DALITS/SCHEDULED CASTES - 2009 - Indian Social Institute

evealed severe head injuries and multiple fractures. Meanwhile, the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL)
report has said that the girl was sitting on the parapet of the terrace before she fell off. Had she jumped,
she would have fallen some distance away from the hostel building. Incidentally, every girl in the hostel
took turns to switch on the solar heater everyday. On Monday, it was not her turn, a source added. The
police, however, said that the hostel was not involved in any ragging issue. Rathod added, “Two weeks
ago, the warden had found two mobile phones, a letter and a picture of a boy from the girls’ room, after
which she became strict. Both phones belonged to Veghda’s roommates. The letter was addressed to
Veghda by her sister. But the photo of the unidentified boy is still a question.” (Indian Express 22/4/09)
Punjab SC panel seeks report in Dalit girl rape case (2)
Moga, April 22: Punjab State Scheduled Castes Commission has taken serious note of the attitude of
Moga district administration towards Commission's directions as so far it has not received any reply on
the querry of Moga village minor dalit girl's rape who after eight months of pregnancy gave birth to a child
in Moga civil Hospital on April 19. A case was registered against two youths of the village Ramoonwala
on rape charges and also under Prevention of Atrocities to Scheduled Castes Act. The Commission
member Dalip Singh Pandhi told reporters here today that the commission had directed the SSP and
Deputy Commissioner Moga for the DNA test of the mother and child to ascertain the percentage. The
Commission, according to Pandhi, also directed the district administration that police must act according
to law and there should be no question of any leniency or compromise between the parties and police
shall have to file a challan in the court. Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police Moga, Ashok Baath
when contacted, said that police was moving the court for getting directions for conducting the DNA test
of mother and the child. (Zee News 23/4/09)
Poor dalit woman dies inside CSMMU for want of proper treatment (2)
LUCKNOW: In stark contrast to Mayawati government's claims of dalit emancipation, a dalit woman died
writhing in pain near the gate of state's only medical university named after the dalit icon, Chhatrapati
Shahuji Maharaj. There were reports that despite orders to provide treatment to her, doctors in CSMMU
did not admit her. The woman, who died late on Sunday night, had been reportedly persuading for her
treatment for the last three weeks. Gyanti Devi, 27, a dalit woman hailing from Mahdipatti village,
Azamgarh was brought to CSMMU nearly three weeks ago by her husband, Harish Chandra. The man
reportedly contacted a senior professor, who also belonged to his native district for helping him in
arranging treatment for his wife. The professor used his connections to help the ailing woman. Gyanti was
seen by doctors at the gynaecology department where she was diagnosed cervix cancer and referred her
to the radiotherapy department. The doctors advised a series of tests including biopsy for which she had
to rely on private labs, it being a drain on her little savings. Later, the doctors at Radiotherapy refused to
admit her claiming non-availability of bed. After much persuasion, the doctors relented claiming that she
will be admitted on Monday. But Gyanti Devi died of acute pain on the road inside CSMMU campus on
Sunday night. "The radiotherapy department then asked us to go for number of pathological tests. After
giving samples at pathology department, we went back to our village and came back on April 10.
However, though tests confirmed cancer, doctors refused to admit my wife saying that there was no
vacancy. We took shelter under `rain basera' and on Sunday night she died," Harish told TOI. He said
that even the request made by the senior professor known to me failed to move hospital authorities.
Sources said that apart from radiotherapy department, the woman could have been admitted in a special
ward in gynaecology department. There are standing orders of the government and the CSMMU vicechancellor
that no patient will be denied admission but Gynati's case shows that doctors care little for
directions. When informed about the matter, vice-chancellor, Prof Saroj Chooramani Gopal said she
would order a probe into the matter. "This is the height of insensitivity and the wrong-doers will not be
spared," she told reporters. (Times of India 23/4/09)
Mayawati discards allegations of being anti-Brahmin (2)
LUCKNOW: Cautioning her voters not to believe rumours being spread by her opponents, chief minister
and BSP national president, Mayawati, while addressing election rallies in Hardoi and Sitapur on
Thursday, said that her party's popularity and mass base were growing fast in the country, hence the
opposition parties are trying to mislead them during elections by adopting different tactics. Maya's
statement assumes importance in the light of the recent statement of her rival SP chief, Mulayam Singh
Yadav, who at an election meeting in Bhadohi had read out excerpts from her autobiography which he