Press Announcement

http://lenin-shruti.blogspot.com/2009/03/survivors-regained-their-self-esteem.html
http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=17118#

Testimony to improve psychosocial wellbeing and promote advocacy for survivors of torture and organised violence

16 – 17 April 2009

Vishwya Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi

Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), India, in collaboration with the Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT), Denmark, is holding a two-day National Consultation at Vishwa Yuvak Kendra, New Delhi. The theme of the consultation, organised from 16th to 17th April 2009, is ‘Testimony to improve psychosocial wellbeing and promote advocacy for survivors of torture and organised violence’.

In order to search for consensus on future plans for the introduction and use of testimonial therapy, the National Consultation has the following objectives:
 To increase the awareness of how torture engenders psychological symptoms in survivors and how it affects their daily life
 To integrate testimony into political campaigns, including the national campaign for the ratification of United Nations Convention against Torture (CAT) and the national domestic law against torture.
 To explore the possibility of creating alliances with different political organisations and stakeholders in India concerning the fight against Torture and other Organised Violence (TOV)
 To promote the psychosocial well-being of survivors of TOV.

Prior to the National Consultation, a pilot project was launched by RCT, Denmark and PVCHR, India with the purposes of: 1.) building the capacities of Human Rights organisations in India to provide testimonial therapy, and 2.) to assess the utility and applicability of the testimonial method for the human rights work in India.

The testimonial method was originally developed in Chile during the military dictatorship in 1970s. It has been successfully used in the psychotherapeutic treatment of refugee survivors of torture in many countries and it has also been an advocacy tool employed by different human rights movements. Most recently, principles of cognitive behavioural exposure therapy and testimony therapy have been combined as narrative exposure therapy for the treatment of traumatised survivor of war and torture.

During the pilot project, spanning six months, 3 Training of the Trainers workshops were conducted in which 40 human rights activists and community workers, who were already working in their communities, were trained. Guided by the trainers, participants capitalised on the skills developed during the workshops to develop a manual, as well as a Monitoring & Evaluation system to quantify the outcomes and compare various psychosocial parameters before and after the intervention.

Utilizing the testimonial method, 85 survivors of torture gave their testimonies. 65 (76%) were male and 20 (24%) were female. 61 are primary victims and 24 are secondary victims. 72 (86%) were Hindu, 8 (9%) were Muslim, and 6 (7%) were Christian. 8 (9%) belong to upper castes, 39(46%) were OBC, 18 (21%) were dalits and 20(24%) belonged to tribal communities.

During the first two sessions of the ‘Capacity Building’ workshops, testimonies were written and in third session victims of torture participated in a delivery ceremony. The trainee therapists also followed up with survivors to assess their feeling after the intervention.

Victims treated with testimonial therapy demonstrated significant improvements in World Health Organisation indicators for human well being (WHO 5). All of them expressed their satisfaction with the process, especially the public delivery ceremony. This ritual apparently became a “turning point” in the healing process. By recording their stories and externalizing their private pain, survivors reframed their experiences to take on a social meaning within the context of human rights affirmation, and thereby regained their self-esteem and dignity.


For more information about PVCHR see: www.pvchr.org, www.pvchr.blogspot.com

For more information about RCT see: www.rct.dk

Contact number in India: +91-9935599333
National Consultation

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भूख से मरते बच्चों के लिए लेनिन ने छेड़ी मुहिम

http://khabar.josh18.com/news/10970/8
http://khabar.josh18.com/videos/10970/03_2009/cjlenin1_0330
http://khabar.josh18.com/videos/10970/03_2009/cjlenin2_0330



भूख से मरते बच्चों के लिए लेनिन ने छेड़ी मुहिम
आईबीएन-7


भूख से होने वाली मौतों की खबर लेनिन अक्सर अखबारों में पढ़ते हैं। सोनभद्र। आदिवासियों के विकास के लिए सरकार ने कई योजनाएं बनाईं लेकिन इन योजनाओं का फायदा भ्रष्ट अधिकारियों को मिलता है और आदिवासी बद से बदतर हालात में जीते हैं। प्रशासन की इसी बेरुखी की वजह से उत्तर प्रदेश के एक गांव में लोग भूख से मरने लगे। ऐसे में सिटीजन जर्नलिस्ट डॉ. लेनिन ने इस मामले को उठाया और इन लोगों को रोटी का हक दिलाया।


डॉ. लेनिन पेशे से एक डॉक्टर हैं। उनकी लड़ाई एक ऐसे मुद्दे को लेकर है जिसने दुनिया के सबसे बड़े लोकतंत्र का सर शर्म से झुका दिया है। बात कर रहे हैं भूख से होने वाली मौत की और उन लोगों के हक की जो लोग दो वक्त की रोटी के लिए भी तरसते हैं।


भूख से होने वाली मौतों की खबर लेनिन अक्सर अखबारों में पढ़ते हैं। 2005 में सोनभद्र जिले के एक गांव की ऐसी ही एक खबर उन्होंने अखबार में पढ़ी। सोनभद्र के रॉप गांव में भूख के कारण 16 बच्चों की मौत हो गई। लेनिन ये सोच कर हैरान रह जाते हैं कि संसाधनों और विकास की तमाम योजनाओं के बावजूद कैसे लोग भूख से बेमौत मर जाते हैं।


फिर उन्होंने रॉप गांव जाने का फैसला किया। इस गांव में तकरीबन 72 परिवार रहते हैं जो कि घसिया आदिवासी जनजाति से सबंध रखते हैं। लेनिन ने देखा इस गांव में लोगों की हालत काफी खराब थी। 16 बच्चे मौत की आगोश में सो चुके थे और दो बच्चे गंभीर रूप से बीमार थे।


इन लोगों को एक वक्त की रोटी भी नसीब नहीं थी जिस वजह से इन्हें अपनी भूख मिटाने के लिए पेड़ के पत्ते खाने पड़ते थे। यहां अधिकतर बच्चे कुपोषण के शिकार हैं जिसका कारण था खाने की कमी। पैसे की तंगी के कारण इन लोगों के बीपीएल कार्ड भी नहीं बने थे। लेकिन प्रशासन सोया रहा और लोग बेमौत मरते रहे।


प्रशासन कहता है कि ये मौत कुपोषण के कारण हो रही हैं। लेकिन सच ये है कि जो लोग कई दिनों तक खाना नहीं खाते उनके लिए कुपोषण एक बीमारी नहीं बल्कि मजबूरी है। डॉ. लेनिन ने इस समस्या के हर पहलू को बारीकी से समझा और एक रिपोर्ट तैयार की। इस रिपोर्ट को उन्होंने मानवाधिकार आयोग के सामने पेश किया।


मानवाधिकार आयोग ने भी माना कि मामला कुपोषण का नहीं भूखमरी का है। उत्तर प्रदेश के मुख्य सचिव को एक नोटिस भेजा गया। नोटिस मिलते ही सोया हुआ प्रशासन जाग गया। और उसके बाद स्वास्थ्य विभाग ने बच्चों के इलाज के लिए गांव में कैंप लगाया। 154 घरों में अनाज का इंतजाम किया गया और इसके साथ ही इन आदिवासियों के बीपीएल कार्ड भी बने।


भूखमरी सीधे तौर पर कमाई और रोजगार से जुड़ी है। रॉप गांव में एक भी व्यक्ति पढ़ा लिखा नहीं है। लोगों के पास रोजगार नहीं और उनमें जागरूकक की कमी है। ये लोग अपने अधिकारों के बारे में भी नहीं जानते। कुछ लोगों मदद से डॉ. लेनिन ने यहां एक स्कूल बनवाया। भविष्य में कोई भी भूख के कारण मौत का शिकार न हो इसके लिए उन्होंने यहां अनाज बैंक का निर्माण कराया। लोगों के सहयोग से लेनिन ने 4 रिक्शा 100 बकरियां आदिवासियों के रोजगार के लिए उपलब्ध कराए ताकि ये लोग आत्म निर्भर बन सकें।


भूख से मरते लोग भारत की एक शर्मनाक हकीकत हैं। सवाल ये है कि जब सरकार ने इनके लिए योजनाएं बनायी हैं तो ये योजनाएं इन लोगों तक क्यों नहीं पहुंचतीं। दो वक्त की रोटी हर आदमी का बुनियादी हक है और ये सरकार की जिम्मेदारी है कि हर आदमी को उसका बुनियादी हक मिले।

fromMahendra P. Singh
toPVCHR

dateWed, Apr 1, 2009 at 9:09 PM
subjectRe: भूख से मरते बच्चों के लिए लेनिन ने छेड़ी मुहिम
mailed-bygmail.com

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Dear Dr. Lenin,
Thanks for all the good work you are doing. Sorry, I cannot spare time to be with you but my best wishes are with you.
Mahendra

--
Professor Dr Mahendra P Singh

Vice Chancellor
The WB National University of Juridical Sciences
12 LB Block, Sector III, Salt Lake City
Kolkata 700098, INDIA
Tel.: +91-33-2335 0510 (Direct)
+91-33-2335 0534/7379 (Ext. 204)
Fax: +91-33-2335 7422

POLICE TORTURE PUSHES TO ABJECT PENURY:RATANDEEP GUPTA

http://pvchr-folkschool.blogspot.com/2009/03/pathetic-condition-of-advocate-in.html

I am 36 years old and had been a practising lawyer. I live in S 11/24, Choukaghat, which falls under the jurisdiction of Jaitpura police station in Varanasi. My elder brother, Dr. Amardeep Gupta, has a clinic adjoining my house. We were leading a quite a normal life but suddenly, on 28th December 2007, Municipal Corporation demolition squad accompanied by a posse of policemen a barged inside my brother’s clinic to demolish the encroachment, without any prior notice. Municipal Corporation officials informed that the clinic would be demolished as encroachments are being cleared in the city. My brother tried to plead to the demolition squad that his clinic is in authorised space and it does not fall within the purview of encroachment. But it all fell in the deaf ears. Municipal officials asked my brother to walk out of the clinic as they wanted to demolish it. At that moment, I was in the court and my brother phoned me. I rushed to my brother’s place, when I reached there I saw the squad had demolished a portion of the clinic. Still, we could not know who launched this demolition drive.

Next day on 29th December 2007 at 11 am, city magistrate escorted by a posse of policemen led by Chetganj and Jaitpura Circle Officers and Municipal Corporation demolition squad reached the clinic to demolish the remaining portion. I and my brother showed them the legal documents pertaining to the clinic and the approved map of the locality. Seeing that they howled on us in unison, ‘neither we want to see any papers nor listen to you’. Police officers directed the constables and other subordinates to push both of us to the standing jeep. When we were approaching the jeep, 4-5 policemen encircled us and started raining incessant blows with lathis (long cane tipped with a metal blunt). One among them had been was continuously hammering lathi blows on one side of my leg. It continued till the lathi had broken.

However, kicking and thrashing by the police was in most savagery manner. Due to continuous blows my right feet started dangling and sustained grievous injuries in my left arm, shoulder and other parts in my body. After incessant beating, police wanted us to board the three-wheeler tempo. My brother could board it but I failed to do as I could not stand on my feet.

Then, a policeman physically dragged me to the Vikram tempo. I was quite frightened seeing myself bleeding profusely. Police took us to Jaitpura police station. Constant beating made me thirsty and my throat parched so I could not breathe easily. It seemed as if I would die instantaneously. I requested for a glass of water from the police, and then they responded that they would give me tea instead of water for quenching our thirst. Then I told them at least to give me a cup of tea but they failed to provide that even. Even in that situation, police continued abusing us and used nauseating epithets to humiliate us. I was writhing with pain and not in proper frame of mind. After being informed, my wife and Bhabhi (elder brother’s wife) reached the police station. Police shamelessly abused them and drove them away and didn’t allow them to meet us.

Till 2.00 pm noon, due to loss of blood I was unconscious and police scared by that got me admitted to Kabir Chaura Hospital. When I was conscious I was worried as it came into my mind that I won’t be able to stand on my own feet. My wife came to meet me at the hospital. Seeing me dejected my wife generated confidence in me. As the Government hospital lacked the facilities, so I was shifted to Lakshmi Medical Centre where Dr. SN Dubey at Lakshmi Medical Centre operated me. After my discharge from the hospital I was completely confined to my bed for three months. A metal rod was implanted in my right leg but still I suffer from excruciating pain. Again I was operated by Dr. Shakil Ahmed, who took the bone from my hip and grafted it onto my fibula. Still, I suffer from excruciating pain and it’s difficult for me to walk. Intermittently, pus oozes out from my leg and doctor had advised surgery to replace the metal rod implanted in my right leg.

Police savagery let loose on us, which would be etched in my mind for years together. This makes me quite despondent. The abusive language of CO Chetganj still reverberates in my ears, who said, “Beat him continuously and break his leg to make him physically handicapped, so that his life is spoiled forever.”

If anyone is at fault then legal actions should be initiated against them but not to be beaten mercilessly to make them physically incapacitated. Later we came to know that police had shown their anger suspecting us of stone pelting. Still now we could not know who indulged in pelting stones during the demolition drive. When police was beating us, we did not run away. Still that rolls in my mind like a film, which I am unable to forget it. Today whenever I see police officials I seethe with anger and express my hatred against them.

Police booked us under different sections of IPC and lodged criminal cases against us. We were granted bail by the Court. We were quite enraged by the fact that police, who unleashed unbound savagery on us, rather framed criminal case against us. Our family had to spend over Rs. 1 lakh on me and my brother’s treatment.

Criminal case and police torture on us had damaged lot of our credibility in the society. Financially we were pushed to shambles. My legal practice suffered a setback. I was so mentally broke, that whenever I try to stand on my feet, excruciating pain makes the police brutalities fresh in my mind. Coupled with that, society’s disdainful attitude makes our life horrible. The incident has so deeply affected us that we are hesitant enough to take any initiative. In our matter, police terrorised so that we are not dare to raise any voice against them.

While talking to you, it seems to us that there are people with whom we can share our pain. We are happy that some people are there to lend their helping hand to us. Lawyers and doctors extended their support to us. We want to regain our social prestige. We want that whatever false charges police had framed against both of us should be withdrawn.

Now I am unable to walk and had to stop practicing in the Court. My wife working as a teacher in private school had to quit her job as she had to take care of me. I need immediate surgery but precarious financial condition impedes that. The risk of right leg being amputated looms large on me, if the operation is not done immediately.

INDIA: Food security is a key for preventing Tuberculosis in India

AHRC statement: INDIA: Food security is a key for preventing Tuberculosis in India.Please see link:

http://www.ahrchk.net/statements/mainfile.php/2009statements/1961/

Times of India published about report of PVCHR and AHRC.Please see link:

http://www.scribd.com/full/13627879?access_key=key-1q25977y4ucdwwp51ivf
TB

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Dr. Lenins' column on police reform

Dr. Lenins'column published in Hindustan Times on police reform.See the link:

http://www.scribd.com/doc/13656316/Polic-Reform

Polic Reform

Publish at Scribd or explore others: Academic Work Humanities ht pvchr human right

PMO intervens in Police Beating of Dalit Dharkar of Varanasi in India

PMO intervens in Police Beating of Dalit Dharkar of Varanasi in India.See the details of case:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2009/3106/

Letter

In context with PM Office

Uttar Pradesh Government
The office of Chief Secretary

No.: 1140/MS/PM/2009
Lucknow : date : 6th march, 2009


Sri Lenin Raghuvanshi
Convener
People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Right
SA- 4/2A, Daulatpur,
Varanasi-221002
Context of Prime minister office:10/03/2009-PMP1/23648, date 18.02.2009

Date of application: 29.01.2009



Your application annexed with abovementioned context of Prime Minister Office has been received in this office for necessary action.
This letter is forwarded, to the Secretary, Public Complaint Department, Utter Pradesh Secretriate, Lal Bahadur Shastri Bhawan, Lucknow for action as per rule. Kindly communicate for further necessary quarry.

(Signature)
Chandra Prakash
Private Secretary
Dharkar.basti

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Open letter to Election Commission of India in case of police firing on Muslim Minority

To
The Chief Election Commissioner
New Delhi

Subject: in relation to grant of compensation to the victim of communal rioting taken place at Bazardiha in Varanasi

Respected sir,
This is to bring in your kind notice that on 11th march, 2009 the Uttar Pradesh police had fired indiscriminately on mob which results in death of two young people and injury of eight people. Mohammad Moin Akhtar aged about 22 years son of Mr Mukhtar Ahamad resident of Galla Bazardiha under Bhelupura police station, and Khalikujjama aged about 19 years son of Mohammad Salim resident of Rajanagar Murgipatola under Bazardiha police station had been died in consequence of police firing. The police started firing without giving warning nor had it used tear gas to disrupt the mob. PVCHR had reported the case to India Today magazine, which can be seen on http://indiatoday.intoday.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=32039§ionid=4&issueid=96&Itemid=1In this regard the government declared compensations to the family of deceased and the injured people. This is declared under as an emergency assistance so it does provide extra benefits to the government nor does it give mileage to any party This does not belong to any political parties so it does not violate the code of ethics of election. The people who had been died and injured are mostly belong to weavers. The pathetic condition of weavers is known by all though various publication. Besides this they became the victim of communal rioting, taken place in Bajardiha. Though the family of deceased and injured people faces irreparable loss and they are living in trauma but the compensation granted to the families of deceased and injured people would provide some relief.

Name of Victim:
1. Mohammad Moin Akhtar (died) aged 22 years son of Mr Mukhtar Ahamad resident of Galla Bazardiha under Bhelupura police station,
2. Khalikujjama (died) aged 19 years son of Mohammad Salim resident of Rajanagar Murgipatola under Bazardiha police station
3. Abdul Rahman (Injured) aged 17 years son of Abdul Badd
4. Akbar Ali (Injured) aged 25 years son of Asagar Ali
5. Mohammad Asalam (injured) aged 25 years son of Shobarati
6. Gulzar Ahamad (Injured) aged 20 years son of Nasim Akhatar
7. Abdul Salaam(Injured) aged 20 years son of Dildar Ahamad.
8. Dildar (Injured) son of Sageer
9. Ansar Ahamad(Injured) son of Sharfuddin
10. Vaseem Ahamad (Injured) aged 24 years son of Riyaz Ahamad

Name of Perpetrators:
1. Shamsher Singh In-charge of Bazardiha police out-post
2. R.B. Singh Station House Officer of Bhelupur police station
3. Babu Lal local leader
4. Vijay Vishawakarma, local corporator
5. Other police men who involved in firing.

Facts of the case: the police started firing when the Muslim community people went to submit their complaint that some communal Hindu group were creating nuisance by throwing color over religious place of Muslim community. Shamsher Singh In-charge of Bazardiha police out-post had overlooked their complaint, which is masque near the Gausia Madarasa. This place is surrounded by Muslim inhabitant and it is very far from the Hindu locality At the same time both the community started to throw stone over each other. At the occasion police came and took favour of communal Hindu group and started firing over the mob. In consequence of this firing two young people had lost their life while eight people had been injured. The injured have been admitted in a Luxmi Medical and Surgical Centre, a private hospital in Varanasi. However some political person and intellectual class convinced the people of both the community so no communal rioting could take place.
However a Shanti Samiti ( Peace Committee) had been set up by the District administration comprising administration, police and hindu and muslim leader. Two day before the holi and barawafat when the meeting of the committee took place it was suspected that some communal people were trying to disturb the communal harmony at holi, but it was overlooked which resulted in this unfortunate event.
Actually the administration and the police system remained failing in dealing with this type of situation. From the last three year the efforts were being made to decolorize the holi festival by disturbing communal harmony and it is expected that this year those people would try to do the same, but no necessary precaution has been taken. From the last three years these people were organizing Matkafod (people are making pyramid and the top person breaks the clay pot which drench the entire people) near muslim populated area where more than ninety percent population are muslim. This ceremony was held in leadership of Babu Lal and Vijay Vishawakarma. It expresses their intention to disturb communal harmony, which is started from last 3-4 years.
400-500 unknown people had been accused for different sections of IPC, but Babu Lal and Vijay Vishawakarma have not been accused who are the real culprit. The administration is favoring itself by saying that when the police men had no option instead of firing then they opened fire at mob.
However the fact is that the people, who were dead or injured, were not the part of mob. The deceased Khalikujjama, had gone to play the cricket and became the prey of police bullet. Mohammad Asalam was returning from in-laws house, the police caught him beat and in last they open fire on his head. When the PVCHR team visited the place of occurrence the inhabitants of the place were showing them fired bullets, as one resident Mr. Shakil Ahamad was showing that bullet was entangled in his window. All of these exhibit how the police have acted indiscriminately.
Apart form that the police had forced the family member of Mohammad Moin Akhtar to buried his dead corpse at 3:00 am of 12th march, 2009 while the family members were requesting to bury it in day time as their culture prohibits to bury dead corpse in night.
On 14th march, 2009 it has been published in newspaper that Mukhtar Ahamad, the father of deceased Mohammad Moin Akhtar, lodged FIR against Shamsher Singh In-charge of Bazardiha police out-post, R.B. Singh Station House Officer of Bhelupur police station, Babu Lal local leader, Vijay Vishawakarma, local corporator, Sanjay Nath Tiwari Station House Officer of Sigra police station, Rajkumar and Mata Prasad under section 302, 307, 147,148, 149, 504, 506, 337, 295, of Indian Penal Code. The new Station House Officer of Bhelupur police station G S Sarana assured that the communal rioter would be arrested soon. It is outcome of amplification of the voice of survivors.

Request:
It is therefore most respectfully requested that kindly take the matter seriously and urgently and allow the government to provide appropriate compensation to the family of deceased and injured people so that they could be provided some relief.

Yours faithfully


Dr Lenin
(Convener)

Note:

Please write to in solidarity:
1.Chief Electoral Officer
Official Address 20-Bahukhandi Bhawan,First Floor
Uttar Pradesh Sachivalaya,Lucknow
Phone 0522-2238106
E-mail ceoup@up.nic.in
For any Election related query,please call our Helpline Number
Helpline Number 0522-2200674
2.Chief Election Commissioner,India
gopalaswamin@eci.gov.in