Desperate Dalits fight eviction from their homes

Community members of the Bhangi community in Savanur poured human excreta over themselves in a desperate attempt to make their voices finally heard. Four families of the Bhangi community have been living in huts built by Savanur Town Municipal Council (TMC) for the past 70 years. However, now the TMC have decided to evict these families and build a commercial complex in place of their houses.

The TMC have resorted to disgraceful tactics as a means of removing these families: they have cut of their water supply, dumped waste in front of their homes, barged into their houses and insulted and threatened their women. The families submitted an appeal to the Assistant Commissioner on Monday demanding temporary water connection. But they were asked to pay the TMC Rs 2,000 for each connection.

On Tuesday 20^th July in a desperate attempt to draw attention to their plight three members of the community poured human excreta on themselves. The TMC Executive Officer H N Bajakkanavar, unmoved by the protest, argued that he was merely abiding by the laws when cutting off illegal pipelines. The fact that several other illegal water pipelines were untouched, as pointed out by Dalit Sangarsha Samithi activists, does not seem to have registered with the TMC.

To read the press report: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/82745/a-smear-karnatakas-conscience.html#top

Please show your solidarity with the plight of the Bhangi community. Consider the desperation they must feel to resort to such an extreme form of protest. You can help by typing a complaint and posting it to the ST/SC Commission. Send these complaints to:  

Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Caste

Shri.Nehru Olikar

Chairperson ,

14/3,2^nd Floor,CFP Building,

Nrupathunga Road

Bangalore-1

Phone no; 22249704

Complaint to SHRC regarding death of Dalit woman and negligence by police

SICHREM have filed a complaint with the SHRC with regards to the death of Honama, a Dalit woman in Tumkur district.

Honamma was a local activist and was involved in a quarrel regarding the laying of drains. After the quarrel the police arrested her and sent her to judicial custody. Upon her release on bail, the quarrel resumed. The events that followed led her to fall into a drain and be stoned to death by a group of around 10-15. Her body was dragged out of the well and dumped at Gopalapura Bus Station.

So far 9 people have been arrested. The case involves a total of 27 people. 

Honamma’s son has been given a government job and her kin will receive Rs 2 lakh compensation.  

There is news of  an announcement  of the suspension of Police Inspector A. Krishna Naik for dereliction of duty. This is in addition to the suspension of two other officers. These suspensions serve as proof as to police negligence.

We have asked for a thorough investigation into the matter and will send our own fact-finding team to investigate.

To read our complaint: comp of Honamma is murderTUM July 1[1]

Protest at the auction of Karnataka’s resources

Protestors gathered outside  Bangalore Town Hall yesterday to voice their opposition to the plans that have been drawn up in the Global Investors Meet (GIM).

The GIM plans claim to create new jobs and add investment into Karnataka state. However, the protestors have calculated that their proposals will result in unemployment, the loss of agricultural land and loss of capital.

The GIM plans will also disproportionately affect the poorest members of society, with Dalits, Adivasis and farmers set to suffer the most.

It seems that the GIM are rushing through their proposals without adequate public or political consultations. We ask for their plans to be carefully scrutinised with the impact they will have on communities in Karnataka thoroughly assessed.

Youth Against Discrimination

This one day seminar on 23 February 2010 was jointly arranged by SICHREM and the All India Catholic University Federation/Centre for Social Action (AICUF/CSA) unit of St Joseph’s College of Commerce.

Highlights of the day included a three-speaker panel on the subject of “Discrimination against the weak”.  Mr. Vasudeva Sharma of Child Rights Trust, spoke about children’s rights while Ms. Donna Fernandes, a key figure in the Indian women’s movement and founding member of Vimochana, gave a passionate speach about women’s rights and Mr. Shivsundar, writer, spoke about Dalits’ right.

Mr. David Selvaraj and students acting out real life scenarios about discrimination.

Mr. David Selvaraj, founding executive director of Visthar, introduced the audience to the concept of “Theatre of the Oppressed”, founded by Augusto Boal, and the need to transform situations by turning “spectators” into “specactors“.  Students then acted out some real-life situations which illustrated very clearly how this concept works.

Approximately 100 students from 9 colleges around Bangalore participated in the workshop.  Many pertinent questions were put to the speakers – the students were not afraid to speak out!

Mr Manoher, Programme Head at SICHREM.

Students participated in a poster-making competition on the subject of “Eliminating Discrimination”.