Semantics of Race, Caste and Class

Dear Bahujan Samaj Members,

I have been reading about a UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) Report, that has called upon the Indian government to ensure an immediate end to the violence on Dalits and a repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Please note, this UN Committee, is headed by Linos Alexander Sicilianos, a Greek European. Apparently, CERD held two sittings in Geneva on February 23 and 26. The CERD issued its report soon thereafter, from Geneva this month.

The report has found that the 1. "de facto segregation of Dalits persists" and highlighted 2. systematic abuse against Dalits, including torture and extra-judicial killings, 3. an "alarming" extent of sexual violence against Dalit women, and 4. caste discrimination in post-tsunami relief.

I found it interesting that the report highlights a discrepancy between the statement of Indian Prime Minister ManMohan Singh and the official Indian UN dleegation. While the committee hands out kudos to the Prime Minister, it has thought fit to criticize Indian UN bureaucrats for their so called, "arrogant rejection of well documented abuses against Dalits in India".

It has also referred to a mysterious European terminology complaining that "the Indian delegation has resorted to a semantic debate on the difference between caste and race. "

Very interesting. Please feel free to comment.

The story is at : http://www.hindustantimes.in/news/181_1958208,0008.htm

Warm Regards,

Nagarjuna

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bahujansamaj/

Malnutrition and Kolam Tribals Starvation PIL

Malnutrition Amongst Kolam Tribals :

The Nagpur Divisional Bench of Mumbai High Court is siezed of the matter of the difference between ground level reality and the Action Taken Reports filed in the High Court, concerning Kolam tribal deaths and lakhs of malnutrition cases being reported by the state health authorities.

Starvation, malnutrition and hidden hunger amongst tribals and indebted farmers, are issues that are of prime importance even as the Central Congress government is considering ways of opening up the food retail sector to foreign investment and global logistics experts in food retail.

Public interest litigation, regarding tribal families malnutrition cases, amongst tribals, deserve attention by the state health authorities, not only in Maharashtra but also in West Bengal, Orissa, Jharkhand and Gujarat.
Somehow, the media gets awakened to the issue of malnutrition only when there are a few starvation deaths.
Tribals are being asked to walk as much as 140 kilometres to avail of state government provided food and basic nutrition.
There is an urgent need to review if the Indian Agriculture Ministry is pursuing policies and global trade agreements that are causing local food insecurity amongst large sections of Indian population like children, women and tribals, who do not have adequate health protection.