Realization of Right to Education at grass root: Pedagogy of oppressed

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Realization of Right to Education at grass root: Pedagogy of oppressed

 

 Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi and Ms. Shabana Khan

 

 

The dream of marginalized people in Belwa village of Varanasi, India to educate their children was fulfilled with the inauguration of school by the Elementary education officer (BSA) Mr. Pradeep Kumar Pandey on 7^th August, 2009 at 11:30 AM and with the exceptional contribution of Mrs. Reshma Devi, local resident of Belwa village. She donates her own land and JMN/PVCHR born the expense of the registry of the land. The inaugural session was witnessed with the key staff of PVCHR, Ms. Loreine B. dela Cruz (Lou), Chairperson of Balay, Philippines and Ms. Frauke Bergmann, interns from Germany and many teachers from nearby Government school and respected people of the village.

 

Before this Government school, as a go-stop activity Jan Mitra Nyas/Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) establish autonomous centre known as "Sant Kabir Jan Mitra Kendra" on 27^th July, 1997 to educate 200 children of the Karkha, Barepur, Hatiya and Natan and 116 boys and 101 girls starts getting the education. The centre was financially supported by Child Right and You (CRY), Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Raj Dulari Foundation, Sweden and library with the support of ASHA as direct support to children. At the same time, PVCHR organized the peoples' centric advocacy and campaign for right of education at grass root level which is supported by VOP and AHRC. 

 

On 3^rd September, 2002 villagers demands with the administration to open one primary school. The Assistant Elementary education officer in the letter no/71-72/2002-2003 dated 6 May 2002 and dated 24 February 03 on duty S.D.I. and on 21 March 2003 BRC co-ordinator visit the area. In the report he stated 211 children were present in the school and this ghetto was marginalized with the education due to the politically biased enmity.

 

Children organized child parliament in front of the district head quarter on 8^th August, 2003 and demands for school in their area. On 26^th August, 2003 tehsil diwas (day) 250 children walk 5 km from the Sant Kabir Jan Mitra Kendra to the Pindra tehsil and report their demand to SDM Pindra.   SDM misbehaved with the children and ordered lathi charge on the children and the villagers. Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi convener of the PVCHR was detained under section 151and he was release after 4 hours.  Three others activist were charged under 107/16 for the legal proceeding.

 

The Children of the Belwa village are uncensoring themselves through the children assembly (Bal Panchayat) known as "Sant Kabir Child "through the street play, child magazine Bachho Ki Duniya and pen friendship with the children of the Gottengen High School, Remscheid Germany with the help of Ms. Helma Ritscher, Chairperson Indo-German Society of Remscheid, Germany.

 

Mr. Rajendra Tiwari, present village head of Belwa village does not covet to open the school, as he used to engage Mushars people as a bonded labour in the his brick kiln factory. Mr. Gehru Musahar and Mr. Bothu Musahar were released from bonded labour with the support of the PVCHR; in this case Mr. Tripathi was sentenced to pay fine for resorting to bonded labour in his brick kilns under section 374 of IPC crime no. 1 April 2002.

 

The struggle for the Rights in the Belwa village was sturdy. Several times PVCHR activist received threatening phone calls to stop human rights work "if you raise the issue of starvation and hunger death then you must be killed", and that the staff of PVCHR would be charged with false accusations in order to discredit the organisation and force it to close down.

 

PVCHR had initiated several activities in Belwa village and several other villages within Uttar Pradesh, with an intention to empower the lower caste communities to make better use of the recent change in the state administration favouring the lower caste communities in the state and in India.

 

The PVCHR, along with the AHRC and other national and local human rights organisations, organised folk-schools in these villages, starting from Belwa. The PVCHR also invited the district administration as well as officials from the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe to participate in these sessions. The member of the Commission Mr. Rajbahadur Yadav participated in one of these sessions held at Belwa on 21 May 2007.

 

In the meanwhile the PVCHR also promoted establishment of community centers in these villages, of which the community centre in Belwa was inaugurated by the then DM Mr. Nithin Gokarnan,which is used for meeting of community as well as ICDS center at Musahar ghetto and PPC center of SDTT-JMN at Patel ghetto.

 

Through our services, grass root campaign and peoples' advocacy at local-global level, the Belwa village is the model village as the child right centric, vibrant democratic society against torture and organized violence, which started sustain initiative for the fulfillment of the justice, fraternity and the rule of law. Its influenced the marginalized at the blocks and tehsil to uncensor and fight for their rights same as a stone is thrown in the pond it shows the ripple effect. We are remebering the quote of Robert F. Kennedy in 1966 at South Africa "We all struggle to transcend the cruelties and the follies of mankind. That struggle will not be won by standing aloof and pointing a finger; it will be won by action, by those who commit their every resource of mind and body to the education and improvement and help of their fellow person."

 

For further information please visit the linkage:

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/2744/

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1203/

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1209/

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/2718/

http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2005/1221/

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

http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/thscrip/print.pl?file=20070406002911100.htm&date=fl2406/&prd=fline

http://infochangeindia.org/200610205661/Agenda/Hunger-Has-Fallen-Off-The-Map/Why-Karmeena-Musahar-died.html

http://www.pucl.org/Topics/Dalit-tribal/2002/varanasi-dalits.htm

http://www.pvchr.org/actionalert.htm

http://www.article2.org/mainfile.php/0406/217/

http://www.hindu.com/2002/02/22/stories/2002022203020100.htm

http://www.ethicsinaction.asia/archive/2008-ethics-in-action/vol.-2-no.-1-february-2008/can-human-rights-work-bring-change-the-story-of

 

Realization of Right to Education at grass root: Pedagogy of oppressed

Seminar with Lenin Raghuvanshi- some afterthoughts

Seminar mit Lenin Raghuvanshi – eine Nachlese

"Local is true universal.
  Local thinking, local-global action"

Lenin Raghuvanshi skizzierte für die BesucherInnen des Seminars kurz die wesentlichen religiösen, politischen, sozialen und ökonomischen Merkmale der indischen Gesellschaft. Neben dem mehr als dreitausend Jahre alten Einfluss der hinduistischen Religion und des Kastenwesens auf die Republik gibt es, so Raghuvanshi, in der indischen Gesellschaft Widersprüche und Ambivalenzen, die zwischen der feudalen, patriachalen und religiös dominierten Vormoderne und dem städtischen, aufstrebenden, liberalen und demokratischen Indien bestehen und nebeneinander existieren.

Ein Beispiel dafür: Obwohl das Kastenwesen am 26. Januar 1950 mit der Gründung der Republik Indien in der Verfassung abgeschafft wurde, dominiert es den Alltag von Millionen Menschen und lässt sich für das kapitalistische Wirtschaftssystem modifizieren. Im Wesentlichen stellt die indische gesellschaftliche Struktur nach wie vor eine Pyramide dar, in der die unteren Kasten 85% der Arbeit leisten, jedoch die oberen 15% fast 90% des Besitzes innehaben. Die Zahl der Dalits ("Unberührbare") und Mitglieder der unteren Kasten wird auf ca. 240 Millionen in Indien geschätzt. Damit stellen sie fast ein Viertel der indischen Bevölkerung dar. Die Mehrzahl der Dalits hat geringen Zugang zu Gesundheitsversorgung und zu Sozialprogrammen. Sie verrichten die niedrigsten Berufe und Tätigkeiten, drei Viertel von ihnen haben keine Schulbildung. Besonders dramatisch ist die Situation der Frauen in diesem System, da das Kastenwesen ein ausgeprägtes patriachales Gedankengut mit transportiert.

Grassierender Rassismus, strukturelle und manifeste Diskriminierung sowie eine Kultur der Alltagsgewalt sind die Erscheinungsformen. Dazu kommt eine korruptes System der höheren Kasten, dass sich in nahezu alle Felder der Gesellschaft fortsetzt (Justiz, Medien, Gesundheit und soziale Verwaltung, Schule und Bildung...). Die Auswirkungen sind massive Verletzung der Grund-, Menschen- und Bürgerrechte der Dalits und anderer niederer Kasten. Ebenso hervorhebenswert ist die grassierende Straflosigkeit, die bei Vergehen der höheren Kasten gegen untere Kasten üblich ist.

Im zweiten Teil des Vortrags beschreibt Raghuvanshi die von ihm gegründete Organisation PVCHR, die 1996 als NGO in Varanasi (früher Benares) im Bundesstaat Uttar Pradesh zu arbeiten begann. Die Organisation arbeitet als Basisorganisation in mehr als 45 Dörfern in der Gegend um Varanasi. Dabei entwickelt PVCHR ein enges Netz mit lokalen Organisationen vor und um den Grundsatz von Empowerment-Strategien. Die DorfbewohnerInnen gilt es dabei zu unterstützen, damit sie ihre Grundrechte einfordern und durchsetzen können; etwa wenn Hunger im Dorf herrscht, oder Zugang zur Gesundheitsversorgung verweigert wird, oder Dalits von der örtlichen Polizei gefoltert oder misshandelt wurden.

Dabei verwendet PVCHR die Instrumente der Tribunale (öffentliche Foren mit den DorfbewohnerInnen; etwa gemeinsam gegen Folter und Polizeiwillkür) und öffentliche Kampagnen (für das Recht auf Zugang zur Bildung). PVCHR versteht sich als Lautsprecher für jene, die keine Stimme haben. PVCHR verstärkt Vorwürfe und Missstände, die von den direkt vor Ort betroffenen Menschen erhobenen werden und verbreitet sie, gibt ihnen regional oder national Gewicht; durch Kampagnen und moderne Formen von Verbreitung und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit (Internet, e-Mail-Kampagnen, blogspots u.a.). PVCHR arbeitet im Falle von Gewalt (Misshandlung, Rassismus, Folter, Vergewaltigung) durch staatliche Organe vor allem mit der "Testimonial Therapy" – einer Mischform von therapeutischem Arbeiten und öffentlichem Bekenntnis. Die Opfer erzählen ihre Geschichte, die dann aufgeschrieben und öffentlich an sie zurück übergeben wird und so auch eine breitere und öffentliche Wirkung besitzen. Die verantwortlichen Behörden und Regierungsstellen werden zu Stellungnahmen aufgefordert und mit den Taten konfrontiert.

Wichtig, so Lenin Raghuvanshi, sei es dem PVCHR, dass es dabei um nachhaltige Strategien und langfristige Veränderungen gehe. Die DorfbewohnerInnen sollen auch an Strukturen arbeiten, die zur Verbesserung der sozialen und politischen Situation aller führen. Eine weitere Vision von PVCHR stellt eine Gesellschaft dar, die sich durch eine Menschenrechtskultur auszeichnet – d.h. eine Gesellschaft fern von feudalen und faschistischen Systemen, die Gewalt, Folter, Ausgrenzung und Diskriminierung ermöglichen. Auch hier hat PVCHR Kampagnen entwickelt – wie etwa die "People friendly villages" oder die "torture-free villages", die das Empowerment, den nachhaltigen Umgang und die Strukturen der kleinen Dörfer und Orte nachhaltig verändern. PVCHR hält sich an den simplen Wahlspruch, dass man allein wenig ausrichten kann, aber wenn es viele sind, entsteht Kraft und Energie.

In Dörfern um und in Stadtteilen von Varanasi werden rund um bereits bestehende Gemeindezentren auch Aktivitäten wie Alphabetisierung, Menschenrechtsschulungen oder Kinderparlamente durchgeführt. Zugang zu Informationen, Basisversorgung der Dorfgemeinschaft (wie etwa Schule mit Mittagessen), Sicherung der Gesundheitsversorgung sind dabei vordringliche Aktivitäten.

Da das lokale Arbeiten nach Ansicht von Raghuvanshi nicht ausreicht, ist PVCHR höchst aktiv im internationalen Austausch; nicht nur als "Kampagnenmotor" zur Verbreitung von Informationen sondern auch als professioneller Austauschpartner und lernende Organisation. Auf internationaler Ebene besteht etwa eine weltweite Vernetzung mit den Vereinten Nationen, dem IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims), der Europäischen Union und Amnesty International.

English Translation by Ms. Frauke Bergmann,Germany:

 

Seminar with Lenin Raghuvanshi- some afterthoughts

 

"Local is true universal.
  Local thinking, local-global action"

For the attendants of the seminar Lenin Raghuvanshi outlined the essential religious, political, social and economical features of Indian society. Beside the influences Hinduism and Caste system had on the republic for more than 3000 years, there are, Raghuvanshi stated, contradictions and ambivalence between the feudal, patriarchal and religious dominated pro-modern and the urban, aspiring, liberal and democratic India which exist side by side.

An Example: Despite the abolition of the caste system in the constitution on 26. January 1950 with the foundation of the republic of India it is still dominating everyday life of millions of people and is modified for the use in the capitalist economic system. Basically the structure of the Indian society is still represented by a pyramid in which the lower castes do 85% of the work, but the upper 15% own nearly 90% of the property. The number of Dalit ('untouchables') and other members of the lower castes are estimated to be around 240 million in India. With this they represent nearly ¼ of the Indian population. The majority of Dalits has little access to healthcare and social programmes. They perform the lowest occupations and activities, ¾ of them have never attended schools. Particularly dramatic is the situation of the women in this system, because the Caste system is transporting a distinct patriarchal mindset.

Racism, structural and manifest discrimination as well as a culture of everyday violence are its manifestations. In addition there is the corrupt system of the upper castes which is extended to nearly all fields of society (judiciary, medicine, Healthcare and social administration, School and education…). Results are massive violations of the fundamental-, Human-, and civil rights of the Dalits and other lower castes. Further there is the impunity to highlight which is common in cases of offence committed by the upper castes against the lower castes.

In the second part of his speech Raghuvanshi describes the organisation PVCHR, which was founded by him and started to work in 1996 as a NGO in Varanasi (former Benares) in the federal state of Uttar Pradesh. The Organisation works as a Grass root organisation in more than 45 villages in the surroundings of Varanasi. For this PVCHR developed good networks with other local organisations around the policies of empowerment strategies. It is the aim to support the village people in demanding and implementing their fundamental rights, for example in cases when there is hunger in the villages, access to healthcare is denied, or when Dalits are abused and tortured by the local police.

For this PVCHR is using the means of tribunals (public forums in which villagers are together protesting and testifying against torture and police arbitrariness) and public campaigns (e. g. for the right of access to education). PVCHR understands itself as a loudspeaker for those, who don't have a voice. PVCHR amplifies and spreads reproaches and grievances which are highlighted by the local people who are directly affected; it gives weight to them on regional or national scale through campaigns and modern means of distribution and public relations (Internet, e-mail campaigns, blogspots, etc.). In cases of violence by government officials (abuse, racism, torture, rape) PVCHR is working with the "Testimonial Therapy"- a mixed form of therapeutically work and public Testimonial. The Victims tell their story which is then written down and delivered back to them in public, which gives a brought and public effect to it. The (governmental) authorities are requested to give investigative statements and are confronted with their wrong doings.

According to Raghuvanshi it is very important for PVCHR to be involved into sustainable strategies and they aim at long lasting changes. The village people shall furteh work on structures which will contribute to an improvement of the social and political situation of all of them. A further vision of PVCHR is a society which is marked by a Human rights Culture – that means a society without feudal and fascist systems, which enable violence, torture, exclusion and discrimination. For this aim PVCHR has developed campaigns – like the "People friendly villages" or "Torture free villages", which shall increase the empowerment of the villagers and change the structures in the small villages and contribute to a sustainable living on the long term. PVCHR is guided by the simple slogan that it is difficult to change anything, when you are alone, but when you are many, power and energy is developed.

In villages around Varanasi and in some quarters of the city, in the context of already established community centres, activities like alphabetisation, Human Rights education or children's parliaments take place. Creating access to information, basic maintenance of the village community (like a school with a midday meal), securing of health care facilities are among the most urgent tasks.

According to Raghuvanshi the local work is not enough, therefore PVCHR is very active in processes of international exchange, not just as a "Motor of campaigns" for the distribution of information but also as a professional exchange partner and learning organisation. On the international level there are global connections with the United Nations, with the IRCT (International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims), with the European Union and Amnesty International.

 

 

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Human rights activist receiving life threats in UP LIFE & MORE NEWS MyNews.in:

Human rights activist receiving life threats in UP LIFE & MORE NEWS MyNews.in:

IMP-Death threats against ACHA Secretary Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: ACHA-Pritam Rohila <asiapeace@comcast.net>
Date: Sat, Jul 25, 2009 at 8:58 AM
Subject: IMP-Death threats against ACHA Secretary Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi
To:

                               IMP-Death threats against ACHA Secretary Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

 

Dear ACHA Members:

ACHA Secretary Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi is receiving threats against his life and to kidnap his son, if he did not quit his work on behalf of the low-caste people of his area. I am writing the latter below to the officials listed below. I strongly urge you to please do the same.

 

Best wishes,

Pritam

Pritam K. Rohila, Ph.D.

Executive Director

Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA)

www.asiapeace.org & www.indiapakistanpeace.org

asiapeace@comcast.net

I am writing to seek your help regarding the repeated threats received by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi, on his mobile phone No. 993559933, from unknown person's mobile phone No. 98705993,  on July 22 & 23, 2009.  Threats were made against his life, and to kidnap his son, if he did not quit his work on behalf of Dalits of his area.

 

Dr. Raghuvanshi is the Convener of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a local non-government human rights organisation working in Varanasi, U.P. He has been internationally recognized for his work with such awards as Gwangju Prize for Human Rights and ACHA Peace Star award.

:

1. Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh, hgovup@up.nic.in

2. Ms. Mayawati, U.P. Chief Minister csup@up.nic.in

3. Inspector General of Police, Varanasi Zone, U.P., igzonevns@up.nic.in

4. Director General of Police, U.P., police@up.nic.in

5. Senior Superintendent of Police, Varanasi, sspvns@up.nic.in

India – Renewed threats against human rights defender, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi | Front Line

India – Renewed threats against human rights defender, Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi | Front Line

INDIA: Human rights defender once again receives threats in Uttar Pradesh,India

INDIA: Human rights defender once again receives threats in Uttar Pradesh

24^th July, 2009
---------------------------------------------------------------------
INDIA: Human rights defender once again receives threats after one year

ISSUES: Threat; intimidation; right to life; human rights defender;

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear friends,

Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) a local non-government human rights organization working in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh its convener Dr. Lenin is again receiving life threatening calls over his mobile telephone.

Case Detail:

 

Again Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi Convener of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a local non-government human rights organisation working in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is continuously receiving the death threat over his mobile telephone.

 

On 22^nd July, 09 at 9:05 pm Dr. Lenin got missed call on his mobile telephone +91-993559933 from unknown person +9198705993 and again the same caller rang at 9:06 and he verbally abuse by using filthy word and threat for his life. At 9:30 pm Dr. Lenin call back to avail more information of the caller. However caller responds that he belongs to Bihar but Dr. Lenin identifies his language tone like Western Uttar Pradesh or from Bundelkhand region.

 

Again on 23^rd July, 09 at 11:07 pm Dr. Lenin receives threat from unknown number +91- 9695284472. The caller abused him over the mobile phone +91-9935599333 and openly threat to kill him and also to kidnap his son.

 

Mean while his wife Shruti with her mobile no. +91-9935599330 call to police at 100 number at 11:18 pm for help when caller was giving threat to Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi. The policemen on duty listen the threat but he replied to complain to the Inspector General of Police (I.G), Varanasi zone.

 

After half hour i.e. 11:29 pm again when Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi call back on the same Mobile number from his Mobile telephone +91-9935599333. The caller said "some one has borrowed my cell phone", but he recognizes the voice was of same person who was giving the threat.

Previous year 21^st May, 2008 Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi receives several threatening calls to his mobile phone in which he has been verbally abused and warned that he will be killed if he continues with the work of the PVCHR with the Dalit communities in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh.

On 23^rd July – 24^th July, 09 Dr. Lenin has registered a complaint, send through registered post, addressed to the Director General of Police, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Inspector General of Police, Varanasi zone, Varanasi informing the officer about the call that he received and urging the officer to take necessary action upon the complaint.

The Urgent appeal released by Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for the protection PVCHR and its human rights defender please see UA-138-2005; UP-95-2005; UP-100-2005; UP-166-2005 and UA-041-2007, http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2008/2867/

Front Line, Ireland an International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders support PVCHR while Dr. Lenin and his Human Rights Defender were receiving threat http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1446, http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1332, http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/node/1307

Threatening, intimidating, insulting and creating annoyance to persons is a crime punishable in India under the Indian Penal Code, 1860. Section 503 of the Code reads: "Whoever threatens another with any injury to his person, reputation or property, or to the person or reputation of any one in whom that person is interested, with intent to cause alarm to that person, or to cause that person to do any act which he is not legally bound to do, or to omit to do any act which that person is legally entitled to do, as the means of avoiding the execution of such threat, commits criminal intimidation."

Section 506 of the Code prescribes punishment for criminal intimidation which could extend to imprisonment up to a period of two years or fine or both. However, if the criminal intimidation is to cause death or grievous hurt or to cause destruction of property by fire, the sentence may extend to a term up to seven years, or with fine or both.

According to an amendment applicable to Uttar Pradesh vide notification number 777/VIII 9-4(2)-87 dated 31 July 1989; a crime punishable under Section 506 is cognizable and non-bailable. This means that on receipt of a complaint, the police could arrest the accused without a warrant of arrest issued by a court of law.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Threat and intimidation is not to be taken lightly in Uttar Pradesh. It is one of those states in India where people are abducted and children kidnapped for settling private and political feuds. In some cases the abducted victims are tortured or even murdered if the demands of the criminals are not met. As far as the PVCHR is concerned, it is an apolitical local human rights organisation with limited resources, but with a large work group, including staff and volunteers.

In the past three years, the cases taken up by the PVCHR, whenever brought to the limelight has attracted adequate attention from various corners of the world, including direct intervention by the UN agencies. Such interventions have not only stimulated the activists and volunteers associated with the PVCHR to engage more in human rights work, but has also brought immediate and long-term reliefs to the victims of human rights violations in the state.

In recognition of the activities of the PVCHR, the Gwangju based human rights group, the May 18 Foundation has awarded Dr. Lenin the Gwangju Price for Human Rights along with Ms. Irom Chanu Sharmila of Manipur in the year 2007. In 2008 received ACHA Star Peace award from Association for Communal Harmony in Asia, USA along with B. M. Kutty, Karachi, Karamat Ali, Karachi, Pakistan and   Mubashir Mirza, Sadiqabad from Pakistan

SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities below to ensure that the safety and protection of the PVCHR, its staff and the activists associated with the organisationTo support this appeal, please click here:

SAMPLE LETTER:

Dear __________,

INDIA: the work of PVCHR, a human rights organization, must be protected

Name of victim: Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi
Date of incident: 22^nd July, 2009 and continuously thereon

I am writing to express my concern regarding the case of threats received by Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi Convener of the Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), a local non-government human rights organisation working in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh is continuously receiving the death threat over his mobile telephone.

 

I am informed that on 22^nd July, 09 at 9:05 pm Dr. Lenin got missed call on his mobile telephone +91-993559933 from unknown person +9198705993 and again the same caller rang at 9:06 and he verbally abuse by using filthy word and threat for his life. At 9:30 pm Dr. Lenin call back to avail more information of the caller. However caller responds that he belongs to Bihar but Dr. Lenin identifies his language tone like Western Uttar Pradesh or from Bundelkhand region.

 

I am also informed that again on 23^rd July, 09 at 11:07 pm Dr. Lenin receives threat from unknown number +91- 9695284472. The caller abused him over the mobile phone +91-9935599333 and openly threat to kill him and also to kidnap his son.

 

I am informed mean while his wife Shruti with her mobile no. +91-9935599330 call to police at 100 number at 11:18 pm for help when caller was giving threat to Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi. The policemen on duty listen the threat but he replied to complain to the Inspector General of Police (I.G), Varanasi zone.

 

I am further informed that after half hour i.e. 11:29 pm again when Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi call back on the same Mobile number from his Mobile telephone +91-9935599333. The caller said "some one has borrowed my cell phone", but he recognizes the voice was of same person who was giving the threat.

I am informed that previous year 21^st May, 2008 Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi receives several threatening calls to his mobile phone in which he has been verbally abused and warned that he will be killed if he continues with the work of the PVCHR with the Dalit communities in the Varanasi district of Uttar Pradesh.

On 23^rd July – 24^th July, 09 Dr. Lenin has registered a complaint, send through registered post, addressed to the Director General of Police, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh and Inspector General of Police, Varanasi zone, Varanasi informing the officer about the call that he received and urging the officer to take necessary action upon the complaint.

Yours sincerely,

----------------
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:

1. Honorable Governor of Uttar Pradesh
Raj Bhavan, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
E-mail: hgovup@up.nic.in

2. Ms. Mayawati
Chief Minister
Chief Minister's Secretariat
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 522 223 0002 / 223 9234
E-mail: csup@up.nic.in

3. Mr. P Chidambaram
Home Minister
North Block
New Delhi 110 001
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 23794833

4. Mrs Margaret Sekaggya
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
E-mail: urgent-action@ohchr.org

5. Secretary to the Government
Uttar Pradesh State Government
5th Floor ?Lal Bahadur Sastri Bhavan
Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA

6. Inspector General of Police
Varanasi Zone
Varanasi District
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
E-mail: igzonevns@up.nic.in

7. Director General of Police
1-Tilak Marg, Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh
INDIA
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The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Melghat: a synonym for malnutrition

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Right to Education Bill 2009 – What’s in it for me?

Right to Education Bill 2009 – What's in it for me?

What Indians can expect from the Right to Education Bill

 

Mumbai: July 14, 2009: A lot has already been said on the new Right to Education Bill to be tabled in the current session of Parliament.  Going beyond the academic debate, CRY examined how it would translate on ground for children and others who will be impacted by the Bill.

 

Nine-year- old Sundari lives with her mother in a slum off the railway tracks in Bhandup, Mumbai. Just across from her plastic shack is a tall residential building, their source for clean drinking water and a livelihood – Sundari's mother works there as a domestic help. Because their slum is "unauthorized", the corporation will not install a drinking water tap near their shacks. Everyone has to cross the railway lines several times a day for drinking water. Seven deaths have already occurred in the neighbourhood as people negotiate heavy buckets, the slippery grime of the tracks and trains that criss-cross each other at short intervals.

 

Sundari's mother strongly feels that the poverty she experiences is because she dropped out of school. So she puts all her energy into educating her daughter who is enrolled in the BMC school nearby. Mother and daughter are proud of the school and of Sundari's studies.

 

If the Bill is passed, instead of a better quality government school, Sundari can look forward to a private school. As a "poor" child, she could get admission here as part of the 25% quota reserved for underpriviledged children, but her dignity and equality will most likely be assaulted daily, while studying with paying students. In other words, Sundari's poverty, rather than her abilities, will decide her future.

  

15 -year-old Gopal and four-year-old Ketaki live in a village in Orissa's Bolangir district. Since Bolangir is drought prone, the family faces constant hunger. With so much adversity at home, Gopal dropped out of the local primary school. Then a local children's group stepped in with support, persuading and helping the two to re-join school and attend class everyday. With the help of these friends, Gopal finished the Class VII exams and is looking forward, this year, to cycling to the government secondary school three kms. from his village.

 

If the Bill is passed, Gopal will have to find his own means to fund his education from Class VIII onwards, especially if he expects quality teaching with facilities like computer training.  As a Class VII passout, Gopal will not get any assistance in education from the State despite the family's extreme poverty. His sister will have no direct support in the form of kindergarten schooling and will be unable to join primary school.

 

The ABC Company is part of the Global group, a major player in the publishing business.  Their business is profitable (a net profit of 762 million pounds in a year) with a global staff size of 34000. The company's Board of Directors sit in new York and they are listed in both the New York and London stock exchanges. The global downturn has it profitability which is why they keep close watch on growing markets like India. With an amendment in Section 25 of the Companies Act, the ABC Company has hope to invest USD 30 million (165 crores) (with a loan) in the USD 40 billion* (Rs. 160,000 crore) education sector in India.

 

Child Rights Demands to Make the Right to Education Real   §  Opening the education sector for investment should not come at the cost of the right of every child to free, quality education. In other words, citizens with little purchasing power cannot be forced to pay for what should come free §  Include the pre-school goers (0-6 year olds) and the 14-18 year olds in the right to free quality education. §  47% habitations are without even a primary school nearby. Make sure there is a primary school within one km radius and an upper primary within 2 km radius. §  Define quality to include principles of teaching and learning, access to everyone and including all regardless of class, caste, gender and ability. §  Spend at least 10% of the GDP on education and health. Because this impacts 40% of India's population today and its population in the future. §  Introduce the Common School System as per the Kothari Commission's recommendation.

If the Bill is passed, this company can diversify into school and college education and probably break even in two years. The company's profits will come from middle and upper middle classes who are looking at "better quality". This does not touch the quality needs of the 70% of Indians who are poor. It also underscores the divide between the poor and the rich, by following a policy of 'if you want quality, pay for it'.  

 

CRY's Point of View

 

Two major threats await the 400 million children in India whose school education depends on the Right to Education Bill that will be tabled in Parliament in a day's time.

 

First, the Bill leaves pre-school goers (in the 0-6 age group) and the middle to primary school goers (15-18 age group). 

Second, the commitment to improve both the quality of teaching and the school experience is left vague, even as Government schools lose children to poor quality, unregulated private schools. 

 

"Education upto middle school is not enough for children's growth. Let us remember that this is the 'right to education' Bill, and not the 'right to literacy and numeracy' alone. This selection of 6-14 age group is arbitrary and absolutely contradicts India's promise to its children, of making education available, accessible and acceptable, " says education activist and CRY Director Dipankar Majumdar. 

 

Latest government estimates show 70 million Indian children do not go to school. This category comes largely from India's poorest citizens, those who cannot and should not be forced to pay for schooling. "If the current Minister of HRD is proposing public-private partnerships as the 'solution' to India's quality problem, we need to know why he expects citizens to sponsor such quality themselves as well as generate a profit for the private sector. Why make citizens bear the cost of quality, when the government lacks neither resources nor people to bring in quality," asks Majumdar.   Estimates show that the private education sector is valued at USD 40 billion* (Rs. 160,000 crore) in India. The HRD Ministry needs to get Section 25 of the Companies Act amended for this.

 

"The world's most developed economies, such as that of the US, UK and France allocate around 6-7% of their national budgets on public education and health. India by contrast, allocates just around 3% for education and around 1% for health. When we made education a constitutional right, at par with the right to life, it hardly befits the sprit of the Constitution to take such a minimalist approach to children's rights," says Ila Hukku, Director, CRY and member of NAFRE, a group of organisations that pushed through India's 86^th Amendment to the Constitution (See Table 1). The 2009-2010 budget ratifies the minimalist approach, by not increasing Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan allocation (it remains, like last year, at Rs. 13,100 crores)

 

"To make any real impact on children's lives, the country needs to spend at least 10 per cent of the GDP for school education and health. Currently the spending on schooling is 1.28% (the total government outlay is 3.3%) (See Table 2) Instead of investing public resources, we as a country are opening up a core sector to private players, a move that goes against both the short- and long-term interests of children.

 

About CRY - Child Rights and You:

CRY – Child Rights and You is India's leading advocate for child rights. Over 30 years CRY has partnered with NGOs, communities, government, the media to help create a movement that addresses the root causes that deprive children of their rights

For more information please visit us at www.cry.org

For detailed case stories and explanations, other backup information, please contact:

Sumita Mehta sumita.mehta@crymail.org

Bidisha Fouzdar bidisha.fouzdar@crymail.org  

 

Proof Points

Table 1: Public Spending on Education and Health: An International Comparison

 

Table 2: Public Expenditure on Education as a percentage of GDP

Age-group	2016
	Persons	Males	Females
0-4	9	9.2	8.8
5-9	8.9	9.1	8.7
10-14	8.9	9.1	8.7
15-19	9.3	9.3	9.3

 

 

Source: indiastat.com Projection based on 2001 Census