INDIA: How AKlabya gets the Education from the Modern Dhornacharya

28 August 2007
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INDIA: How AKlabya gets the Education from the Modern Dhornacharya

Suresh Mushar son of Sajjan Musahar who is resident of Ayer Musahar Ghetto, Police Station: Cholapur, block: Harahuwa, Varanasi is eight years old and student of class two. He is student of Government primary school at shivrampur. On 2 ^nd August 07 in the lunch-period he went to home for taking his diet, which is ten to fifteen step from his school, because mid day meal in the school is not started. When he came back to school he had not seen his bag he asked to the teacher name was Ms.Sageeta Gupta about his bag. But nobody could not tell him about his bag. Suresh was very bother about his bag till two days which has retuned by madam Sageeta on 4th august 07 from the almirah and said that Mushars-Chamar want to become judge and collector what you people will do with your schooling. After that she has beaten to Suresh very badly. Hence Suresh's mother immediately reaches to school and get rid of her child from the teacher, because the wall of Primary school and musahar ghetto are very near to each other.

The Human Right activist Mr. Vijay Bharti associated with People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) has got the information about this incident and he has organized a meeting of parents and children in Musahars ghetto to know about the behavior of teacher towards Musahar Children. Children informed to him that madam has beaten us so many times due to committed little bit mistake. More over she told that you Even she scold Children that you Mushars and Chamar people keep distance with me and you people are not allow to stand on my head. After listening all this words from their children, Mushars parents decide that why teachers have been beating our children without any reason and we should do something against them because it have bad effect on Children. They are not doing well with us because our first generation is getting education. Suresh's father complained about this incidence to DM on 9th of August 07 by the register post.

Suddenly on 10: 30 A.M. of 10 August 2007 Basic Siksha adhikari (BSA) came to shivrampur for the routine visit to school.

Human right activist Mr.Brijesh Pandey of PVCHR got the information about it. Then he understood probably, BSA came here to know that why the teacher beats the children's and how school is going on. Mushars asked to the B S A that if the primary education is free for us then why they are taking ten-rupee enrolment fee from every children and she did not gave any receipt of it. If the parent's want to take information about it, then in the sense of reply She told them that whatever would be the cost of scholar application form it would not taken from you people but you leave this money to me for that purpose.

Brijesh told that Madam Sangeeta Gupta have feeling of untouchability with Dalits and Mushars Children and call them by caste name. Sajjan Mushar inform BSA about the entire incident than BSA asked Brijesh about his introduction and caste he said that I am a Human Right Activist and by I am Brahmin and I don't believe in caste system. BSA ask Brijesh you have taken responsibility of them and how many people are engage with you, than Brijesh introduced people who belong to Chamar community. Then principle said to BSA that these people are creating problem to us and always insist Mushars for their right. After that BSA said to Brijesh and other people go away from here other wise I will send you in jail in case of breaking gate and doing violence, then you will forget about your Human Right after that BSA went to visit another primary school of same village.

Meantime Brijesh and Sijjan Mushar follow BSA to another school of same village. After seeing both of them BSA loose his tempered and scold him that if you do not accept caste discrimination, then you will have to drink water from Mushars hand, than Brijesh told him that you are saying only drink to water but I can also eat food with them in same plate. Then BSA asks Sajjan Mushar to give Brijesh water and sugar, and let see he drinks or not. Brijesh ate sugar and drank water. BSA and other people who were present at that time laugh at him. BSA said that by birth you are Brahmin but you have destroyed your religion in the name of Human Right.

BSA scolds Sajjan Mushar and asked his name then sajjan informed him about the entire incident how badly Madam has bitten his son Suresh, then BSA listen him and said if Children will not be bitten by teacher then how they will learn to read and write more ever if they will not live in discipline they will try to escape from school.

Now the question arise that in district BSA is responsible for the education of primary school if they support caste system instead of providing free education and yet taking registration fee. Then also BSA support teachers and he is satisfied with their work. Then Vijay Bharti unite with the community people and talk to Principle in the reference of education, she said that people are giving money to us in the respect of Guru than we accept It, if this is the reason then you should return money.

This is very serious matter in Human Right Commission, Honorable Court, National Child Commission, where Primary education is free for every children without any caste or creed. The main aim of 'Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan" (education for all) is that every child have full right of education therefore they can associate and get the fundamental right of education. If they are taking 10 rupees from every child as registration fee, yet it has been complained to BSA but he has not taken any action against them.

In Constitution of India have security against the caste discrimination. Our Constitution formed 57 years ago but till now there is no implementation of Fundamental Right. The right mentions in constitution are for our welfare. We use those Right but implement it according to own desire.

Apart from the Constitution section 21 and 21A, Dalit rights have been snatching continuously due to Caste Discrimination. For conservation of Dalit right, there is SC/ST Act, but this Act not implement properly.

Shivrampur is Ambedkar Village where Mushar child Suresh was badly bitten and insulted by the teacher due to caste discrimination. In same campus there is statue of Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar, which means statue is only for decoration but don't his view. Ambedkar village or Lohia village are only a part of politics or try to follow their ideal view. BSA knows that Shivrampur is Ambedkar village than also he there is caste discrimination. Sister Mayawati, Chief Minister of UP has to consider more in the reference of Ambedkar village and give direction to Officer in this reference.

Article 5 of Universal Human right declaration, the article 3,6,28 and37 of United Nation Child right convention is against it. Honorable Supreme Court clearly explain in bonded Muktti Morcha vs. Government of India (1997,10SCC 549) that child should be the main center of any development plan and Honorable Supreme Court in case of Menka Gandhi vs. Government of India (AIR 198,SC-597) declares that life should be free from fear and danger. In case of Parent form for meaningful education vs. Government of India Delhi high Court (AIR 2001 DELHI-221) clearly explain that during education child should not be scold or bitten by teacher it is unlawful

Conclusion after many Research education of the child should be in fearless environment other wise the child will be mentally retards and always be fearful.

SUGGESTED ACTION:

Please send a letter to the relevant authorities, to the District Magistrate Varanasi in particular, and others listed below, urging them to take immediate action to arrest the alleged perpetrators and provide protection to the victims. Please ensure that strong disciplinary/criminal action is taken against responsible officials who have failed in their duty to take action and investigate the case.

Please write to follows:

1. Ms. Veena Kumari
District Magistrate
Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: 91 5422501450

2. The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
Government of India
5th Floor, Loknayak Bhawan
Khan Market
New Delhi 110003
INDIA
Tel: + 91 11 2462 0435
Fax: + 91 11 2462 5378

3. Ms. Mayawati
Chief Minister
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow,
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91-522-2230002/2239234
Email: csup@up.nic.in

4.Justice A.P. Mishra
Chairperson
Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission
6-A Kalidass Marg
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +91 52 2272 6742
Fax: +91 52 2272 6743

5. Shri Justice A. S. Anand
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission of India
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi-110001
INDIA
Tel: +91 11 23074448
Fax: +91 11 2334 0016
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in

6. Ms. Hina Jilani
Special Representative of the Secretary General for human rights defenders
Att: Ben Majekodunmi
Room 1-040
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10,
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 93 88
Fax: +41 22 917 9006

7. Mr. Ambeyi Ligabo
Special Rapporteur on the right to freedom of opinion and expression
Att: Ms. Julie De Riviero
Room: 3-042
C/o OHCHR-UNOG
1211 Geneva 10
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 917 9177
Fax: +41 22 917 9006 (general)

8. Mr. Doudou Diene
Special Rapporteur on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance
Room 4-041
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson,
Rue des Paquis 52, Geneva
SWITZERLAND
Tel: +41 22 9179271
Fax: +41 22 9179050

With warm regards,

Shruti Nagvanshi

Member, Core team

PVCHR

Mobile : +91-993...

www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com

www.pvchr.blogspot.com

War against supermarkets that destroy the economy of the poor

http://www.asianews.it/index.php?l=en&art=10154&size=A

» 08/28/2007 13:10
INDIA
War against supermarkets that destroy the economy of the poor
by Nirmala Carvalho
In West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh the opening of new Reliance Retail supermarkets is met with violence. For many these big stores undermine India's traditional small-scale economic operators. The large retail company temporarily shuts down its operations to better prepare to re-enter the market. Analyst tells AsiaNews that if the government does not defend the population, India's economy will be destroyed.

Kolkata (AsiaNews) – An Indian supermarket chain was forced to close its stores in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh a few hours after opening as a result of violent protests, clashes with police and appeals to local governments. Many in the local populations fear that this type of store would ruin the local farming sector and small-scale retail businesses.

Reliance planned to invest some US$ 500 million opening more than 100 such supermarket stores, five distribution hubs and 14 collection centres across West Bengal, said company representative Raghu Pillai, but stores had to be shut down temporarily to protect the firm's properties and its employees.

Although the biggest party in Bengal's ruling Communist coalition, the Communist party of India (Marxist), agreed to allow the stores to operate, one of its allies, the Forward Bloc, joined hands with opposition parties to oppose the plan.

"This is a victory for the working class, the toiling peasants and the small traders involved with retail of agricultural products," said Forward Bloc leader Ashok Ghosh.

"More than 100,000 poor people in our state make a living from retail of agricultural products," said Mamata Banerjee, leader of the state's main opposition Trinamul Congress party that also opposed the stores.

Protests were even more violent in Uttar Pradesh. Last week, the government in this northern Indian state ordered the shutting down of 30 Reliance stores, citing reasons of law and order.

The opening of 20 other Reliance stores in the city of Varanasi was also put on hold whilst the government reviewed the policy.

According to the Industrialists' Association of Uttar Pradesh, traders will not allow retail chains to function.

''We are against the entry of Reliance and other big companies in the retail sector as it will directly affect about 40 million people in the state,'' a spokesman for the association said.

Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, director of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights in Varanasi and 2007 Gwangju Prize laureate for Human Rights, told AsiaNews that "in states in which many poor people were involved in selling agricultural produce, corporate giants who opened large malls had a very bad impact on the economy and subsequently on the lives and dignity of the common man."

These corporate giants tend to reduce produce costs. Because of their huge economic resources they can set wholesale prices, create monopolies and impose their retail prices. Small producers are wiped out.

This has two consequences: the elimination of small producers and retailers and the reduction of consumers' purchasing power because suppliers will set monopolistic prices.

India's markets tend to be small-scale, people-based at both centre and periphery. Big retailers are anti-people, destroying the livelihoods of thousands of people without due consideration for their needs. They do not take into account changes taking place in the wider society which they do serve.

Never the less, India's retail industry is expected to double in size by 2015. For this reason, both local and foreign companies are keen to enter the market. Currently about 3 per cent of India's market is organised retail, tiny compared with other large economies.

Access to foreign retailers is hampered by laws restricting multi-brand retailers to cash-and-carry and franchise operations, affecting giant operators like Wal Mart, Mark & Spencer, Tesco and Carrefour, but analysts believe that obstacles will be eventually removed and soon.

For Raghuvanshi, the problem is essentially political. There is a clash between two wills with the government siding with the strongest. On the long run, India's internal market will be destroyed and this is not worrying anyone. It seems that no one is interested in preserving the interest of the Indian population.

Release of Kyi

RELEASE Daw Aung San Suu Kyi !

Name. : °ü¸®ÀÚ

May 23, 2007 Senior General Than Shwe Naypyidaw Burma Dear Senior General Than Shwe: We appeal for the immediate release of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi an Awardee of the 2004 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights who has been under house arrest since May 2003.  Aung San Suu Kyi is now serving her third term of house arrest scheduled to end a few days from now (May 27, 2007).   Aung San Suu Kyi was cited by the 2004 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Award Committee for her brave resistance against the prevailing oppression and undemocratic military regime. For this, Aung San Suu Kyi was able to unite support by the Burmese people as well as the international community. The Gwangju Prize for Human Rights was awarded as an inspiration for her continued struggle for human rights, democracy and peace, the same aspiration that paved the way for the 1980 Gwangju Democratic Uprising.    Aung San Suu Kyi has spent more than 11 years under arrest yet she has committed no crime. Burma will never be at peace for as long as Aung San Suu Kyi and the other political prisoners remain in detention. The freedom and peace loving citizens of the world will continually unite and call for an end to this grave oppression and injustice.   We urge you to release Aung San Suu Kyi and all of Burma's political prisoners. There can be no real democracy, peace, and progress in Burma while Aung San Suu Kyi is not free. Sincerely,   The May 18 Memorial Foundation Officers and Staff Gwangju City, Republic of Korea   Gwangju Prize for Human Rights Awardees 2000 – Pres. Xanana Gusmao (Timor Leste) 2002 – Korean Association of Bereaved Families for Democracy 2003 – Dandeniya Gamage Jayanthi (Sri Lanka) 2005 – Wardah Hafidz (Indonesia) 2006 – Angkana Neelaphaijit (Thailand) 2007 – Lenin Raghuvanshi (India)   cc: UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon U Aung Shwe, Chairman, National League for Democracy Embassy of Burma, Republic of Korea

Fwd: Fwd: [People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)] folk school

From: salam.khan <salam.khan@crymail.org>
Date: Aug 28, 2007 12:26 PM
Subject: Re: Fwd: [People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)] folk school
To: "DR.Lenin" <pvchr.india@gmail.com>, Sudipta Kumar Badapanda <Sudipta.K@actionaid.org>, Ila Hukku < ila.hukku@crymail.org>, "ICDR@yahoo.com ICDR" <icdr_dalitrights@yahoo.com>, bondana dutta < bondana.dutta@crymail.org>, Babu Mathew <babum@actionaidindia.org>, Babu Mathews <babu.mathew@actionaid.org>, Deba < patra.debabrata@gmail.com>, rajan@pwtn.org, Henri <henri@pwtn.org>, Gnana Prakasam < gnana@pwtn.org>, Bibhu Mohapatra <bibhumohapatra@gmail.com>, Ramon Magsaysay <rmaf@rmaf.org.ph>, John CLANCEY < johnclancey@hotsewai.com.hk>, Basil <basilfwp@ahrchk.org>, sooakim@ahrchk.org, Bruce Van Voorhis < brucevv@ahrchk.org>, Shailesh Palekar <spalekar@upi.com>

Dear Dr. Lenin,

Thanks for sharing the information and progress of Folk School in Belwa. CRY believes in strenghtening the dalit and musahar community through enabling  them to speak their feelings and unsensoring their voiceses. Our support is gradually yielding result. Such initiatives need to be scaled up in other aresa and villages with the help of the new emerging leadership that is being developed among the musahar community. Hope JMN and PVCHR are lookiong forward to broadbase the idea.

Thanks,

Salam
 

MUSHARS FOLK SCHOOL IN BELWA VILLAGE .

 

Essentially, the folk school approach is to improve equality in a society by improving the speech capacity of the poorer and the weaker section of the society. Improving their capacity to talk back and thereby creating a two-way discourse in the society is the way the concerns of the weak are brought to social discourse. The more silent the poor and the weak are, the less they will get from society.

Matters of justice depend very much on the capacity of concerned people to un-censor themselves and to speak out constantly. Normally there are many unwritten rules through which people censor themselves. For example, some topics may be considered taboo in some societies or sub sections of societies. For example, as an effect of feudal culture it is often observed that families of hunger victims hesitate and have subjective reservation to express themselves in respect of their acute poverty and hunger situations to which they have been going through. For example it may be an unwritten rule that some "lower class people" do not talk back to "higher class people". It may also be that some unwritten rules of censorship are enforced by punishments. For example some groups of people, if they talk about themselves and the wrongs that they bear they will be punished either physically or by other means. In all these instances the capacity to un- censor is an essential component of seeking justice. When a small group of people begins to un- censor themselves others watch and soon begin to un-censor themselves as well. In this manner taboos invariably dissolve. The initial stages of un-censoring require:

1.      Location from which you can break the rules of censorship while assuring protection for yourself.

2.       The will to break such rules of censorship.

3.      Creating an audience for you, which may at the beginning, is small.

4.      Keeping at it day in and day out until taboos slowly begin to dissolve.

Accumulate information and protect documentation. This is a very important area of trying to create a discourse on justice and human rights issues related to caste discrimination.

 

ALRC, a sister concern of Asian Human Rights Commission(AHRC) and People's Vigilance committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) organized a folk school for Musahars  at Belwa village of Varanasi,India for three months.

 

In Belwa village Mushars ghetto till now only 8 malnourished children are identified and they have lost their lives against death. Till now they didn't see any thing in there life and fall in the hand of the death.

 

Mushars always kept away from the Government scheme because with the help of Government scheme their economic standard will improve and they will became self- independent and get release from the slavery of feudal landlord.

 

Under the planned politics they are kept untouchable for many years and called them as dalits of the village. Thousand of years Belwa Mushars are practicing the slavery system they will take some time to get rid of it.

 

Now this family engages with the elegance in folk school education. They are daily wages worker from 12 to 1 pm they come home to take lunch they directly come to folk school. Those who did not find work get ready earlier and sit on the platform.

Women's also leave their work of making plate with leaves, women's take 1 hour more to learn and they are learning faster. Imitating elder, children also start going to PVCHR School, according to their own knowledge they are guiding their parent.

 

Folk school start every day with pledge, every people repeats pledge. E very people of folk school sign on the pledge. Their teacher is Sri Virendra Singh, Sri Lottu Prasad and Sri Subedar Prasad.

 

On 8/8/07 NDTV do recording of folk school to broadcast. In folk school conversation asked that in this age you people are getting education how you are feeling about it?   Then Kismatti Mushar said that since my childhood I did not get the chance to go school, now we get the chance to learn and know about our law, right, we can also educate our child and not be further depend on any body for any information. If any paper come from Government is not of our use then we will return it.

 

Gahara Mushar said that in my childhood once time I went to school, one same day I hit a Singh boy on his head and from that date I never went to school, there is also a feeling of castesim, but now I get the chance and to be self- independent. I want that now our life should be away from the danger of leave plucking, this work is very dangerous. Now I am bored with this work if we find any new work we are ready to do it.

 

Raj Kumar Mushar said that we are facing caste discrimination, now we are reading then we will know about our right. Now I can read and write.

 

On every Sunday they will gather and get knowledge about laws like-- Bonded Labour, Sc and St, Child Marriage, women's right, Sexual harassment, so they can us this act for their own protection, in between they informed about dalit revolutionary like â€"Baba Bhim Rao Ambedkar, Jyoti Ba Phule, Savitri Ba Phule, Kabir, Raidas, Gautam Buddha etc.

 

These pretend to seem that Mushars are very much optimistic about their study and want to know about every laws and rights. Now they start thinking about their future generation.

 

First time all male and female of Mushars ghetto look in full confidence.



--
Posted By PVCHR to People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) on 8/27/2007 07:49:00 AM

Report

·       A weaver committed suicide in Benipur Village, on last 12^th of June 07.

 

There is socking news that a man who was a weaver have committed suicide the name was Neeraj. The Breaking news has came out. He has taken poison on last 12 ^th June of taking dangerous herbs he had renounced his life. There was weaving work always running at their home, Everybody doing the work like weaving and it was story of very close village Benipur, Navajakpura, very closed to Nageypur. There was a lot of people who were doing the job like weaving and many other works. Most probably they have seen. Weaving saries and sending if to Lohata and most of the people. Leaving in the village side area they started working in city.

          There is a poor family of a weaver; there were three sons of death. Weaver Neeraj & father the first son is Ramashankar and third one was Neeraj. Neeraj was very youngest brother of the three Aliar is the father of Neeraj who have been suffering from. Leprosy in his hand, the can not do anything, earlier. Two brothers were doing that weaving work but when the business was down, then they had been made the separation from the family and they were leaving separate from the family and they had taken the responsibilities of their family weaver. Neeraj was only leaving his parents and other two sons had been separated from the family. By the help of weaving they have been surviving their life, Neeraj was a professionally. A weaver and he was bachelor, when gradually weaving works going to be end. Then Neeraj sxpanded sometime at his home and the sometime, they could not afford the expanses of their family they had sold there. There was two Bissa land for surviving their life, they wanted to improve their family conditions but it could not be possible for him them after that they had been become hopeless to taking family expenses as well apart from it Neeraj had taken the burden of his family. Hence again on the 11 ^th June.  

          He was searching job there but unfortunately he has not found the work. Then he come towards the home and unfortunately he had survived poisonous herbs in the way then he was become serious then he had admitted in the Indian Hospital at Rajatalab. But yet when he has become serious, then again he admitted by some people in the Banaras Hindu University Hospital (B.H.U.) where Neeraj has renounce his life forever.

          There was a very bad condition of that weaver and the condition was as much as bad. When Neeraj has died there were no any mummy clothes for his last ceremony or last presentation of the world.

          People has collected the money from the others people and then at last they burned his body at the crematorium.

          The weavers family had, only three rooms. It is sad on the name of family because Aliar is the owner of house and he has a white card.

          But really they should have red card the death weaver of Neeraj's parents. His real age are 60 to 62 after that, apart from it they had been getting their old pension to survive and they wanted to save their life anyhow.

          Now they still had not been received any kind of help from district administration.

          It is as said by local people of the village, that there was a lot of saries production in Benipur. But when the business of saries has fall. The man who has been doing the work of weaving they have been facing the financial problem and thousands of weavers they are escaping from that place now they are doing the jobs like breaking stone and hills.

 

·     Five children died due to Diarrhea in Lohata (Dhamariya)

In Lohata 5 children died due to diarrhea and more than dozens are fighting for life and administration is doing hell. Our colleague who is also a weaver reported us after survey that here in Lohata 5 children died and many are still fighting for life. He called to a press reporter of Daily newspaper named Hindustan for this. Hindustan publish this news with photograph that in Lohata diarrhea is proving his devil face he took the life of 5 children and peoples are leaving Lohata for saving their souls. Severs are flowing on road water is contaminated and no any medical aid is provided there by health and medical department.      

 

 

When our activist contacts with local reporter of daily Hindi newspaper then administration woke up and start acting. During this action 5 corrupt employees are suspended and medical people starts camping there for cure and trying to control the situation up to the three weeks with the help of five doctors and other staffs. Water board starts water supplying by tankers because pipelines have leakage at many places. Water board started maintain of pipeline, overhead tank cleaned by water board peoples now water supplying start properly. CMO told to the peoples for not drinking pipeline water drink only tankers water after adding the tablet of chlorine, if any one has seen the symptom of diarrhea then immediate start drinking Oral Rehydration Solution. After the struggle of one week situation turns normal. After this sub center become activated. Earlier PVCHR and Bunkar Dastakaar Adhikar Manch tried for activation by complaining and agitation but administration didn't take attention, they people were waiting for causalities.

An Ancient Indian Craft Left in Tatters

 
An Ancient Indian Craft Left in Tatters
Sari Weavers Struggle Amid Economic Boom

By Emily Wax
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, June 6, 2007; A01

VARANASI, India -- Deep in a labyrinth of stucco buildings, in a dark, cavelike warehouse, Mohamed Javen, 18, switched on a light bulb, sat before his rickety loom and began working on what was once the prize possession of every Indian bride: the hand-woven silk sari.

His feet operated the bamboo pedals, making a rhythmic clopping sound. He carefully positioned hair-thin strands of gold thread into green silk, crafting a glittery lattice of leaves, elephants and birds that unfolded like a painting.

This sari design, which has been in Javen's family for 100 years, can take up to two months to weave. Patterns like these have been a source of Indian pride for more than 2,000 years, with India's version of haute couture adorning wealthy women of the empires of Rome, Egypt and Persia. Until recently, weaving was India's second-most-common occupation, behind farming.

But in this ancient city along the Ganges, Hinduism's holiest river, an estimated 1 million sari weavers are facing almost certain ruin. Cheaper, machine-made saris -- many of which are copied from Varanasi's famous patterns -- are being pumped out of China and from newer factories in India's western Gujarat state. Adding to the weavers' woes, changing fashions and global trade rules have opened the Indian market to foreign competitors, leaving many once-prosperous sari weavers and their families in desperate poverty.

"This loom will be in a museum," said Javen's despairing uncle, Nazir Ahmed, 30, whose family was forced to shut down 12 of their 14 looms. "We would have never predicted this. We were India's artists. Now we are living in poverty."

The new India is home to smooth highways and shiny high-rises, all the accouterments of the developed world. But millions of craftsmen, manual laborers and rural workers are being left out of the economic boom. Nearly 70 percent of India's population lives on less than $2 a day, and with more than 40 percent of its young malnourished, India is worse off than Africa in terms of children's health, according to the United Nations.

India also lacks a social security system, leaving weavers, farmers and others vulnerable to market forces. It is a gaping hole in India's rush to become a developed country that Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pledged to fix.

"This is the ugly, painful side of globalization. It's a real crisis. If India is booming, you don't see it among weavers or farmers or other rural laborers, which is to say most of the country," said Lenin Raghuvanshi, head of the People's Vigilance Committee for Human Rights, an aid group here. "Helping those left behind is India's greatest challenge."

Few professions in South Asia were as esteemed as that of the sari weaver -- part artist, part craftsman. Using simple foot-powered looms, weavers for generations have fashioned elaborate patterns and scenes of weddings, mango groves and Mughal processions, replete with elephants and horse-drawn carriages. Their canvases are billowing sunflower and saffron silks, each six yards long.

The father of independent India, Mohandas Gandhi, clad in his homespun loincloth, launched his nationalist movement to defy colonialism by encouraging Indians to stop wearing cheap British machine-made cloth in favor of Indian-made fabrics, partly as a gesture of self-reliance. The hand-loomed saris from Varanasi became a national symbol for India's independence.

But today, the decline of the sari industry has had tragic consequences. In the eastern villages and cities of Uttar Pradesh state, 175 weavers committed suicide last year, despondent over their recent change in fortunes, according to the People's Vigilance Committee. About 70 percent of weavers' children are malnourished, aid groups estimate. The weavers also cannot afford basic medical care for their children, much less themselves.

That's how Razia Khatoon, the wife of a once-prominent weaver, last year ended up a stranded widow with nine children to feed.

In her village just outside Varanasi, Khatoon said customers stopped buying handmade saris several years ago. She had to sell the gold she received at her wedding, the Indian equivalent of hocking a diamond engagement ring. Soon after, she married off her two oldest daughters "just so that they could be fed somewhere else," she said.

Her husband, Mohammad Ismail, 50, became more and more distressed as profits from weaving continued to dwindle. He also had contracted tuberculosis and was unable to pay for the medicines needed to treat the disease.

"The saris he wove were meant for queens and princesses," she said. "But everything changed. He started to wish he taught his sons more useful skills."

Ismail died in July 2006, Khatoon said. Traumatized by her grief and her new financial pressures, she sat with his body through the night, as her children hugged her.

"I was afraid of the future," whispered Khatoon, 45, red-eyed as she recalled Ismail's death. "Then everything got worse."

Early this May, her pretty 20-year-old daughter, Ruksana, also died of tuberculosis. Now the disease is set to claim her 16-year-old daughter, Salma, who rests limply on a straw mat outside her family's shanty.

What makes the deaths of Ismail and his daughter so surprising is that the weaver's family was always self-sufficient.

Likewise, Ramzam Ali, 32, is the first weaver in five generations to have trouble feeding his family. "I rush every morning to find work as a rickshaw driver or as a day laborer, but there are already so many people already doing those things," Ali said. "If I can't manage to even feed my children, how will I mange to educate them in a different trade?"

Part of the problem is that Ali has a fifth-grade education and no other skills. His father taught him how to weave intricate patterns of lotus flowers and animal motifs onto silk. That's all he ever thought he would need. Now, he joins more than 370 million other Indians in the informal jobs sector, many of them illiterate, unskilled and in dire need of work, according to government studies.

Aid workers trying to help the weavers say the industry desperately needs a marketing campaign. They are talking to Bollywood stars about showcasing handmade Varanasi saris on film while also trying to market the handmade sari to the middle and upper classes as the "little black dress of India" in fashion magazines.

But the campaign has been slow, partly because of greater interest in Western fashion.

In the new Indian metropolis, casual, machine-made cotton kurtas, or shirts, have become the preferred attire of the young; long and colorful, the shirts can be worn over jeans. But as India's markets open, Western fashion outlets like United Colors of Benetton are being flooded by India's young middle class, eager to show the urbane hipness that distinguishes them from their parents.

Despite the boom in many information technology hubs in southern Indian cities, Varanasi's weaver quarters look like a ghetto, with men sleeping under broken-down looms strung with cobwebs, rutted streets with trash fuming at every turn and donkeys hauling in water for cooking and bathing, tugged along by barefoot urchins.

"I hardly care about booming India when I have no food or money," said Poochland Dash, 60, a white-haired grandfather and a once-wealthy weaver who said through tears that he is considering suicide. He is trying to sell the house he built during the golden years of the sari-weaving industry, with his saris featuring embroidery of men atop animals in rich indigos and reds.

"If a buyer insults me with a too-low price, I swear I will kill myself," Dash said.

Listening nearby, his wife started crying. "If he takes his life, I will take my life, too," she said, staring at the ground.

Special correspondent Indrani Ghosh Nangia contributed to this report.

Mushars Folk School in belwa village-

MUSHARS FOLK SCHOOL IN BELWA VILLAGE ORGANIZED BY ASIAN HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (AHRC) AND People's Vigilance committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)

 

 

Eight children died from male nutritution Last year in the belwa village.

Most of them they have been struggling very hard due to male nutrition.

They had taken birth but they had to sleep forever. Apart from it Mushars people deliberately has not been aware about the government planning.

Probably if they understand about the government planning then it certain that they can improve their economic status as much as it's possible for them. If information provided to them then they will set free from the bondage of slavery and they can make themselves more confident as well.   They people made a strategy for Mushars they are migrated in the south part of the village due to being untouchable cost. They have been became accustomed to leaving under the bondage of slavery now they have been became tired and wanted to get rid of them.  

 

 

 

 

 

                                 Now today they are reading in folk school and they are getting all the information from the folk school. After taking the mid day meal they return back to home and diligently concentrated on their study at the home and most of them who went on the work when they return from the work they takes mid day meal and education between 1 to 2 pm.when they return to home in the afternoon they concentrates on their study for that they already prepared themselves. The woman's have been making eating plates and there is one thing, which is very praisable in them they learnt very fast this work rather than man. A number of children they are learning so many skills from their elders and right now they are going to school for perceiving education. Most of them they are learning very fast from the PVCHR as well.      

 

 

                                    The starting of folk school in every day by repeating oath letter and every body has to sign on the oath letter as well. Mr. Virendra Singh and Mr. Lavtu prassad and Mr. Suvedhar prassad they people are teaching them. For the live telecast NDTV recorded all the activities related to folk school in dated 8 ^th of august 07. When it asked to the children that you are gathering here then how you are feeling about it then just Kissmatti Mushars said that I did have any opportunity for education in childhood but now we want become educated therefore we can understand our law and order whenever we are going in government department some time we fail to understand what is rules and regulation if we will educated then we can make to understand it. Gaharu Mushars said that I had gone once time in school and that aristocratic children has attack on my head after that I never went to the school that is why there was bios feeling among the people but now we have got the opportunity and I am learning everything without any fear. Now we have been became tired to do work like breaking leaf and making eating plates. We want be out from this dangerous jobs. If some body provided us different job hopefully we want to that.     

 

 

 

 

 

                                             Rajkumar Mushar told that we have a lot of biasness in the society because of this we want know our rights the we can read and write anything. Thus it seems to us Mushars people are very hopeful to taking their education. They wanted to know that all the information about law and rights. They have positives views towards their life. First time self-confidence emerged among the people of Mushars community and they are thinking about their next generation more over they are looking very confident. They have to gather on every Sunday here because still PVCHR making planning to give them knowledge about the bonded labour and SC/ST law, arresting law and in the reference of woman rights and law and child marriages and sex violence. All the information will have given from the right manner to them. Apart from it information will have given about the great man woman of India like wise Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar, Joti Ba Fuley, Kabeer, Raidas and Gautam Budha as well.      

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                      14/08/07

--
Dr. Lenin (Ashoka Fellow)
  Mobile:+91-9935599333
  Please visit:
  http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
  www.pvchr.org
  www.webspawner.com/users/pvchr
  www.pvchr.blogspot.com
  www.sapf.blogspot.com
  www.antiwto.blogspot.com
  www.rtfcup.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com

  http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/930408838

School and community center in Dalit Ghetto of Varanasi

CONSTRUCTION OF SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY CENTRE IN AYER MUSAHAR TOLA

Chairwoman of Indo German Remschied Ms. Helma Ritscher visit musahars ghetto of Ayer village of Varanasi India after interacting with people and according to there need PVCHR core team and PVCHR core group decided to build room in musahar ghetto with economic assistance from Inwent, Germany through DIG. In community meeting decide that utilization of room will not be done for individual purpose, all the person of musahar community will be owner of the room and elected representative have responsibility to look after it.

The first use of room will be, to run pre - primary center for small children, and other use of room will be for marriage purpose, for community work, meeting, and panchayat, of musahar community.

Sajjan musahar donate land for room, where kitchen and room are built side by side. With the collaboration of “Care House foundation” Ms. Parul Sharma food scheme run for musahar and others children, now children food is cooked in this kitchen.
In front of the community center there are 4 swings type play materials donate by Care house foundation. This Structure seems as model center, which provide facility of food, playing and education to children.

This center was started on 9/07/07 and known as Ekalavya center. In this center there is facility of table and chair to sit children and book, copy, crayon, pencil, drawing copy and other stationary is provided by Inwent and DIG.


CONSTRUCTION OF ROOM IN PRIMARY SCHOOL, SHIVRAMPUR VILLAGE

Shivrampur primary school is in Khas tola Dalit village, in this school the number of classroom is less. Children have problem in sitting; due to this problem children are not getting good education.


Here also the process of classroom started like Ayer village. Elementary Education Officer (Basic Siksha Adhikari, BSA) admitted affidavit from PVCHR, that the owner of the will be education committee of village panchayat but not the PVCHR.

Now the classroom is constructed and furnished with table and chair to sit children.

Inauguration of both buildings is going to happen on 6 sept 2007 by the hand of Ms.Veena of District Magistrate of Varanasi and Mr. Kim, Director-Trustee of May 18 Foundation and participants of 4th May 18 Academy of South Korea. We will send the photograph and video after that.

FOLK SCHOOL OF THE VICTIMS & THE MARGINALIZED weavers

FOLK SCHOOL OF THE VICTIMS & THE MARGINALIZED

BAJARDEEHA, VARANASI (U.P.)

Saturday, 18 August, 2007.

 

PARTICIPANTS: Over 40 people participated, who were living in weaving industry in Bajardeeha. All participants were on the leave from the work to attend the folk school.

Morning Session:          11:30 am- 2 pm

Lunch Break:                  2 pm- 2:30 pm

Afternoon Session:        2:30 pm- 4pm

Tea Session:                  4pm- 4:15 pm

Evening Session:          4:15pm – 6:30 pm

The purpose of the folk school is to share and uncensored the victims in front of each others and then tries to find out the common solution & strategy.

 

Discussion:

 

Mohd. Salim Ansari: I have worked for many years in weaving industry. Today we have difficulties for finding job. Weaver Identity Card is prepared for last two years after long struggle. Till now there is no use of it. We didn't get any government facilities and no any relevant department officer comes to know about worse condition. I started my own business, but this work is new and I don't have experience about it. That's why my economic conditions are not improving. The Pulse Polio Campaigner asks me to make bill of more amount than the cost when I denied they scold that they will see me later. Bajardeeha have no any Government facilities like Water, Road, Electricity, Cleanliness, even the Pavement is not in their Lane. More than two Lakhs people are living in Bajardeeha, but no any Aaganwadi Kendra, Primary school, & health centre are not here. For medical treatment we have to go 4-5 K.M .away Kamachha Jan Seva Hospital. For drinking Water there is no Hand Pump. Government is conscious about Pulse Polio immunization but not for others like–Malaria, T.B, Measles, Hepatitis B, Diarrhea.

On 5 August, D.M of Varanasi had to attend meeting on Pulse Polio with Coordinator & Staff of UNICEF and CMO of Varanasi. As announcer told to the people that due to sickness she is unable to come, but the reality is due to flood on roads and over flow of sewer she denied to attend the program.

More than 75% people are starving and only 25% people are getting food due to

Irregularity in public distribution system. Government should provide loan to start their old work, and community should organize.

 

Badaurn Nisha: She is former Carporator; she said that in Bajardeeha 75% people are living in starved condition. For delivery, mother has to go Kamaccha Government hospital which is more than 5 Kilometer away. Children of Weavers are dying due to diarrhea but distribution of ORS is not going. Sewer system does not work here everywhere in the area stagnant and dirty water can be seen over flowing. The dump of rag is spread around the area, which is not hygienic and not safe for their resident. Today 18sweepers engaged, they are appointed on daily wages.

 

Akhtar Ali: I am also engage in weaving it is my family profession. Government invite developed country for business to invest here, but he did not see the starving, naked and economically boneless Weaver of Bajardeeha (Varanasi). Government has to apply Dr. Darin's plan "Varanasi Weavers trust". If Government is not realizing and recognizing our problems then Government have to investigate the reality and then he start his initiatives. Bunker Identity Card is prepared at Rathyatra under Mahatma Gandhi plan with insurance in payment of Rs. 80/-, for identity card they have to pay extra Rs.20 to 50/-.to get rid of daily problem facing they pay more money. A Weaver meeting held in Bajardeeha by Bunkar Seva Kendra employee told that 80 Lakhs rupees allot for Bajardeeha Weavers. In this plan every Weaver will get work of Rs.100/- daily. We visit Bunkar Seva Kendra for getting ideas of work of coloring, graphics, and weaving of sample saris. Bunkar Seva Kendra open from Monday to Friday and timing is 9 am to 7 pm. When we went there for order. Employee told that they will only give order to owner of more than 50 Looms Holder. Scheme for small Weaver will come in the month of August.

At present time they gave sari to Retailer, he pay amount paid after 10 to 15 days. The condition of the Weaver has become worst because of bargaining of middle man. The amount paid by them is less than the cost of the Silk Sari. Government should make project at grass root level, so that Weaver get rid of middle man. Proper market should be established. After 60 years of Independence till now we don't have any cloths policy.

 

Nizammud-Din: I am working as Weaver last 17 years. Preparation of Bunkar Identity Card starts in 2003, till now I did not get any Identity Card. When I went to Rathyatra office, officer asked me to come in group of 20-25 people, and then you will get your Identity Card. The sari Retailer buys sari in cheap rate and sells it on high rate to the Consumer. Due to this way of selling sari, we are unable to survive life with family. If market is available, then we will get right price of our product & labour.

 

Zaheer Anwar: I have worked for 24 years. But in present time my income is not as much as the cost involved in sari. At present, I am working as a buildling lobour and manage our family. Like me the number of poor family in Bajardeeha is more than 1000. No Schemes run in a Weaver's Cluster, Colonies on a need based assessment. Officers come and only count their problem. Need of establishing market place, sales &outlet of Handloom. So they can improve their living standard and educate their children.

 

Abdul Kalam: Government should implement policy for Weavers. Till now I didn't get Weaver Identity Card. Market should be open in Weaver's Cluster, Colonies on a need based assessment.

 

Firdaush Ahmed: The Schemes should be made simple to follow, which even an illiterate Weaver could understand. The Schemes should not be only under cooperative but Weavers working with master Weavers could also be covered to ensure that the 85% of Weavers outside the cooperative also benefit. Weavers should unit & fight for their own right.

 

Suleman bhai: He is Sector Warden & discrimination in Below Poverty Line (B.P.L.) Card. Dr. Aktar Ali (Post Warden) prepares Red & White Card. And Yellow Card prepared by me. For Red Card he bride Rs. 500/- per card from rich people. Only four people get B.P.L. Card. In Bajardeeha 80% Muslim & 20% Hindu Community lives together. But the big community has less than 1% of B.P.L. Card and small community has more than 4% of relative Card. The Government oil distribution shop is 3 K. M.far from Bajerdeeha.It is situated in Sankuldhara Area. The Distribution of oil is only 3 hour in a day & five day in a month(between 10-15 day of month).And rest day shop is closed, because  the Kotedar do different   work for livelihood like he give money on interest, it is illegal work in our country. Antrodaya Ration Shop is situated in Kakarmatta, which is 3 k. m. far from Bajerdeeha.

We are ignored by the Government Policy. Those who pay Rs. 500/- to government employee who get benefit of toilet facility. But toilet scheme has no any cost for it. We pay Tax for Water, Electricity, Sewer and House, but didn't get any Governmental benefit for it. The Sewer Tax is Rs.326/- per year. But no facility of sewer system in Bajerdeeha & how could pay this type of cost &Tax in worse condition.

Silk is import by China at the cost of Rs.800/- per Kilogram. In India the cost of this Silk is about Rs.1400/- per K.G., because of Rs.600 /- anti dumping tax on it.

 

Sabbir Ali Ansari: In 1970 Khaprailla market is known as Weaver's Colony. Which was

Closed in 1983 by the Middleman (Bargainer).In this market the businessman came from Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and some nearest areas and purchased their items. Owner of this place got Rs.2/- per Sari. Weavers got receipts from the buyer, which indicate his Name. Amount of rate, no. of Sari. Amount is payable with in an hour. Gradually market starts falling because the markets transfer to Shishmahal, which is a big market of silk sari. Where Weavers exploited from middleman. They purchased sari in low price and sold it on high rate.

The second reason of falling market is that a lot of Silk Sari spoiled in foreign market and duplicate items came in market. The Silk Yarn is cheap in Bangladesh. So, the cost of Sari is cheaper than here. In India the large consumer of silk sari in Kolkata, So, most businessman purchases sari from Bangladesh.

 

Conclusion:

 

1.       Implementation of Dr. Darin plan "Varanasi Weaver's Trust".

2.       To implement Government Welfare Policy for Weaver & in their Colonies.

3.       To decrease the price of silk yarn.

4.       Preparation of B.P.L. Card & open regularly this type of shop.

5.       To provide basic facility like Road, Electricity, Water& sewer system.

6.       To provide essential needs like Hospital, School and Aaganwari Kendra.

7.       To fix "Handloom Mark" on the product, this is made in Handloom, & save Handloom Weavers from the Powerloom owners.

8.       To provide regular market for handloom made product.

State level Meeting on the issues of weavers

State level Meeting on the issues of weavers

Date- 23-07-07 Place- Hotel Gomti, Luck now

On 23^rd July, 2007 , there was a brain storming consultation on the issues of weavers, the consultation was chaired by honorable member of planning commission Dr. Syeda Hameed. In this consultation Assistant Development Commissioner Handlooms India Government, Dr. D. S. Gangwar, Mr. R. C. Jhamtani, Ms. Gulshannanda Chairperson of Craft council of India, Dr. Lenin, Convener of  P.V.C.H.R., Ms. Arundhati Dhuru, Advisor to Food Commissioner of Supreme Court, Mr. Baddruddin, Leader, Weavers federation, Mr. Bijo Francis, South Asia Desk Officer, Asian Human Rights Commission Hong-Kong, Mr. Siddique Bhai, Convener of Bunkar-Dastkar Adhikar Manch, and many other delegates from weaving community and relevant government officers participated there in consultation. After the brain storming session, the declarations are under mentioned:

·       Government has to declare emergency for weaving community in Varanasi and surrounding.

·       Stop dealing the beneficiary schemes through private sector it should be implemented by government institutions.

·       Government should Open sell depot of silk and provide credits.

·       All handloom weavers in crisis are needy of Antyodaya cards government should provide cards to them as soon as possible.

·       Strict implementation of Handloom and power loom marks (symbol of produce).

·       Special schemes for women weavers would go a long way in encouraging higher and better contribution from women weavers/entrepreneurs and female members of weaver families.

·       Revision and revive of cluster scheme in context pro-weavers and artisans.

·       Government should check the import of readymade saris.

·       Government has to organize clothes/silk carnival for promoting handloom products and advertisement of the handloom products.

·       Government finance institute should provide soft loans to weavers.

·       NIFT and NIFD have to open their branches nearby weaver's majority area.

·       Government should open ICDS Centre as per the order of Supreme Court by priority to weavers.

·       Government should allocate special budget for reviving weaving industry of handloom.

·       Government should open new schools and health centers for the children of weaver's families.

·       Implementation of recommendations of Sacchar committee.   

·       Registration of Varanasi weaving industry under Geographical indicator.