[ A Round Table India report ]

Hyderabad, Aug, 07, 2011: The National Dalit Forum organized a screening of the 'Death of Merit' documentaries by the Insight Foundation, followed by a discussion on the suicides of Dalit students in institutions of higher education and on caste discrimination in campuses, today in the morning at Dr. Ambedkar Convention Centre, Samrat Complex, Hyderabad. Three documentaries, incorporating the testimonies of the parents, families etc of Bal Mukund Bharti of AIIIMS, Jaspreet Singh of Government Medical College, Chandigarh and Manish Kumar Guddolian of IIT-Roorkee were shown to a sizeable gathering which included many Dalit and human rights activists and students among others. [ Please watch the documentaries here ].

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As per statistics provided by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Ministry of Home Affairs, total number of cases relating to offences of atrocities against Scheduled Castes, registered by Police in the country during the calendar years 2007, 2008 & 2009, under the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, were 29,825, 33,367 and 33,426, respectively.

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INDIA: Democratic pretentions and administrative follies

-- Asian Human Rights Commission

Conclusion

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INDIA: Democratic pretentions and administrative follies

-- Asian Human Rights Commission

Extremists exploit democratic failures

In two separate incidents on 7 April 2010 and 17 May 2010, the Maoists operating in India killed 98 Central Reserve Police officers and 11 civilians in Chhattisgarh state. In at least one incident that resulted in the murder of civilians, the Maoists used an Improvised Explosive Device (IEV). Both attacks seriously injured several persons. It is reported that immediately after the explosion that killed 11 civilians on May 17, the Maoists fired indiscriminately at the injured and at those who tried to escape. The use of IEDs similar to landmines in circumstances as reported in Chingavaram is prohibited in international humanitarian law.52 The attack also violates Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, a law that applies to non?international armed conflicts and to extremist groups like the Maoists and Naxalites in India.

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INDIA: Democratic pretentions and administrative follies

-- Asian Human Rights Commission

 Purpose of the Bill and the definition of 'torture':

The Preamble of the Bill states that the purpose of the Bill is "... to provide punishment for torture inflicted by public servants or any persons inflicting torture with the consent or acquiescence of any public servant, and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto..." and "... whereas it is considered necessary to ratify the said Convention and to provide for more effective implementation..." of the United Nations Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CAT).

INDIA: Democratic pretentions and administrative follies

-- Asian Human Rights Commission

 Custodial violence and torture

On 23 May 2010, police officers, including a woman police constable tortured and abused a mother and her 12?year?old son in Rajouri Garden Police Outpost in Delhi. The officers forced Mala (name changed) to strip naked in front of her minor son who was detained at the station, and ordered her to have sex with him. Upon refusal, one of the police officers demanded Mala to have sex with him. Mala, a slum dweller from Delhi's Mayapuri area had gone to the police outpost with her husband to enquire as to why her two sons were detained at the police station.

INDIA: Democratic pretentions and administrative follies

-- Asian Human Rights Commission

Introduction

"It is true that too many children die from malnutrition each year in this country. Some of their parents also die from starvation and hunger. But the children are more vulnerable … one of the reasons is the widespread 'irregularity' in the state and central government services … the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh state is a very kind person … the Nutrition Rehabilitation Centres is not a solution for the millions of malnourished children. These centres are not cost effective. But now that the centres are there we must effectively use them. My suggestion is to appoint a Brahmin priest in each of these centres and require the priest to verify the horoscope of every child brought to the centre. After studying a child's horoscope if the priest is of the opinion that the child will grow into a good citizen of this country, it must be provided treatment at the centre. For the rest, I would say, let us just leave them to their fate … if not where do we stop? … We cannot spend government money like this…" (Statement and opinion of Justice Ms. Sheela Khanna, the Chairperson of Madhya Praesh State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, made to the AHRC staff members during a visit to the Commission in October 2010).

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