From: Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC <pmarc2008@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 17, 2010 at 4:07 PM
Subject: [PMARC] Dalits Media Watch - News Updates 17.05.10
To: Dalits Media Watch <PMARC@dgroups.org>
Dalits Media Watch
News Updates 17.05.10
Atrocities against Dalits highest in UP - Zee News
http://www.zeenews.com/news627119.html
General candidates recruited in place of SCs in MP: Buta - The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/17/stories/2010051753820300.htm
CPI(M) wants land returned to Dalit families - The Hindu
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/17/stories/2010051760800400.htm
State Govt suppressing Dalits' right to expression: Congress - The Pioneer
Hindus can be terrorists too: Pallavi Gupta - One India
Zee News
Atrocities against Dalits highest in UP
http://www.zeenews.com/news627119.html
Updated on Sunday, May 16, 2010, 19:01 IST
Bhopal: Stating that the atrocities on Dalits were highest in Uttar Pradesh followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Buta Singh today said that the Commission would submit its final report to President by May 26.
"Uttar Pradesh tops the list of the states followed by Bihar and Madhya Pradesh in atrocities against scheduled caste", Singh told reporters here.
At times, Bihar surpasses UP, and some times MP goes to the second place in connection with the atrocities on the Dalits, he said adding that first three positions keep changing among these three states.
"We will submit our final report after visiting different states to the President Pratibha Patil by May 26," he said.
He said that Punjab, Harayana, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu are not lagging behind in offences against Dalits.
Singh said that the worst part of atrocities being committed on the oppressed class was that the complainants were being pressurised to withdraw their cases by the police on the directive of the state machinery.
They (Dalits) are in double trouble as they face the brunt of the police in form of counter complaints after they get their cases registered, he said.
Singh said that NCSC's team is in Madhya Pradesh after coming across reports of atrocities on the dalits. "Before my tenure comes to an end shortly, I am going to submit my report to the President, Singh said.
He said that NCSC had already submitted a report about a year back.
He did not indicate what the report would contain but it would deal with issues like atrocities on Dalits as also various other issues facing the community, according to sources.
The Hindu
General candidates recruited in place of SCs in MP: Buta
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/17/stories/2010051753820300.htm
| It cuts into the fundamental rights of Dalits: NCSC Chairman |
· NCSC team found Dalits worshipping at a temple in Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister's native village
· Buta says it was stage-managed as the Dalits left the temple as soon as the team left
Bhopal: National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) Chairman Buta Singh on Sunday said that general category candidates were being recruited to fill the backlog of vacancies reserved for Scheduled Castes in Madhya Pradesh.
"The Madhya Pradesh Government since 2006 was recruiting general category candidates to fill the backlog of vacancies reserved for SCs which is violation of Article 16 (4-B) of the Constitution," Mr. Singh told reporters here.
"This negates the fundamental right of SCs," he remarked.
"We got to know about this two months ago and came here to find out the truth," the NCSC chairman said.
About NCSC team's visit to Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan's native village Jait in Sehore district on Saturday following reports that the Dalits being denied entry into temples there, he said that he was surprised at the developments during his visit.
"When we visited a temple close to Mr. Chauhan's younger brother's house, we found Dalits along with others worshipping there," he said.
"On being asked they told us that they perform puja between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. daily," Mr. Singh said.
It was surprising that there was no priest in the temple to confirm their claim, he said.
"Till 3 p.m. they did take food but the moment we left the venue they too left," Mr. Singh said, adding that the NCSC team has come to know that Dalits were asked to remain in the temple as long as we were around.
"The show of the worshipping was stage-managed," he added.
He said that Dalit sarpanch of village Shahganj in Sehore district Santosh Ahirwar was removed on a flimsy ground since the place now has got the status of Nagar Panchayat.
Mr. Ahirwar has complained to us stating that he had been discriminated after winning the sarpanch post, he said.
Mr. Singh said that the Dalits have been denied their adequate reserved share of representation in the panchayat elections in Madhya Pradesh.
To a query, he denied that the Commission was politicking over the Dalit atrocities issues in Madhya Pradesh.
Mr. Singh along with commission member from Madhya Pradesh Mahendra Bodh was on a two-day visit to the State. – PTI
The Hindu
CPI(M) wants land returned to Dalit families
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/17/stories/2010051760800400.htm
Staff Reporter
| Says commission's recommendations unjustifiable |
MADURAI: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the State government to return the 53 acres of land that had been grabbed from 20 Dalit families at Siruthavur village, to their heirs. Addressing the media here on Sunday, G. Ramakrishnan, State Secretary, termed unjustifiable the recommendations of the K.P. Sivasubramanian Commission that the lands allotted to Dalits in 1967 could be taken up for distribution to other landless Dalits. If it had not been for the 20 families lodging complaints, and the Communist Party submitting a memorandum to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi about the land grabbing, the enquiry commission would not have been appointed. Hence, the land should be distributed to the heirs of the families, he said.
Refutes charges
Mr. Ramakrishnan also refuted the charges made by the Chief Minister that the CPI (M) had supported the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in the by-election without the latter demanding it. He said that it was the decision of the party's executive committee to support AIADMK. Moreover the AIADMK had sent a letter seeking the CPI (M)'s support in the by-elections.
Stating that untouchability was still prevalent in many forms in the State, he said that a two-day State-level conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchabilty Eradication Front would be held at Pudukottai on May 28 and 29 and would be attended by the party's national general secretary Prakash Karat.
Citing the Pallipalayam incident, where a CPI (M) functionary was hacked to death for fighting usury, Mr. Ramakrishnan said that the party would organise a conference at Pallipalayam in Namakkal district on May 23, demanding abolition of the same.
He opined that with higher education still remaining a distant dream for many, the Foreign University Bill would only further reduce the chances of the poor getting higher education, and the CPI (M) would oppose the Bill.
The party also demanded that textbooks for matriculation schools under the Samacheer Kalvi Thittam be published and distributed by the State.
The Pioneer
State Govt suppressing Dalits' right to expression: Congress
Staff Reporter | Bhopal
The State Congress has alleged that the State Government pressurised the Dalit family of Jait village, the home village of Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, to not to narrate truth before the chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), Buta Singh, who visited Jait on Saturday.
Madhya Pradesh Congress Committee spokesperson KK Mishra, in a statement here on Sunday, condemned the State Government for pressurising the Dalit family of Jait village from telling truth to NCSC chairman Buta Singh.
Mishra said, "The State Government has crossed all the limits of atrocities on Dalits. Now, after excesses on them, they are also forced not to speak against the atrocities done on them. Their right of freedom to express is denied forcibly under the Bharatiya Janata Party's Government."
Mishra further said that this act of the State Government makes it clear that the allegation of Dalits being denied entry in Chief Minister's home village is true and correct. Holding of prayers in the village temple at the time of NCSC chairman and members' visit proves that the State Government was feeling guilty of its act.
He also condemned the State Home Minister, Umashankar Gupta's remarks against the NCSC chairman in this regard.
He said that NCSC chairman's discussion with Jait village Dalit resident Vejanti Bai and the excesses meted out to Dalits of Kharsania village that also comes under the Assembly constituency of the Chief Minister have been recorded in a CD which is proof of the excesses done on them. Still the State Home Minister's misleading statement is objectionable, he added.
He said that in real sense the Home Minister in the place of issuing misleading statements should instruct police officers to take stern action against those who have meted out excesses on Dalits of these two villages.
One India
Hindus can be terrorists too: Pallavi Gupta
Monday, May 17, 2010, 11:54 [IST]
The D word has become common on television today. No, we're not talking about Dons; they are a matter of the past. It's the Dalit (untouchable) who has suddenly become dearer to television producers. Kashi, Agle Janam Mohe Bitiya Hi Kijo, Bairi Piya and Uttaran – all of these shows have a Dalit protagonist.
Another pillar lending support to Dalits is Contiloe Films, which aims to highlight the ills of caste discrimination through the story of Bitto. Pallavi Gupta, a Brahmin from Delhi, will be seen playing an untouchable in the show.
TellyCafe's Mayur Lookhar caught up with the young actress at the show's launch. Excerpts from the interview:
Pallavi G-u-p-t-a! You probably belong to an upper caste, don't you?
Yes, I'm a pure Brahmin. We come from the family of Parshuram.
Did your family approve of your decision of playing a Dalit, seeing as you are Brahmin?
My parents were absolutely fine with it. They don't discriminate against lower castes. My nani, on the other hand, has always discriminated between humans. She would be livid if any one of us drank in the same glass as that of the jamadarni (sweeper). Subsequently she'd opt for a bath. Her way of looking at things isn't good which is why I want her to watch my show. Hopefully, it will bring some change in her attitude.
As a child, how did you react to seeing elders discriminate against the Dalits?
Back then, I didn't understand untouchability but I always wondered why my mother, dadi would fret that much at the sight of a maid. I used to be scolded by my mother if I drank in the same cup as the jamadarni's. These things would irritate me quite a lot. Hopefully, I'll be able to change people's attitude towards the Dalits through my show.
Urban casteism isn't too severe but it's mainly the quota system for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in educational institutions that upsets those from open category?
Yes, that's true. However, the quota isn't limited to SC/STs alone. Private colleges have their own reservation. I studied in National College, Mumbai. When I was filling the form, I was asked if I was a Sindhi. Since I'm not, I was told to fill in the open category and that made me unlikely to get an admission as Sindhi students would be given preferences. This left a bad taste in my mouth. Similarly, Mithibai College has reservation for Gujaratis. Other colleges have reservations for Marathis, Punjabis
and so on.
However, don't you think reservations are necessary for the upliftment of the SC/STs?
As a human being, I'm simply against any kind of reservation. Education is everyone's right but reservation isn't the solution. It widens the gap between the people.
Do you seriously think that a TV show
or a film can change the ground realities?
Yes, why not? After playing such a character, I can relate to the Dalits. I know what it fees like to go to bed without food to eat. Through Ramayan, Arun Govil and Deepika Chikhalia acquired divine status. People really started to worship them. That's the impact of television. You can spread your message to the masses.
How can you bring about a change when most of such shows return to the comforts of Mumbai after shooting in the small town for just a month?
Ideally, I agree with you. Shooting in Bihar would have helped us in giving the first hand account of the situation. However, the location is decided by the channel and the production. We actors have no say in it. While we may not be shooting right on the scene of action, what we're showing isn't plain fiction either.
Apparently, on one side you're showing the plight of the Dalits. On the other hand, you're patenting the Thakurs as evil men. Surely, not all people from upper caste are like this?
That's true but there's no denying that these atrocities do happen. In fact, they just aren't limited to the Dalits. The Thakurs also dislike the girl child. I can testify to it. I come from a family where the matriarch would insist on putting salt into the mouth of the girl, so that she dies. My nanny loves my cousin brothers a lot more than me. Till date, my nanny has never even hugged me.
A Thakur assaulting a Dalit. While some may sympathize with the victim, a few (presumably urban Thakurs) might find sadistic pleasure in watching such atrocities. They might wish they also had such a privilege.
That's a threat too. However, they should think twice before assaulting any woman. Women these days are also very strong. Have you ever seen a Haryanvi, Marathi or Punjabi woman fight? These women can put the men to shame. Aurat ko ladna aata hai, use kamzor mat samjho (A woman knows how to fight, don't consider her meek).
Suppose, in future, you fall in love with a guy, who later reveals to you that he's a Dalit. Would you still marry him?
The caste simply doesn't matter to me. However, I wouldn't appreciate any lies. Caste and religion bias is one thing that I've been hearing right since my childhood. Muslims are typecast as bad human beings and terrorists. Come on! Hindus can be terrorists too. I believe in what My Name is Khan showed. There's no such thing as a bad Hindu or a bad Muslim, but it's the human being who is bad.
Finally, have you found your secular guy?
(Laughs) No, I'm still single. Let's see who God has in store for me.
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On behalf of
Dalits Media Watch Team
(An initiative of "Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre-PMARC")
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Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. To create proper & adequate space with the Dalit perspective in the mainstream media national/ International on Dalit issues is primary objective of the PMARC.
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