DALITS/SCHEDULED CASTES - 2013 - Indian Social Institute

implemented properly leaving a large number of Dalits landless, displaced and marginalised.” To helpDalits reclaim such land, the National Alliance for Dalit Land Rights (NADLR) launched the campaign,which will be go on till December 6 in 18 States. The campaign, which will be spearheaded by theKarnataka Dalit Women Forum and other Dalit organisations, will be conducted in 20 districts in the State.The Dalit organisations have demanded 3 acres of irrigated land and 5 acres of dry land for Dalits.Besides, they have sought title deeds for Dalit households. They said they will urge the government to setup a tribunal to fast-track land disputes. (The Hindu 15/4/13)Dalits flee Haryana village after upper caste attacks (2)KAITHAL: As politicians and administrators in many northern Indian states were preparing to celebrateDalit icon B R Ambedkar's 122nd birth anniversary this weekend, more than 100 Dalits were fleeing asmall Haryana village after being chased by upper caste goons, angry that a Dalit man had dared tomarry one of their girls. Meena and Surya Kant of Pabnama village in Kaithal were in a relationship for thepast two years and they tied the knot on April 10. But their happiest moment in life turned tragic for theentire village. The marriage - with Meena, from a community called the Rods and Surya, a Dalit - led to abloody clash on Saturday that forced Dalit men and women to flee, fearing violent reprisals. Members ofthe Rod community attacked Dalits, injuring 10 people, including seven cops. The couple has been livingin a Kaithal town under police protection following instructions from the Punjab and Haryana high courtlast week. Even two days after the violence, Dalits are still in a state of shock and not ready to return tothe village. Except a few youths and elders, no women and children were present in the village. Severalhave gone to their relatives' places and a few are living in dharamshalas in Kurukshetra. Ram Swaroop, aDalit, said, "We agree that the marriage was against social norms. But why is the family of the groom andthe entire community being targeted as we have no role in their marriage?" He said it had become difficultfor their families to return to the village under the circumstances as they could be assaulted again.However, peace brokers were trying to calm things down. The two communities have formed separatecommittees to hold talks to sort out the differences and to restore peace in the village. Realizing that thecouple could not be separated, the villagers on Monday started compromise talks. Sarpanch Husan Singhtold TOI, "As the couple remained firm on their decision to stay together, the villagers, including theirfamily members, have left them to their fate. Members of both the communities held peace talks and I amhopeful that both would reach a compromise soon," he said. A villager, who had talked to the couple, saidboth of them ruled out any possibility of parting ways even though the Rods had been pressuring them tobreak off. During a meeting of village elders, 20-year-old Meena, a student of BCom final year in KaithalCollege, made it clear that "she would prefer to die rather than separating from her husband." Thesarpanch said it was impossible for the couple to enter the village as they did not abide by the sentimentsof the villagers. Recalling the violence on Saturday, he said, "Some youngsters have attacked Dalithouses in a fit of rage but the village elders have sorted out the issue now." However, a Dalit youth,Lakhmi Chand, alleged that there was pressure on the Dalits to strike a compromise and not to press forarrest of the attackers. "Both the communities have formed peace committees which met today to discussthe issue. The Rods are persuading us to withdraw the cases and assured that our security would beensured in the village. But we are still unsure and our women and children are still away," he said. KaithalSP Kuldeep Singh said the situation was under control on Monday and police personnel were deployed inthe village. "The villagers from both the communities are making efforts to sort out the issue. Theadministration is cooperating with them in this initiative," he said. (Times of India 16/4/13)Dalit woman thrashed: Ladhar records statements (2)Jalandhar: Jalandhar divisional commissioner SR Ladhar, conducting an re-inquiry into the Tarn Taranincident, in which a 22-year-old dalit woman was beaten up by the cops, visited the district on Thursday."I visited the spot and recorded the statements of three police men, two taxi drivers and othereyewitnesses," said Ladhar. The statements were recorded in the presence of the SSP and the deputy