http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=9373#
Massive violence against Christians continues unabated in Orissa
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi 28/8/2008 4:52:42 PM(IST)
Violent attacks against Christians in the eastern state of Orissa continued 5th day. The Christian leaders across denominations are calling for Christian educational institutions to peacefully protest by closing schools on Friday. In positive news, a key appeal was won in the Orissa High Court this afternoon to protect victims and restore order.
“Some people have called the violence ‘Hindu-Christian clashes’. But this is not accurate. Innocent Christians – mostly of Dalit origin – continue to be attacked by communal organizations which are mocking the rule of law. Governance in Orissa state appears to have disintegrated,” said Dr. Joseph D’souza, President of the All India Christian Council (AICC).
“We call for all church and Christian educational institutions of Catholic, Protestant, Independent, and unaffiliated Christian denominations in the service of society to close for one day,” said Sam Paul, aicc National Secretary of Public Affairs. The AICC is supporting the call from church networks -- including the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India, the Evangelical Fellowship of India, and the National Council of Churches in India -- to close Christian schools on Friday, Aug. 29, 2008. A letter sent by these groups said in part:
“Communal organizations have taken the law into their hands in 12 districts of Orissa and are going about targeting not only institutions but also persons. What is at stake is not only the freedom of conscience of a minority community but India’s secular democracy, its commitment to human rights and constitutional guarantees. The destructive and divisive communal forces have to be stopped. We want this message to go across to our fellow countrymen and that is why we are closing our educational institutions on Friday, 29th August 2008 in deep sorrow and anguish. We hope parents become aware of the implications of the incidents in Orissa. We also request all our people to pray for the victims of violence in Orissa and other places and their near and dear ones. We also pray for the misguided perpetrators of violence that they may mend their ways and become responsible citizens.”
A non-sectarian group of lawyers won an important appeal in the Orissa High Court this morning. Lawyers from the Human Rights Law Network filed “Sangram Mallick vs. Union of India”, Writ Petition Civil, No. 12318 of 2008. The petitioner and his organization, Ambedkar Lohia Vichar Manch, sought rehabilitation of all victims, provision of relief, and increased protection -- including deployment of more security forces such as Central Reserve Police Forces. A division bench of the High Court in Cuttack, Orissa, including Chief Justice B.S. Chauhan and Justice B.N. Mahapatra, specifically directed the state’s District Collectors to help victims return safely from hiding in the forests to their homes.
In the aftermath of the murder of a Hindu swami by unknown assailants on Aug. 23, 2008, mobs attacked the Christian community across the eastern state of Orissa. On Monday, a 12 hour strike called by hardliner Hindu nationalist organizations resulted in spreading violence. Media reports and eye witness accounts indicate about a dozen Christians were killed and thousands of Christian properties burnt. See dedicated webpage at: http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2332/45/
From Dec. 24, 2007-Jan. 2, 2008, attacks in Kandhamal district killed at least four Christians and destroyed over 100 churches and 730 Christian homes. Several dozen women were sexually harassed and assaulted, and more than 40 shops belonging to Christians were looted and destroyed. Most of the victims were Dalits, formerly known as untouchables.
The All India Christian Council (www.aiccindia.org), birthed in 1998, exists to protect and serve the Christian community, minorities, and the oppressed castes. The AICC is a coalition of thousands of Indian denominations, organizations, and lay leaders.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Massive violence against Christians continues unabated in Orissa
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Uttar Pradesh: Corruption in public service promotes starvation and malnutrition
http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=9304
Uttar Pradesh: Corruption in public service promotes starvation and malnutrition
Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi 27/8/2008 4:19:11 PM(IST)
Case of three-year-old Pritam who died of malnutrition. Pritam suffered from malnutrition for seven months until he died. However, it is reported that the government authorities responsible for Pritam'''s death was not punished or even enquired upon by the government. The Ambedkar Nagar district authority further forcibly obtained a signature from Pritam's father in an attempt to fabricate documents to content that Pritam's family does not live below the poverty line.
As mentioned in the AHRC's previous urgent appeal, three-year-old Pritam died of hunger on 24 November 24 2007. Pritam was diagnosed as suffering from Grade IV malnourishment (Protein Energy Malnutrition; PEM) and Pneumonia at the Ashopur Primary Health Centre (PHC, register No. 9579) of Tanda Block, Ambedkar Nagar district, on 13 April 2007. Three-year-old Pritam weigh only 5 kilograms at that time. (Please see further: UA-333-2007)
After Pritam's death, the local human rights activists led by the Savitribai Phule Women's Forum made lots of efforts to examine the cause of Pritam's death so that no other child would die in similar circumstances in the future, and to support Pritam's family.
It was reported that these efforts led to the proposal to hold a hearing in which the government officials including the Director of Child Development Service and Nourishment, the Secretary of Women and Child Development Department, the Chief Secretary of Family Welfare Department, the District Magistrate of Ambedkar Nagar and the Chief Medical Officer of Ambedkar Nagar, and Mr. Raj Karan, Pritam's father, were supposed to attend. Mr. Prabhat Kumar Srivastava, the Under Secretary of Uttar Pradesh state government sent a letter informing the above persons about the hearing and requesting their presence for the hearing to be held on 22 May 2008.
According to this letter, Mr. Chandra Prakash, the Director of Child Development Service and Nourishment insisted that Pritam's death should be investigated by the Assistant Director-Head Quarter Mr. Saheeb Singh. It is mentioned in this letter that on 8 April 2008, an Investigation Officer submitted a report stating that the complaint regarding Pritam's death was neither justifiable nor acceptable.
During the hearing and after, the facts below were reportedly discussed and confirmed.
Ms. Shubhawati Verma, an Anganwadi worker (Child Care Centre staff) of Alhadadpur village identified Pritam as a Grade IV malnourished child and referred Pritam to the Ashopur PHC in April 2007. Shubhawati also took Pritam to the Community Health Center (CHC) of Tanda Block to register Pritam as a malnourished child (register No. 10139). It is found in the medical report at the PHC and CHC that Pritam was merely provided with polio immunisation.
On 1 September 2007, the Child Development Project Officer of Tanda Block submitted an investigation report that Pritam was suffering from Grade IV malnutrition after visiting Anganwadi Centre at Alhadadpur village.
Since then, Shubhawati provided nutrition to Pritam and on 1 October 2007, reported Pritam's health condition to Mr. Sangram Verma, village head of Gram Panchayat, Arkhapur-village council, of Alhadadpur village. However, the village head did not take any action for Pritam, which aggravated Pritam's malnutrition. The village head of Alhadadpur village's corruption and negligence, in particular concerning the Dalit communities has already reported the case of Pritam.
Even after Pritam's death, some government officers visited Pritam's house and forcibly took Pritam's father Raj Karan's signature on the paper stating that the family have a buffalo and other business for a living. It is alleged that the officers intended to prove that Pritam's family does not live below the poverty line although they had an AAY ration card (ID No. 35325) for the poorest in the village.
The Pritam's malnutrition and death resulted from the failure of entire health care system caused by the negligence and corruption of the relevant government agencies.
The health care in India, in particular for children and women is to be covered by the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS). This scheme is in operation since 1975. The scheme is implemented through the Anganwadi Centre (AWC; child care centre) at the village level in rural areas. Further the National Rural Health Mission of India (NRHM) launched in 2002 supplements the work of the AWC.
The NRHM is designed to provide public health services to the villagers ranging from village level to state level. To make this system deliver expected or projected results the relevant government agencies responsible for the implementation of the NHRM schemes must function in a coordinated fashion. Pritam's death and the subsequent reactions of the government agencies as illuminated from the facts of this case exposes the malfunction of the government agencies, in particular at village level. The village level government agencies like the village head, AWC etc. and their proper functioning are the essential and elementary requirements to prevent hunger and malnutrition.
The role of these government agencies and local bodies like the village head or the village panchayat is not to attend to an issue when a problem arises. As always prevention is better than cure. Unless the rural and grass-root agencies function in such a manner to first identify the cause of starvation and malnutrition, which includes the socio political structure in a given rural society, none of the government schemes can deliver result.
At village level, the village council working for the villagers' welfare and development, along with some other health workers such as Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA), AWC workers, and Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) is primarily responsible for precaution and relief from malnutrition and hunger.
According to the ICDS, the AWC for Alhadadpur village is supposed to provide vaccinations against poliomyelitis, diphtheria, tetanus, tuberculosis, and measles for the children below age six. The AWC for Alhadadpur village, however, reportedly merely provided poliomyelitis vaccine in Pritam's case. This deficiency of primary immunisation for infants and children easily gives the space to suspect that other health facilities and supply at the AWC for Alhadadpur village are not sufficient for the children to be free from malnutrition and hunger death.
When the AWC worker of Alhadadpur village reported Pritam's health condition to the village head, the village council including village head, village secretary, and revenue officer (Lekpal) were unconcerned about the issue. Although the nutrition was provided to Pritam for a while, no further action by the village council was taken for Pritam, which resulted in his death.
In addition, according to the Convener of Savitribai Phule Women's Forum Ms. Shruti, the Auxiliary Nursing Midwife (ANM) working in Alhadadpur village did not take further steps to rescue Pritam from malnutrition. The ANM is the key health worker at the village level interacting directly with the community and the training of ASHA and AWW staff. The ANM attached to the health institution such as the PHC, CHC or sub-centres have been playing a multi-functional health worker role since 1973 providing family planning, immunisation, sanitation, infectious disease prevention/care and delivery care.
The village council did not take any action to save Pritam from malnutrition which violates the guideline of state government for assistance to the people struggling against the malnutrition and hunger. The National Guidelines on Infant and Young Child Feeding initially released in 2004 also states that mothers of malnourished children could be invited in a camp and be provided with a fortnight's ration of roasted cereal-pulse mixes with instructions. The condition of the children could be followed up every fortnight for growth monitoring, health check up and supply of instant food ration for a period of three months.
On the contrary, the officers forced Pritam's father to sign on a paper stating false living condition of the family. This apparently illustrates that the local government authority attempts to conceal the fact that Pritam died of malnutrition under the poor living condition. The officers' behavior infringes the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 (SC/ST Act).
The Section 3(1)(ix) of the SC/ST Act states that 'Whoever, not being a member or a Scheduled Caste or a Scheduled Tribe, gives any false or frivolous information to any public servant, and thereby causes such public servant to use his lawful power to the injury or annoyance of a member of a Scheduled Caste of a Scheduled Tribe; shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five years and with fine.
Pritam's family belongs to SC community (Dalit) in Alhadadpur village. The family is the one of the SC families who lives below the poverty line (BPL) in the village. Officially, there are 90 families living BPL in Alhadadpur village, of which 65 families belong to Scheduled Caste community. As even the official index shows, most of the BPL families in the village belong to the SC. The economically poor and socially marginalised SC members in the village are easily discriminated by upper caste group mainly occupying the official position such as village council. Pritam's death followed by Juli's death (please refer to previous Hunger Alert case, HA-005-2007) in Alhadadpur village explains the failure of public health care caused by the corruption and enjoyment of caste discrimination by government servants in India.
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Uttar Pradesh: Police and rule of law
http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=8876#
Uttar Pradesh: Ploice and rule of law
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi 15/8/2008 8:29:06 PM(IST)
Ram Murat Tiwari is resident of village Khutawli under jurisdiction Tahabarpur in Azamgarh District of Uttar Pradesh. On 4th August, 2008 approximately at 5 pm in the evening Ram Murat was returning from the market with his bicycle. In the way he was stopped by Rajni Kant, Phul Badan, Vinod Maurya and Ram Palat. They beat and forcefully kidnapped Ram Murat by car.
Ram Murat neighbor Mr. Shanker Dev Tiwari daughter of Madhu and Puja has illegal relation with Rajni Kant alias Pintu. Rajni Kant is owner of brick kiln factory and he is resident of Sherpur under jurisdiction Nizamabad in Azamgarh district. Few days before Ram Murat saw Madhu and Rajni Kant in privacy. Ram Murat informed same to Shanker Dev Tiwari so he may save his self-esteem in the society. Shanker Dev Tiwari informed to his son Satya Prakash and Rajni Kant.
Yes it the personal matter. However it is important how the person matter took the life of Ram Murat. Here it is to point out is police is following the rule of law? but here condition is entirely opposite. Police is giving respect to the alleged and victim family is living their life in fear.
Ram Murat son Mr. Prem Narayen Tiwari get information about kidnapping of his father and he immediately rushes to Tahabarpur police station. However no FIR was lodge in the police station considering his application. Hence, he was yelled by the Station officer Mr. Jalil Ahamed. He also threat to charge Prem Nayaren in fake case and spoil his entire life behind the prison. Owing to the fear of police Prem Narayen return back to his home.
Prem Narayen gets information while returning to his house that his father is kept in brick klin factory of Rajni Kant in Shekwaliya village under jurisdiction Nizamabad of same district. Ram Murat was brutally beaten by the Rajni Kant and his group members. Guard of Shekwaliya police station Mr. Mahendra Yadav (Mahendra Yadav is the guard of Shekhwaliya police station) after hearing the voice of Ram Murat immediately went to Rajni Kant factory and tried to save his life. Where he was threaten by alleged by showing revolver. Rajni Kant, Phul Badan,Vinod Maurya and Ram Palat Due to fear of being killed Mahendra Yadav immediately ran to Tahabarpur police station and informed entire self suffering to Station Officer Mr. Jalil Ahamed. After getting information then also police of Tahabarpur did not take any action to save the life of Ram Murat.
On 5th August, 2008 again Prem Nayaren with villagers went to police station this time FIR was lodge the crime no is 279/08, under section 364, IPC after tracing the dead body of Ram Murat section 302 and 201 is added. However according to the will of the station officer. On same day villagers traced Phul Badan and they successfully caught and hand over him to police officer. Instead of interrogating with Phul Chand police was respect him in police station.
On 6th August, 2008, agitated villagers protest in front of police station and on the order of station officer, police did lathi charge on mob, which result severe injury too many villagers. The villagers were charged under criminal cases. (Police arrest Durgesh Sonkar, Satish Rai and Harish Chandra Sonkar. Still they are in police custody including them eight people and other 100 unknown villagers. The sections of FIR were - 147, 148, 341, 186, 504, 506, 435 and 336 of Indian Panel code and 7 Criminal Law Amendment Act,
Superintendent of Police Mr. Vijay Garg went to Tahabarpur police station after getting information about kidnapping and murder of Prem Narayen father. He strictly interrogates with the alleged Phul Badan and he accepts that Mr. Ram Murat is being kidnapped and murdered by them. Police of Tahabarpur also became active and start searching the dead body of Ram Murat. Dead body was traced near the Tamsa river bridge.
On 7th August, 2008 Circle Officer of Police department Budhanpur and SHO Ahiraula came to Prem Narayen house and forcefully took his signature on the paper that he is satisfied with the investigation of Tahabarpur police station. After FIR no action was taken by the police against the alleged and they are continuously giving threat to Prem Narayen and his family member, that they will kill them like his father.
On 13th August, 2008 letter was sent to National Human Rights Commission New Delhi for the action against the alleged.
