Dedicated cremation, improved facilities sought for Gujarat Dalits in Amreli district

By A Representative

Social activist Kantilal Parmar has submitted a formal representation to the District Collector and District Development Officer of Amreli, highlighting the need for dedicated cremation ground land and improved facilities for the Scheduled Caste population in Babra taluka.

The representation, which references the Mumbai Land Revenue Code, 1879 (Section 38) and the Gujarat Land Revenue Rules 72 (Rule 72(1)), along with a specific circular from the Revenue Department of the Government of Gujarat, calls for the immediate implementation of these legal provisions.

In his letter, Parmar states that over 90% of the villages in Babra taluka inhabited by Scheduled Caste communities lack legally designated land for cremation grounds. Despite 79 years of independence, these communities face significant hardship during funerals and burials due to this lack of basic infrastructure.

The activist's petition outlines several specific demands to address these long-standing issues. It calls for the urgent designation and allotment of land for cremation grounds in all villages with a Scheduled Caste population, with local authorities taking suo motu action where necessary. The petition also demands the construction of roads to these sites, as well as the building of sheds for prayer and seating. It calls for the installation of benches and a guaranteed supply of water and electricity.

Furthermore, Parmar has requested that the land at existing cremation grounds be leveled, and that thorny bushes and weeds be cleared. He has also asked for the construction of proper drainage to prevent waterlogging during the monsoon season. To protect the sites, he has demanded that compound walls or wire fences be built. The petition also seeks the immediate removal of any illegal encroachments on designated cremation land, with action to be taken under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the Land Grabbing Act.

The petition suggests partnering with the Forest Department to plant and nurture trees at cremation sites to mitigate pollution. To fund these projects, it calls for the use of various government grants, including the Scheduled Caste Sub-Plan (SCSP), MP/MLA grants, and funds from the Taluka and District Social Justice Funds. Finally, Parmar has requested that all concerned departments be directed to complete the land designation process within 30 days and has asked for an official action-taken report from the authorities.

Comments

From algorithms to exploitation: New report exposes plight of India's gig workers

By Jag Jivan The recent report, "State of Finance in India Report 2024-25," released by a coalition including the Centre for Financial Accountability, Focus on the Global South, and other organizations, paints a stark picture of India's burgeoning digital economy, particularly highlighting the exploitation faced by gig workers on platform-based services.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

India’s road to sustainability: Why alternative fuels matter beyond electric vehicles

By Suyash Gupta* India’s worsening air quality makes the shift towards clean mobility urgent. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) are central to India’s strategy, they alone cannot address the country’s diverse pollution and energy challenges.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

Over 40% of gig workers earn below ₹15,000 a month: Economic Survey

By A Representative The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while reviewing the Economic Survey in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted the rapid growth of gig and platform workers in India. According to the Survey, the number of gig workers has increased from 7.7 million to around 12 million, marking a growth of about 55 percent. Their share in the overall workforce is projected to rise from 2 percent to 6.7 percent, with gig workers expected to contribute approximately ₹2.35 lakh crore to the GDP by 2030. The Survey also noted that over 40 percent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month.

Fragmented opposition and identity politics shaping Tamil Nadu’s 2026 election battle

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* Tamil Nadu is set to go to the polls in April 2026, and the political battle lines are beginning to take shape. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the state on January 23, 2026, marked the formal launch of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s campaign against the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Addressing multiple public meetings, the Prime Minister accused the DMK government of corruption, criminality, and dynastic politics, and called for Tamil Nadu to be “freed from DMK’s chains.” PM Modi alleged that the DMK had turned Tamil Nadu into a drug-ridden state and betrayed public trust by governing through what he described as “Corruption, Mafia and Crime,” derisively terming it “CMC rule.” He claimed that despite making numerous promises, the DMK had failed to deliver meaningful development. He also targeted what he described as the party’s dynastic character, arguing that the government functioned primarily for the benefit of a single family a...

Search This Blog