Manila, November 2, 2019: Lenin Raghuvanshi, a crusader for Dalit rights and fighter for the elimination of caste system, has been selected to receive “Karmaveer Maharatna Award.”
The International Confederation of NGOs announced the award to Raghuvanshi to mark 10 noble years of Karmaveers making a difference around the world.
Raghuvanshi, a Dalit rights activist and initiator of the Neo-Dalit movement, will receive the award on November 26, at Ramagya School in Sector 50, Noida, along with other recipients.
“It is a form of recognition of all human rights defenders who are fighting against hegemonic masculinity of caste system and patriarchy. It is honor of continuous commitment and effort for elimination of caste-based slavery,” Raghuvanshi told Matters India.
According to him, “The caste system is one of the main reasons to create slavery, illiteracy and inequalities which created poverty and negative conflict for war-like situation. Mind of caste is destroying inclusive development and democracy which is a threat for a better world and peaceful South Asia.”
The awarding committee will felicitate some past award recipients (1 male and 1 female), from each of the 10 years, reported Youth Ki Awaaz.
The Karmaveer Puraskaar Award is given in recognition of people who have impacted society with their noble work as an inspiration and continue to be ‘being the change’ and ‘make a difference.’
The Karmaveer Puraskaar Award is going to be launched this year.
Growing up Uttar Pradesh, Raghuvanshi witnessed the unequal relationships among the rich and poor, men and women, and high caste and low caste. The caste system intercepted by power relations, patriarchy and social hierarchy has caused dehumanizing results on people.
To counter this discourse, he established the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a Varanasi-based NGO which works for the upliftment of the marginalized sections of society.
PVCHR fights for the rights of marginalized people in India. As a neo-Dalit movement, it promotes to establish a society based on equal dignity for all humankind. PVCHR abhors the ‘culture of impunity’ and presence of caste system.
Being a Dalit rights activist, he has received other awards in the past, such as Gwangju Human Rights Award (2007), the ACHA Star Peace award (2008), the International Human Rights Prize of the city of Weimar (2010), Public Peace prize (2018) and Special mentions prize of Human Rights of the French Republic (2018).
Though Raghuvanshi is not a Dalit, he has resisted his higher caste Hindu upbringing as “feudal.” From his young age, he has opposed societal feudalism and advocated for Dalit rights and their dignity, and elimination of caste system.
He contributes to various national and international journals including Transdisciplinary Peace Praxis. He has been a member of the editorial board for Torture Journal and the IRCT Data and Research Methods Reference Group (Data Reference Group).
Receiving the news of winning the Karmaveer Maharatna Award, Raghuvanshi said, “It is an honor of a fight against the caste system which is one of the main reasons for fascism in South Asia.”
Dalit activist Lenin Raghuvanshi gets award for making a ‘difference’
Dr Raghuvanshi will receive the Karmaveer Maharatna Award on 26 November. Turning his back on his upper caste origins, he has been fighting for the human rights for all Indians. In 1996 he founded the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights, which today has 72,000 members. He is the promoter of a neo-Dalit ideology with which he aspires “to reclaim human dignity”.
New Delhi (AsiaNews) – Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Indian activist fighting against India’s caste system and Dalit discrimination, has won the Karmaveer Maharatna Award for 2019.
The award is given by the International Confederation of NGOs in recognition of people who have impacted society with their noble work as an inspiration and continue to be bring change and make a difference. The award will be presented on 26 November at the Ramagya School in Noida.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Raghuvanshi said that the recognition “is an award for being the voice, body and soul of a nationwide movement for the right to a life of dignity, for my lifelong endeavour to eliminate every form of exploitation of children, women and the socially oppressed and for my committed crusade for the complete abolition of the caste system.”
The 49-year-old activist hails from Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, where he was born into a wealthy, high caste family, which he refers to as "feudal". In light of this, “I could have easily settled down to a complacent and comfortable life,” he says. “But from beginning, I was averse to the caste system. This sprung the seed of social activism in me.”
His life in Uttar Pradesh shaped his desire to defend human rights. “I saw an unequal relationship between men and women, with men being stronger, violent and controlling of women.”
His grandfather was a Gandhian freedom fighter who “wanted me to be a Gandhian,” whilst, “my father wanted me to become a communist. Hence this tussle gave me an exposure to varied shades of opinion since my childhood.”
Eventually he graduated in Ayurveda, modern medicine and surgery, and started working to eliminate discriminatory practices penalising marginalised groups in society. This led him to establish the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) in 1996 together with his wife Shruti Nagvanshi and other intellectuals.
“I was convinced that, unless Indian society deals with injustices of caste system head-on, it will not attack social conflicts at their root. Translating this into action, I built local, national and regional institutions that challenge the caste system.”
Today his organisation has about 72,000 members, 7,000 of whom victims of torture. He works in Indian slums, where he encourages sponsoring mothers to reduce the number of deaths of infants and pregnant women. He has fought to eliminate cheap forced child labour in mines and defended tribal land rights against forced seizure.
“Five great people influenced my life,” he said. They are “Jesus, the Prophet Muhammad, Karl Marx, Buddha and Dr B. R. Ambedkar. He has taken their “ideologies, along with my struggle as a human rights defender against caste-based discriminations, to shape a new ideology, that of neo-Dalit. I aspire to reclaim human dignity.”
“I and my life partner converted to Buddhism as a protest against the caste system. We are secular in our social life but are very spiritual in our personal life and practise spiritual meditation of different faiths and religions.”
Thinking back about his life, he notes that “I have set sail on a tough, tumultuous and arduous journey all by myself to do good for every wronged and discriminated citizen of India.”
For this reason, the award “is a great honour for our non-violent struggle against the hegemonic masculinity of the caste system and patriarchy. I dedicate this prize to all activists and human rights defenders who are fighting against this”. (A.C.F.)
दिवाली के पूर्व दिवस पर लेनिन रघुवंशी को सूचना मिली कि उन्हें नोएडा के सेक्टर 50 स्थित रामाज्ञा कॉलेज में इंटरनेश्नल कॉन्फिडरेशन ऑफ एनजीओ (International Confederation of NGOs) द्वारा कर्मवीर महारत्न पुरस्कार प्रदान किया जाएगा।
मेजर बख्तावर बरार ने पत्र में लिखा है,
कर्मवीर पुरस्कार के दस साल पूरे हो गए हैं और 11वें साल में प्रवेश किया है। इस अवसर पर एक महिला कर्मवीर पुरस्कार विजेता और एक पुरुष कर्मवीर पुरस्कार विजेता को प्रथम बार कर्मवीर महारत्न दिया जायेगा। कर्मवीर महारत्न को इसी वर्ष कर्मवीर पुरस्कार के दस साल होने पर शुरू किया गया है और इस बार लेनिन रघुवंशी बदलाव और लोगों के जीवन में लगातार परिवर्तन लाने के लिए प्रथम कर्मवीर महारत्न पुरस्कार से नवाज़े जाएंगे। इनका नॉमिनेशन कर्मवीर पुरस्कार के संस्थापक और सुप्रसिद्ध लेखक जेरी (Jeroninio Almeida) ने किया है।
पुरस्कार के घोषणा के बाद लेनिन रघुवंशी ने कहा,
दीवाली के समय यह एक उत्कृष्ट उपहार है। यह पुरस्कार सभी विदेशी पुरस्कारों से ज़्यादा महत्वपूर्ण है क्योंकि यह भारत के संविधान की प्रस्तावना के शपथ के दिवस 26 नवंबर को दिया जायेगा।
लेनिन ने वंचितों के अधिकार की रक्षा के लिए मानवाधिकार जन-निगरानी समिति की स्थापना की। जिसके 72 हज़ार लोग सदस्य हैं और अभी तक 23 हज़ार बंधुवा मजदूरों को मुक्त कराकर पुनर्वासित किया है और 75 हज़ार से ज़्यादा मानवाधिकार हनन के मामलों में हस्तक्षेप किया है। जिसमें 281 करोड रूपया पीड़ितों को मिला है।
लेनिन रघुवंशी, फोटो साभार – व्योमकेश शुक्ला
कमज़ोर तबके के लोगों को सक्षम बनाया
विदित है कि टाटा ट्रस्ट की मदद से संघटन ने वाराणसी के 20 मदरसे में 5281 बच्चों और बच्चियों को आधुनिक शिक्षा दे रहा है। मदरसे में लाइब्रेरी का निर्माण किया गया है, जहां 8000 किताबें जन मित्र न्यास द्वारा दी गई हैं। स्वीडन की पारुल शर्मा की मदद से 130 बच्चियों को स्कॉलरशिप दिया जा रहा है।
न्यूज़ीलैण्ड दूतावास की मदद से 20 गाँवों में किचन गार्डन बनाया गया है। जहां दलितों ने पहली बार दस हज़ार कुंतल सब्जी पैदा की। जिसे आउटलुक मैगज़ीन ने सफल प्रयोग के रूप में छापा, जिसे छत्तीसगढ़ के मुख्मंत्री ने अपने राज्य में लागू करने की घोषणा आउटलुक द्वारा आयोजित पोषण सम्मलेन में किया।
श्रुति, जय कुमार मिश्र और लेनिन ने हरिहर प्राइवेट लिमिटेड कम्पनी टाटा चाय के साथ मिलकर सोशल बिज़नस के तहत 11 ज़िले के गाँवो के 90 नवयुवकों को रोज़गार मुहैया कराया है। इससे पूर्व जन मित्र न्यास पंजाब नेशनल बैंक के साथ मिलकर 780 रिक्शावालों को रिक्शे का मालिक बनाया है।
लेनिन रघुवंशी और डेनमार्क के इंगेर आगर द्वारा यातना और हिंसा के पीडितो के मनोवैज्ञानिक मदद के लिए विकसित किये गए टेस्टीमोनियल थेरेपी का इस्तेमाल भारत, लंका, नेपाल और कम्बोडिया में किया जा रहा है। वहीं लेनिन सुप्रसिद्ध जर्नल के संपादक मंडल के सदस्य हैं और भारत के 6 विश्वविद्यालय और यूरोप के 6 विश्वविशद्यालय द्वारा यूरोपियन यूनियन के मदद से संचालित ग्लोबल इंडिया के मानद सदस्य हैं।
The International Day of Non-Violence is observed on 2 October, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi.
The United Nations’ (UN) International Day of Non-Violence is a global observance that promotes non-violence through education and public awareness.
“There are many causes I would die for. There is not a single cause I would kill for.” Mahatma Gandhi.
Dear Friends & family , My dear friend, Peter Gabriel , legendary British singer, songwriter , producer & human rights activist has made a special video message on the alarming situation in #Kashmir.
As being parent of Kabeer it is honor and proud moment for us to share that in 2019 he is ranked as 73 number of National Snooker player under male category:
किसी भी देश या फिर इलाके के विकास के लिए ज़रूरी है कि गर्भवती औरतों और नवजातों की मौत को कम किया जाय, किन्तु कॉर्पोरेटपरस्ती के लिए चलाये जा रहे आर्थिक विकास के अजेंडे में स्वास्थ्य एक व्यापार होता है. कॉर्पोरेट फासीवाद अपनी लूट को छिपाने के लिए मनोगतवादी अभियानों के आगे बढ़ाताहै और दूसरी तरफ मेहनतकश जनता तिल-तिल कर जीने और मरने की जद्दोजहद में लगी रहती है.
फर्जी जनवाद केवल घोषणा करता है, जिसका उदाहरण श्री नरेंद्र मोदी का वाराणसी है. सरकारी आंकड़ों में वाराणसी में 700 बच्चे अतिकुपोषण के शिकार हैं, तो 1500 अन्य कुपोषित बच्चे हैं. स्वास्थ्य सेवाओं में बजट कम होने, दलितों व वंचितों के साथ भेदभाव और स्वास्थ्य को बाजार के हवाले रखने के कारण बच्चों व नवजातों की मौत असमय हो रही है.
अपने स्तंभ के इस पहले अंक में मैं मुसहरों के लिए 20 वर्षों से काम कर रही श्रुति नागवंशी द्वारा एक नवजात की मृत्यु पर किये गये सामाजिक ऑडिट की रिपोर्ट को प्रस्तुत कर रहा हूं.
घटना 8 फरवरी, 2019 की है. जिला वाराणसी ब्लॉक बडागांव अंतर्गत ग्राम पंचायत खरावन ग्राम लखापुर निवासी उर्मिला पत्नी राजेन्द्र मुसहर का प्रसव उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र साधोगंज में नियुक्त महिला सफाईकर्मी सुरसत्ती यादव (पूर्व में पारम्परिक दाई के रूप में इनके द्वारा ग्राम स्तर पर प्रसव का कार्य किया जाता रहा है) द्वारा प्रसूता के घर पर ही कराया गया. शिशु का शरीर ठंडा होने (हाथ पैर गलने) की शिकायत पर सुरसत्ती यादव द्वारा सुझाव दिया गया कि कोई ऊपरी कारण हो सकता है, आप किसी तांत्रिक से झाडफूंक करा लो.
दाई सुरसत्ती यादव ने प्रसूता की मां केवला से अपनी तारीफ करते हुए कहा कि यह प्रसव तो बिना आपरेशन के नहीं होता लेकिन मैंने इसको घर पर ही करा दिया. बार-बार यही बात दोहराकर परिवार के सभी सदस्यों को भावनात्मक रूप से प्रभावित करके उसने 800 रुपये की मांग की और बार-बार यह दोहराती रही कि यह प्रसव तो बिना आपरेशन के नहीं होता लेकिन मैंने इसको घर पर ही करा दिया. परिवार के लोग भावना में बहकर दाई सुरसत्ती यादव को 1500 रुपये दे दिए.
सुरसत्ती यादव, जो समुदाय में पहले भी प्रसव कराती थीं, लोगों का उन पर काफी विश्वास था. अतः सुझाव अनुसार नवजात की दादी केवला देवी द्वारा इलाज के स्थान पर तांत्रिक की खोज करके उन्हीं के निर्देश का पालन किया गया. सुरसत्ती के सुझाव पर केवला देवी ने बसनी निवासी एक मौलवी तांत्रिक का पता किया. मौलवी के पास जाकर अपने परिवार व नवजात शिशु के बारे में पूरी जानकारी दी. मौलवी द्वारा उपाय के रुप में सरसों, झाड़ू, कपूर आदि सामग्री को बाजार से खरीद कर प्रसूता के घर में जलाकर धुआं देने की सलाह दी गयी. केवला देवी साधोगंज बाजार से सभी सामान की खरीददारी करते हुये शाम लगभग 5:30 बजे के आसपास अपने घर पहुंची और मौलवी द्वारा बताई गई विधि से धुआं देने का कार्य किया. इसका शिशु पर कोई प्रभाव नहीं पड़ा और रात लगभग 9:30 बजे शिशु की मृत्यु हो गई.
मिनी आंगनबाड़ी कार्यकर्ती सरोजा देवी द्वारा प्रसूता उर्मिला को ICDS की सेवा यथा पोषाहार, पोषण एवं स्वास्थ्य के सन्दर्भ में जानकारी आदि नही दी गई. उनका कहना है कि उर्मिला इस गांव की बिटिया है सो बेटियों का नाम लाभार्थी लिस्ट में नही शामिल किया जा सकता है . शादी के एक वर्ष बाद से उर्मिला अपने मायके में ही रहती आ रही है. तीनों गर्भावस्था के दौरान इसी गांव में रही है. उसके बच्चों का जन्म भी यहीं पर हुआ जिनमें सभी बच्चे मृत्यु का शिकार हो गए (एक स्टिल डेथ हुआ, दो शिशु मृत्यु). उर्मिला का एक बार भी स्वास्थ्य परीक्षण नहीं हुआ, उसे आयरन की गोली/सिरप या कैल्शियम गोली/सिरप आदि भी नहीं मिली जबकि उर्मिला HRP महिला रही है.
इस शिशु मृत्यु के पहले भी उर्मिला पीएचसी बड़ागांव में प्रसव कराने गयी थी तब वंहा के स्टाफ के द्वारा उर्मिला के साथ अच्छा व्यवहार नहीं किया गया था. बाद में जिला महिला चिकित्सालय, कबीरचौरा, वाराणसी रिफर कर दिया गया था. सरकारी स्वास्थ्यकर्मी के खराब व्यवहार से खिन्न केवला देवी के द्वारा गांव के ही साहूकार से 5000 रुपये 12 फीसद ब्याज पर लेकर नगीना वर्मा के क्लिनिक साधोगंज में प्रसव कराया गया, जहां नगीना वर्मा द्वारा मृत शिशु को उर्मिला के गर्भ से टुकड़े-टुकड़े कर के निकाला गया था. इसके बारे में बताते हुए केवला देवी अभी भी कांप जाती हैं.
Three delays model के आधार पर घटना की विश्लेषणात्मक रिपोर्ट
पहली देरी
निर्णय लेने में हुई देरी
प्रसूता को स्वास्थ्य विभाग और ICDS विभाग से किसी भी प्रकार की कोई सेवा गर्भावस्था के दौरान नही मिली, यथा पोषाहार, आयरन की गोली, कैल्शियम सिरप, आदि
प्रसव के पूर्व एक भी स्वास्थ्य जांच नहीं हुई
स्पष्ट है कि प्रसूता, स्वास्थ्य एवं ICDS विभाग की सेवाओं के साथ ही किसी भी प्रकार की स्वास्थ्य या पोषण की जानकारी से भी वंचित रही है
स्वास्थ्य विभाग द्वारा संचालित सेवाओं से कोई जुडाव नहीं था
दूसरी देरी
उपयुक्त सुविधा केंद्र तक पहुंचने में देरी
पति राजेन्द्र एवं मां केवला देवी प्रसूता उर्मिला को ट्राली से लेकर साधोगंज उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र पहुंचा जो उनके घर से 500 मीटर की दूरी पर है
तीसरी देरी
स्वास्थ्य केंद्र से प्रबंधन के साथ रेफरल सेवाएं न मिलना
साधोगंज उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र में एक ही ANM तैनात होना, डिलीवरी प्वाइंट में एक ANM की नियुक्ति अपने आप में बड़ी चुनौती है. टीकाकरण के समय प्रसव का केस आ जाने पर ANM को प्राथमिकता तय करने में चुनौती आती है. दोनों कार्य अपने समय पर अतिआवश्यक कार्य हैं, किसी का महत्व कम या ज्यादा नहीं है
पूर्व में शिशु मृत्यु, स्टिल डेथ, किसी भी प्रकार की मातृत्व स्वास्थ्य एवं पोषण देखभाल सेवा नहीं पाए जाने जैसे कई कारणों से प्रसूता उर्मिला HRP महिला थी जिसको उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र रेफर किया जाना चाहिए था. यह केस उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र के द्वारा प्रसव सेवा दिए के दायरे से बाहर था
ANM द्वारा प्रसूता को उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र में रात भर रखने के बाद सफाईकर्मी (पारम्परिक दाई) से घर पर प्रसव करा लेने का सुझाव देकर सुबह वापस भेज दिया गया
सफाईकर्मी (पारम्परिक दाई) द्वारा प्रसूता को 4 इंजेक्शन दिया गया जो अपने आप में बड़ा प्रश्न है
शिशु का शरीर ठंडा होने की जानकारी मिलने पर सफाईकर्मी द्वारा सरकारी स्वास्थ्य सेवा लेने के स्थान पर तांत्रिक को दिखाने का सुझाव दिया गया
घर पर ही सफल प्रसव करा दिए जाने के एवज में सफाईकर्मी (पारम्परिक दाई) द्वारा प्रसूता के परिवार से अवैध धन उगाही की गयी, वंहीं JSY की सुविधा से वंचित रखा गया
पूर्व में प्रसव के दौरान PHC बडागांव के प्रसव कर्मियों द्वारा प्रसूता उर्मिला से भेदभावपूर्ण व्यवहार के कारण प्रसूता आहत थी जिससे उसके गर्भ का स्टिल डेथ हो गया था
नोट: यह ऑडिट रिपोर्ट भारत सरकार के आधिकारिक उपकरण और मॉडल पर आधारित है
नवजात शिशु की मौत की सोशल ऑडिट रिपोर्ट योगी और मोदी के तथाकथित नारे ‘सबका साथ और सबका विकास’ की पोल खोल देती है, भले दूसरी तरफ दलाली करने वाले और डरे हुए सामाजिक कार्यकर्ता ऐसी घटनाओं पर चुप लगा जाएं.
Lenin Raghuvanshi, langjähriger
Partner der Stiftung in Indien, hat den Weimarer Menschenrechtspreis 2010
erhalten. Ausgezeichnet wurde er für sein Engagement für die Dalits, die Kaste
der Unberührbaren. Die Verleihung fand im Festsaal der Hochschule für Musik
Franz Liszt statt.
In seiner Ansprache
erläuterte Christoph Victor, Vorsitzender des
Vergabebeirats des Menschenrechtspreises, dass der Preis nicht nur eine
Auszeichnung für Menschenrechtler sei. Er werde an Aktivisten verliehen, die
aufgrund ihrer Arbeit Anfeindungen und Drohungen ausgesetzt sind. Der Preis und
die damit generierte Aufmerksamkeit sollen die Träger und ihre Arbeit schützen.
Rolf Berndt, Geschäftsführendes
Vorstandsmitglied der Stiftung, hielt die Laudatio. Er hob hervor, Raghuvanshi
habe „durch sein langjähriges Engagement für die sozial und gesellschaftlich
Benachteiligten eine stärker personenbezogene und die menschliche Würde
schützende Zusammenarbeit mit diesen Bevölkerungsgruppen in Indien etabliert“.
Lenin Raghuvanshi betonte in
seiner Dankesrede, wie wichtig es sei, Missstände aufzuzeigen. Die in Indien
vorherrschende Kultur des Schweigens über die gesellschaftliche Ausgrenzung und
Rechtlosigkeit der Dalits müsse durchbrochen werden.
Preisgeld
für People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
Vor der Preisverleihung hatte
Raghuvanshi ein straffes Programm absolviert. Im Anschluss an eine
Pressekonferenz, bei der die Stiftung für die Freiheit durch Siegfried Herzog, Regionalbüroleiter für Südasien,
vertreten wurde, trug sich der Preisträger mit folgenden Worten in das Goldene
Buch der Stadt Weimar ein: „For a pluralistic, democratic world based on human
rights and the rule of law, long live the spirit of Weimar in the world“.
Außerdem sprach der Preisträger,
der mit Frau und Sohn angereist war, mit Schülern eines örtlichen Gymnasiums
über die Lage der Menschenrechte in Indien. In Kooperation mit der Universität
Jena fand eine Podiumsdiskussion zur Universalität der Menschenrechte statt.
Während Lenin Raghuvanshi die Situation in Indien beleuchtete, gab Professor
Eichenhofer von der rechtswissenschaftlichen Fakultät eine Einführung zu den
Menschenrechten und konzentrierte sich anschließend auf das Thema der
Kinderrechte. Es folgte eine lebhafte Diskussion mit den etwa neunzig jungen
Teilnehmern.
Der Weimarer Menschenrechtspreis
wurde in diesem Jahr zum 16. Mal verliehen. Musikalisch umrahmt wurde die
Veranstaltung von Schülern der Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt. Die Stiftung
für die Freiheit hatte Raghuvanshi für die Auszeichnung vorgeschlagen. Die
Laudatio hält ein Vertreter derjenigen Einrichtung, die die Jury mit ihrem
Vorschlag überzeugen konnte. Das Preisgeld in Höhe von 2.500 Euro will
Raghuvanshi seiner eigens für seine Arbeit gegründeten Organisation People’s
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights zur Verfügung stellen.
Rough translation:
Lenin Raghuvanshi, longtime
partner of the foundation in India, has received the 2010 Weimar Human Rights
Award. He was honored for his commitment to the Dalits, the untouchable caste.
The award ceremony took place in the ballroom of the Liszt School of Music.
In his speech, Christoph Victor,
chairman of the award committee of the Human Rights Award, explained that the
award was not just an award for human rights activists. He is given to
activists who are exposed to hostility and threats because of their work. The
price and the attention it generates should protect the wearers and their work.
Rolf Berndt, Managing Director of
the Foundation, gave the laudatory speech. He emphasized that Raghuvanshi
"through his long-term commitment to the socially and socially
disadvantaged, has established a more personal and dignified human
rights-protecting cooperation with these populations in India."
Lenin Raghuvanshi emphasized in
his acceptance speech how important it was to show grievances. India's culture
of silence about social exclusion and lawlessness of Dalits must be broken.
Prize money for People's
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
Before the award ceremony,
Raghuvanshi had a tight program. Following a press conference at which the
Foundation for Freedom was represented by Siegfried Herzog, Regional Office
Director for South Asia, the award winner subscribed to the Weimar Golden Book
by saying: "For a pluralistic, democratic world based on human rights and
the rule of law, long live the spirit of Weimar in the world ".
In addition, the laureate, who
traveled with his wife and son, spoke with students from a local high school
about the human rights situation in India. In cooperation with the University
of Jena, a panel discussion on the universality of human rights took place.
While Lenin Raghuvanshi illuminated the situation in India, Professor
Eichenhofer of the Law Faculty gave an introduction to human rights and then
focused on children's rights. There followed a lively discussion with the approximately
ninety young participants.
The Weimar Human Rights Award was
presented for the 16th time this year. The event was musically framed by
students of the Liszt School of Music. The Foundation for Freedom had suggested
Raghuvanshi for the award. The laudation will be held by a representative of
the institution that convinced the jury with their proposal. Raghuvanshi wants
to donate the prize money of 2,500 euros to his own organization People's
Vigilance Committee on Human Rights.
I welcome the statement by NHRCs’ chairperson for protections of Human Rights Defenders (HRDs) about an improved complaints mechanism. According to this statement, here are the highlights from a recent meeting of HRDs:
Advise police not to summon those HRDs who file complaints of human rights violations of others.
Set a time frame for the disposal of the complaints of human rights violations of HRDs, especially those related to a threat to their life.
Complaints of false implication should not be ordinarily disposed of by the Commission treating them as sub-judice.
NHRC should intervene for expeditious trial of court cases which involve HRDs.
Post NHRC investigations in a matter, the time is taken in processing to dispose of the case needs to be expedited.
Conduct a research study to know the causes behind the continued violation of human rights of a particular category.
Develop a working definition of the human role of the human rights defenders rights, which is easy to understand for all.
Initiate measures to stop motivated targeting of selected human rights defenders and their organizations through income tax notices.
Look into the notification for the setting of foreigners’ tribunals and faulty mechanism of appeals against their orders.
Take a position on the issue of National Register of Citizens and detention centres.
On Thursday, 13th June, the NHRC convened a meeting of its Core Group of NGOs and Human Rights Defenders which was attended by HRDs working across a spectrum of issues.
At the outset, the NHRC acknowledged its own status as an HRD and the value of the work of HRDs in furthering India’s democracy and development agenda. It also affirmed its commitment to protecting HRDs in keeping with India’s international obligations under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the action plan developed at the World Summit of HRDs in 2018.
It is noted that before the NHRC meeting, I issued an open letter with detailed facts and evidences titled “Threat to my life is judged at office desk in NHRC, I am left to live at Perpetrators’ mercy: Lenin Raghuvanshi” on 9 June 2019 and simultaneously I wrote to the President of India, the Home Minister of India and the Chairperson of the NHRC. I faced intimidation, false criminal implication in Varanasi and Delhi due to support to a survivor of domestic violence in Varanasi. I highlighted the summary of non-action and manipulation by NHRC as follows:
1. The NHRC website talked about intervention in false implication. But in case of false implication of a human rights defender, the NHRC resorted to ‘eyewash’ tactics. The NHRC waited to bring cases before courts. They provided a lot of time to CB/CID and police for that reason. I submitted a detailed point-wise protest report of CB/CID and asked for CBI investigation, but smartly the NHRC did not talk about my comments on CB/CID report.
2. The NHRC gave interim direction for the security of Human Rights Defenders and victim on 26.09.2013 and also highlighted a security threat. But the NHRC did not make any effort for compliance of its own direction. It is a sign of a dangerous trend for the protection of Human Rights Defenders.
3. I wrote a letter to Chairperson of NHRC on 26 July 2013 about action against responsible police official under 166 A, IPC. I also demanded the police to file an FIR based on the threat to me on 20th December 2012 and 16 January 2013, but no mention about these demands and facts were evident in the NHRC direction. I also asked for a CBI investigation. But NHRC procedures in my case played a smart, mysterious and silent game in favour of the perpetrators.
4. If you observed all the proceedings then you would find that the NHRC provided a long time to the police department which proves the statement, justice delay is justice denied.
5. I found an important fact that Ms Jyotika Kalra ji assumed office as Member of the National Human Rights Commission on the 5th April 2017 and my case was transferred from Chairperson of the NHRC to Smt. Jyotika Kalra and she provided direction on 15 December 2017 after proceeding on 19.04.2016. She put my case on 20 February 2018. Then she resigned from the NHRC on 2 January 2018 (according to media report) and then she rejoined on 7 March 2018. According to Scroll, among other factors that had compelled her to resign, Kalra mentioned the body’s alleged inefficiency in spreading awareness about human rights, its tendency to close cases quickly. I was shocked to know that she closed my case on 5 November 2018. And she did not mention previous directions of the NHRC. It shows her tendency to close cases quickly and superficially.
I write, “Every time, the Honorable High Courts of UP and Delhi have provided me with immediate and effective remedies, in comparison to the Human Rights Defenders desk of the NHRC. I appealed to the NHRC for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the systematic attack on me and Shruti Nagvanshi, due to People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights’ (PVCHR’s) support to a woman survivor and her family. But, there is no step towards any independent investigation by the NHRC, or real-time support by Human Rights defenders desk too. There is only one trend that justice delay is justice denied. (Case No. 42218/24/72/2012)”
In this case, we criticised the national and international players through our writing on a blog and email. Now, a few international players are involved, to oppose us to establish the era of ‘corporate fascism’ in the context of ‘sectarian fascism’ of Hindutva.
Simultaneously, Shruti Nagvanshi and Shirin Shabana Khan intervened in the case of the rape of a Danish woman, at Paharganj police station in New Delhi. Both of them are first complaints to the NHRC, but the NHRC did not send a report to them for comment and marked the case as a closed case.
Mysterious Silence By The NHRC
Edmund Burke rightly says, “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” So, we are continuously pursuing the case for justice. We received the consequence of false implication by the police of Paharganj Police Station in New Delhi. Some associates of PVCHR and I filed many petitions, but the NHRC responded with mere eye-wash tactics. We received surprising responses from the Home Ministry of India and office of Honourable President of India, but there is a mysterious silence by the NHRC. Why?
India should develop a national law for the protection of human rights defenders, and strengthen the capacity and mandate of the NHRC’s focal point on defenders.
The NHRC needs to establish and resource a full-time dedicated focal point, to intervene in cases where human rights defenders are at risk, and to investigate and promote accountability where threats and attacks occur.
This matter concerns not only the life and the reputation of a human rights defender, but also the very legitimacy of human rights work in general.
I say, “After my protest on the technical fault of the visit of UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights Defenders, many key players and elites of civil societies initiated a conspiracy, and mysterious silence on my cases and inside campaign on my dignity. I observed many manipulating discussions in important meetings at Kathmandu and Bangkok. I criticise the horrific joint game plan of a few people at NHRC, the police and Civil Societies for falsely implicating me and I ask for a CBI investigation in the matter.”
Advise police not to summon those HRDs who file complaints of human rights violations of others;
Set a time frame for the disposal of the complaints of human rights violations of HRDs, especially those related to threat to their life;
Complaints of false implication should not be ordinarily disposed of by the Commission treating them as sub-judice;
NHRC should intervene for expeditious trial of court cases which involve HRDs;
Post NHRC investigations in a matter, the time taken in processing to dispose the case needs to be expedited;
Conduct research study to know the causes behind the continued violation of human rights of a particular category;
Develop a working definition of human role of the human rights defenders rights, which is easy to understand for all;
Initiate measures to stop motivated targeting of selected human rights defenders and their organizations through income tax notices;
Look into the notification for setting of foreigners’s tribunals and faulty mechanism of appeals against their orders;
Take a position on the issue of National Register of Citizens and detention centres.
On Thursday, 13th June, the NHRC convened a meeting of its Core Group of NGOs and Human Rights Defenders which was attended by HRDs working across a spectrum of issues.
At the outset, the NHRC acknowledged its own status as a HRD and the value of the work of HRDs in furthering India’s democracy and development agenda. It also affirmed its commitment to protecting HRDs in keeping with India’s international obligations under the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders and the action plan developed at the World Summit of HRDs in 2018.
It is noted that before NHRC meeting, I issued a open letter with details facts and evidences titled “Threat to my life is judged at office desk in NHRC, I am left to live at Perpetrators’ mercy: Lenin Raghuvanshi” on 9 June, 2019 and simultaneously I wrote to President of Indian, Home Minister of India and Chairperson of NHRC. I highlighted summary of non action and manipulation by NHRC as follows:
1. NHRC website[i] talked about intervention in false implication. But in case of false implication of a human rights defender, NHRC did eye wash tactics. NHRC waited to bring cases before courts. NHRC provided a lot of time to CB/CID and police for that reason. I submitted details point-wise protest report of CB/CID and asked for CBI investigation, but smartly NHRC did not talk about my comments on CB/CID report.
2. NHRC gave interim direction for security of Human Rights Defenders and victim on 26.09.2013 and also highlighted gave security threat too. But NHRC did not make any effort for compliance of its own direction. It is a sign of dangerous trend for protection of Human Rights defenders.
3. I wrote a letter to Chairperson of NHRC on 26 July, 2013[ii]about action against responsible police official under 166 A, IPC. I also demanded to file FIR on threat to me on 20thDecemebr, 2012 and 16 January, 2013, but no mention about this demands and facts in NHRC direction. I also asked for CBI investigation too. But NHRC procedures in my case played smart mysterious silence game in favour of perpetrators.
4. If you observed all proceedings then you find that NHRC provided long time to police department which is a way to justice delay is justice denied.
5. I found an important fact that Ms Jyotika Kalra ji assumed office as Member of the National Human Rights Commission on the 5th April, 2017[iii] and my case from Chairperson of NHRC to transferred to Smt. Jyotika Kalra and she provided direction on 15 December 2017 after proceeding on 19.04.2016. She puts my case on 20 February, 2018. Then she resigned from NHRC on 2 January, 2018 (according media report) and then she rejoined on 7 March, 2018. According Scorll[iv], among other factors that had compelled her to resign, Kalra mentioned the body’s alleged inefficiency in spreading awareness about human rights, its tendency to close cases quickly. I shocked to know that she closed my case on 5 November,2018. And she did not mention previous directions of NHRC and it shows her tendency to close cases quickly and superficially.
I write, “Every time, the Honorable High Courts of UP and Delhi have provided me with immediate and effective remedies, in comparison to the Human Rights Defenders desk of the NHRC. I appealed to the NHRC for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the systematic attack on me and Shruti Nagvanshi, due to People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights' (PVCHR's) support to a woman survivor and her family. But, there is no step towards any independent investigation by the NHRC, or real time support by Human Rights defenders desk too. There is only one trend that justice delay is justice denied. (Case No. 42218/24/72/2012)”
In this case, we criticized the national and international players through our writing on blog and emailing. Now, a few international players are involved, to oppose us to establish the era of 'corporate fascism' in context of 'sectarian fascism' of Hindutva[v].
Simultaneously, Shruti Nagvanshi and Shirin Shabana Khan intervened in the case of rape of a Danish woman, at Paharganj police station in New Delhi. Both of them are first complaints to the NHRC, but the NHRC did not send a report to them for comment, and marked the case as a closed case'.
Edmund Burke rightly says, "All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent." So, we are continuously pursuing the case for justice. We received the consequence of false implication by the police of Paharganj Police Station in New Delhi. I, and associates of PVCHR, filed many petitions, but the NHRC responded as mere eye-wash tactics. We received surprised responses from the Home Ministry of India and office of Honourable President of India, but there is a mysterious silence of the NHRC. Why?
India should develop a national law for the protection of human rights defenders, and strengthen the capacity and mandate of the NHRC's focal point on defenders.
The NHRC needs to establish and resource a full-time dedicated focal point, to intervene in cases where human rights defenders are at risk, and to investigate and promote accountability where threats and attacks occur.
This matter concerns not only the life and the reputation of a human rights defender, but also the very legitimacy of human rights work in general.
I say, “After my protest on technical fault of visit of UN Special Rapporteur on situation of Human Rights defenders,many key players and elites of civil societies initiated conspiracy, mysterious silence on my cases and inside campaign on my dignity. I observed many manipulating discussion in important meetings at Kathmandu and Bangkok. I criticize horrific joint game plan of few peoples at NHRC, police and Civil Societies in false implication of me and I ask for CBI investigation in matter.”
We are a couple for fighting against unjust caste and patriarchal system.We are living with our friendly contradiction. Now, we are partner in personal and community life, but we are two different identities in human rights struggle.
घटना 8 फरवरी, 2019 की है. जिला वाराणसी ब्लॉक बडागांव अंतर्गत ग्राम पंचायत खरावन ग्राम लखापुर निवासी उर्मिला पत्नी राजेन्द्र मुसहर का प्रसव उप स्वास्थ्य केंद्र साधोगंज में नियुक्त महिला सफाईकर्मी सुरसत्ती यादव (पूर्व में पारम्परिक दाई के रूप में इनके द्वारा ग्राम स्तर पर प्रसव का कार्य किया जाता रहा है) द्वारा प्रसूता के घर पर ही कराया गया. शिशु का शरीर ठंडा होने (हाथ पैर गलने) की शिकायत पर सुरसत्ती यादव द्वारा सुझाव दिया गया कि कोई ऊपरी कारण हो सकता है, आप किसी तांत्रिक से झाडफूंक करा लो.
