minister Kapil Sibal's assurances that the policy on reservation in government jobs is in force in the states and that the government has already moved a review petition, Mayawati remained defiant

The issue of SC, ST and OBC quota in government jobs today led to uproar in Rajya Sabha with BSP supremo Mayawati contending that several states have already implemented the Supreme Court order that had struck down reservations for them last year.

"The Supreme Court's order on striking down the reservation has been discussed both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. But several states have already implemented the order. I demand the Prime Minister's intervention," she said, raising the issue during the Zero Hour.

She was joined by her party MPs who demanded early passage of a constitutional amendment which has been passed by Rajya Sabha but is pending in Lok Sabha.

Amid the din, the House was adjourned for 10 minutes.

When the House reassembled, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said the government had introduced the Constitutional Amendment Bill to circumvent the Court's verdict realising the "seriousness" of the issue.

He said the Bill could not be passed in Lok Sabha as a "consensus could not be reached there".

S C Mishra (BSP) was not convinced with the Minister's reply and said had the intention of the government been clear, it would have been brought the Bill in Lok Sabha long back.

"It has been more than four weeks (of Parliament). Congress is doing politics on it," he said.

Dismissing his allegations, Kamal Nath said, "We are not doing any politics on it. If Congress did not intend, it would not have brought it...It is our intention, our desire and our goal that the Bill be passed," he said.

The Hindu

Tribals in Odisha allege deprivation of land rights

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/tribals-in-odisha-allege-deprivation-of-land-rights/article5088840.ece

Hundreds of tribal inhabitants of villages on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar staged a demonstration in front of the office of the Revenue Inspector of Chandaka alleging that they were gradually being deprived of their land rights.

"Villagers have been in possession of land in forest fringe areas with valid land documents for years now. But they have recently discovered that their lands have been transferred to government records," said Sal Mandi, secretary of Odisha Adivasi Mahasabha under the banner of which villagers held dharna on Monday.

As real estate developers were fast acquiring land in fringe villages, tribals were under tremendous pressure to part with their land, Mr. Mandi said.

"Landless families should be immediately provided with homestead and agricultural land. Besides, revenue department should make burial grounds available to villagers," he demanded.

Odisha Adivasi Mahasabha said tribals and dalit villagers of Daruthenga, Andharua, Chandaka, Kantabada and Paikarapur panchayats were facing difficulties in obtaining caste certificates due to discrepancies in records and government should clear all hurdles so that tribal and dalit families could avail benefits of welfare schemes.

The Hindu

Set up exclusive courts to try caste atrocities: Punia

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/set-up-exclusive-courts-to-try-caste-atrocities-punia/article5090583.ece

Stresses need to train judges, prosecutors, and investigating officials

The National Commission for Schedule Castes (NCSC) has sought the setting up of "exclusive" courts for cases of caste atrocities and gender violence.

The demand comes in the wake of increasing crimes against the Scheduled Castes and the corresponding increase in the number of cases pending in various courts, including the special courts.

"There is a provision of special courts and special laws for hearing such cases and also an instruction that the case will be investigated by senior officials, but all of this exists only on paper. Cases are not filed in police stations unless there is pressure and the disposal rate is slow. In view of the backlog of pending cases across the country, we are demanding exclusive courts that will take up such cases and in a time-bound manner deliver justice," NCSC Chairman P.L. Punia told The Hindu.

Mr. Punia said these exclusive courts should have a timeline of maximum six months to ensure speedy disposal of cases.

"There is also a need to sensitise and train the judges, the prosecutors and the investigating officials who will be attached to these exclusive courts about caste-based violence and crimes. There is at the moment very little information about the intricacies and finer points of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes [Prevention of Atrocities] Act, and the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955," he said.

Referring to statistics, Mr. Punia said: "An informal study…has shown that of all cases of crimes against women, 95 per cent are caste-based. We have 10 States which have the worst record of crimes and atrocities against Dalits. In 2009 alone, 33,426 cases of crime against SCs were recorded…and of these 31,222 came from the 10 States of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Maharashtra.

"There is an alarming trend that even cases of heinous crimes like murder and rape are not being registered and the affected people have had to approach the court under section 156(3) of the Cr.PC to get their cases registered.

"In 2008, 43 murder and 41 rape cases were ignored and not registered by the police."

News Monitor by Girish Pant

--
.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 PMAR

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Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Fwd: [pmarc] Dalits Media Watch - News Updates 04.09.13

Dalit girls in Jind scared to go to school

'Harassed' by colleagues, Dalit clerk kills self

Cops help Dalit girl reunite with caste Hindu husband

Samiti protests against social boycott of Dalits

Jind rape-murder case: Distraught father to move court for girl's 3rd autopsy report

Dalit Sarpanch's suicide agitates village, NRI held responsible

Dalit boy's killing: NHRC issues notice to Akhilesh govt

Bungling Govt. deprives SC, ST kids of welfare schemes

Delhi Government not maintaining any relevant data, says NGO Pratidhi

Uproar in RS over SC, ST, OBC quota in govt jobs

Tribals in Odisha allege deprivation of land rights

Set up exclusive courts to try caste atrocities: Punia

Stresses need to train judges, prosecutors, and investigating officials

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