Anti-untouchability resolution: National Dalit rights body urges on "effective" measures to end discrimination

By Our Representative
Following the European Parliament resolution favouring engagement with countries where untouchability is rampant, particularly in South Asia, the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR), which is the apex body of all Dalit rights organizations, has urged the Government of India to take “effective measures” to prevent and address violations stemming from caste discrimination. It adds, “More in depth debate in state institutions and civil society is needed on how to tackle the issue of lack of implementation in political, civil society and also among media spheres.”
In a statement issued from Delhi, the NCDHR says that “the practice of untouchability of the caste system and the related caste based discrimination in various forms is still rampant and remains as one of the main human rights concerns in India”, adding, “Although India has an impressive range of constitutional provisions and laws that ban caste discrimination and untouchability, the lack of implementation remains a chronic problem.”
“Welcoming” the European Parliament resolution which exclusively addresses the issue of CBD in India and other South Asian countries, the statement says, the resolution, passed on October 10, was “strongly worded” and was “adopted with an overwhelming majority in the European Parliament”. Going into the merits of the resolution, it adds, “The resolution recognizes the presence of caste based dicrimination globally and points out series of issues related to caste discrimination as well as various forms of caste related violence against Dalits, especially against Dalit women.”
It adds, “The European Parliament reiterated its serious concern about the violence perpetrated against Dalit women from its resolutions of December 13, 2012 on caste discrimination in India, of January 17, 2013 on violence against women in India, of February 1, 2007 on the Human Rights Situation of the Dalits in India, and of April 18, 2012 on the Annual Report on Human Rights in the World.”
The statement highlights how several other “major issues highlighted by the resolution were the presence of caste based discrimination in the labour market and also in the private sector which adds to exclusion and growing inequalities and how there should be strong legislations and policy measures to counter such issues”.
It says, “Lack of implementation of caste prohibiting legislation in caste affected countries was taken up as a serious concern in the resolution. India also faces this as the biggest challenge and the Government of India needs to take effective measures to address impunity of the state”.
The statement, however, falls short of saying what exactly should the Government of India do as an immediate follow-up, and how the NCDHR will ensure that the European Parliament resolution would be implemented in India. In fact, there is a distinct view among human rights activists in Gujarat that the resolution may be wanting European officials business to “engage” with the private sector and the officialdom in India wherever caste-based discrimination is found, but it is doubtful if it will be implemented.

"Economic interests reign supreme, and usually such resolutions, though important, are rarely recalled, let alone implemented", a senior activist said, asking not to be named.
Be that as it may, the statement welcomes the European Parliament urging the European Commission, the European External Action Service (EEAS) and also other states parties affected by the caste system “to mainstream the fight against caste-based discrimination in legislation, policies and programming documents and to adopt operational guidelines for its implementation; and to enhance monitoring and evaluation mechanisms in order to assess effectively the impact of European Union (EU) action on the situation of people affected by this form of discrimination”.
The statement quotes the European Development Committee specially emphasizing on the need to “to develop and apply caste-sensitive approaches in times of humanitarian crisis and ensure that humanitarian aid is delivered to all marginalised groups, including people suffering from caste-based discrimination”.
Welcoming the EU view, the NCDHR said, “It encourages the EU itself, as an important global stakeholder in upholding human rights, to engage with many of the countries in South Asia and Africa where caste discrimination is prevalent. The resolution will help the EU strengthen its development cooperation and human rights dialogue with these countries, so it could address the issue effectively. We support all countries to work together to develop a world free of caste discrimination.”
Among those who signed the resolution are Vijay Parmar, convenor, NHRDC, apart from other Dalit rights leaders associated with the organization, N Paul Diwakar, Vimal Thorat, Asha Kowtal, and Prasad Sirivella.

Comments

'Enough evidence' in Indian tradition to support legal basis for same-sex marriage

By Iyce Malhotra, Joseph Mathai, Sandeep Chachra* The ongoing hearing in the Supreme Court on same-sex marriage provides space for much-needed conversations on issues that have hitherto remained “invisible” or engaged with patriarchal locker room humour. We must recognize that people with diverse sexualities and complex gender identities have faced discrimination, stigma and decades of oppression. Their issues have mainly remained buried in dominant social discourse, and many view them with deep insecurities.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Our Representative Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Victim of communal violence, Christians in Manipur want Church leadership to speak up

By Fr Cedric Prakash SJ* The first eleven days of May 2023 have, in many ways, been a defining period of Indian history! Plenty has happened in a rapid-fire stream of events. Ironically, each one of them are indicators of how crimes and the criminalisation of society has become the ‘new norm’; these include, the May Day rallies with a focus on the four labour codes which are patently against the rights of workers; the U S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its Annual Report on 1 May stating that conditions for religious freedom in India “continued to worsen in 2022”; the continued protest by the Indian women wrestlers at Jantar Mantar for the expulsion of the chief of the Indian Wrestlers Federation on very serious allegations; the Elections in Karnataka on 10 May (with communalism and corruption as the mainstay); the release of the fake, derogative and insensitive film ‘The Kerala Story’; the release of World Free Press Index on 3 May which places India

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Unlike other revolutionaries, Hindutva icon wrote 5 mercy petitions to British masters

By Shamsul Islam* The Hindutva icon VD Savarkar of the RSS-BJP rulers of India submitted not one, two,or three but five mercy petitions to the British masters! Savarkarites argue: “There are no evidences to prove that Savarkar collaborated with the British for his release from jail. In fact, his appeal for release was a ruse. He was well aware of the political developments outside and wanted to be part of it. So he kept requesting for his release. But the British authorities did not trust him a bit” (YD Phadke, ‘A complex Hero’, "The Indian Expres"s, August 31, 2004)

Delhi HC rules in favour of retired Air Force officer 'overcharged' for Covid treatment

By Rosamma Thomas* In a decision of May 22, 2023, the Delhi High Court ruled in favour of petitioner Group Captain Suresh Khanna who was under treatment at CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram, between April 28 and May 5, 2021, for a period of eight days, for Covid-19 pneumonia. The petitioner had to pay Rs 3,55,286 as treatment costs, but the Ex-Servicemen Contributory Health Scheme (ECHS) only reimbursed him for Rs 1,83,748, on the basis of government-approved rates.

Polygamy in India "down" in 45 yrs: Muslims' from 5.7 to 2.55%, Hindus' 5.8 to 1.77%, "common" in SCs, STs

By Rajiv Shah Amidst All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) justifying polygamy, saying it “meets social and moral needs and the provision for it stems from concern and sympathy for women”, facts suggest the the practice is down from 5.7 per cent of Muslim families in 1961 to 2.55 per cent in 2006.

Savarkar 'criminally betrayed' Netaji and his INA by siding with the British rulers

By Shamsul Islam* RSS-BJP rulers of India have been trying to show off as great fans of Netaji. But Indians must know what role ideological parents of today's RSS/BJP played against Netaji and Indian National Army (INA). The Hindu Mahasabha and RSS which always had prominent lawyers on their rolls made no attempt to defend the INA accused at Red Fort trials.

India joining US sponsored trade pillar to hurt Indian farmers, 'promote' GM seeds, food

Counterview Desk As many as 32 civil society organisations (CSOs), in a letter to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) and India joining the trade pillar, have said that its provisions will allow the US to ensure a more favourable regulatory regime “for enhancing its exports of genetically modified (GM) seeds and GM food”, underlining, it will “significantly hurt the livelihoods of Indian farmers.”

Modi govt 'wholly untrustworthy' on Covid data, censored criticism on pandemic: Lancet

By Rajiv Shah* One of the world’s most prestigious health journals, brought out from England, has sharply criticised the Narendra Modi government for being “wholly untrustworthy on Covid-19 health data”, stating, the “official government figures place deaths at more than 530 000, while WHO excess death estimates for 2020 and 2021 are near 4·7 million.”

Search This Blog