DALIT ATROCITIES IN INDIA - 2004 - Indian Social Institute

changed the caste and gender dynamics of this hitherto peaceful village. Incensed by the temerityof the lower caste dalits in voting for the opposite party, the village pradhan and his lackeys wenton the rampage fracturing heads and breaking the bones of several villagers, including women.When a local raised his voice against these atrocities he was shot dead in broad daylight. Thewomen decided they would not remain mute witnesses. Three days later, nearly 1,000 villagers—90 per cent women—took out a demonstration. An FIR was then registered. What followed was aprolonged struggle. They kept red chilli powder in homes for self defence. Finally, the deadlyquartet, pradhan and four others, were arrested. What is heartening is that the exclusionist casteconfigurations that was a way of life in Bhaunri have been transcended by these women. (Timesof India 7.2.04)Dalits got free land, but rich farmers chased them away (2)Shivrajpur (Chhatarpur, MP) THE GOVERNMENT had recently made an effort to distribute landto Dalits in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh. However, this has not brought an end to their woes.They now face a new battle against rich farmers. Achhelal Chamar was thrilled. The Governmentwas giving him two acres of land free of cost. A little later he was even more grateful to know thathe would also be given wages — in the form of foodgrains — for working on his own field. Thefield, he thought, would rid him of all his sufferings. He was so ecstatic that he did not even mindRs 6,000 from a money lender to meet the "demands" of Patwari and other local officials whowould then expedite the process of transforming him from a landless labourer to a proud landowner. In August 2000, Achhelal, a scheduled caste resident of Shivrajpur village in Chhatarpurdistrict, got the patta (ownership deed) of two acres of land. This moment of joy was soon replacedby the pressin'' sense of his responsibility towards the land. The ploughing began and theseeds of rai were sown. But the saplings had to face the scorching heat of summer. Achhelal realisedthat it was not enough to have the land. He had to dig a well as well. "I talked to the otherfour har-ijans in the village who had also been given patta in the same area. We all decided toface the challenge together and dig a well that would provide irrigation for our fields. So westarted digging the rocky land under the blazing sun," says Achhelal. It was after they had dug atleast eight feet deep that the rich peasants in the area felt the threat of assertion from theharijans, the "talking animals." (Pioneer 11.2.04)Minority report: Govt forgets rules (2)New Delhi: Desperate to secure sinecures for its Dalit leaders before the polls, the governmenthas put the horse before the cart in making political appointments to the national commissions forSCs and STs. Former UP governor Suraj Bhan is expected to be the new chairman of thenationalcommission for SCs. When contacted, Bhan, who is also a former Lok Sabha deputySpeaker said, "I have also heard it being discussed. It can happen very soon." A delegation offour members of the old commission met the President on Tuesday to protest this move. Thesemembers, mostly from the BJP, who would lose their job soon, have raised procedural issues intheir memorandum to the President. After the dissolution of the Lok Sabha, the government wasnot expected to make such cabinet minister-rank appointments to a commission mandated by theConstitution. If Bhan's appointment was made before the Lok Sabha dissolution, then thegovernment has done it without following laid down procedures. (Times of India 18.2.04)NHRC seeks report on rape of minor girl (2)NEW DELHI, FEB. 21. Expressing serious concern over the plight of a minor Dalit girl who gavebirth to a child after an upper caste j man in a village in West Godavari district of Andhra Pradeshraped her allegedly, the National Human Rights Commission has sought a report from thegovernment on this incident within four weeks. Acting on a complaint from social activist andeconomist, Dr. Pentapati Pullarao, the Commission issued notice to the Senior Superintendent ofPolice, West Godavari and made it clear to him that if there was no response, the Commissionmight proceed to take such action as "it deems proper".Dr. Rao, in his complaint brought to the notice of the Commission about the rape of a 17-year-oldgirl of Mulaparu hamlet. After the rape the boy asked the girl to keep quiet promising to marry herand later when she conceived he tried to get her an abortion but in vain. She later gave a policecomplaint against the boy but because of his influence no action was taken.