About Us Contact Us
Home Blog Page 884

India ratifies, but doesn’t adopt UN Resolution on farmers’ rights?

By
-
0

Image Courtesy:allrights.co.in

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Areas was adopted in September 2018 by the UN Human Rights Council. India became a member of the Human Rights Council, a month later, in October 2018. When the Declaration was put for voting in the UN General Assembly in December 2018, India voted in favour thus ratifying it.

However, in the light of the three farm bills passed by the Parliament, it appears that India has acted in contravention to this Declaration whereby it had affirmed some important and pertinent farmers rights. 

The Declaration (UNDRPOWRA) recognises the contributions of peasants to development and to conserving and improving biodiversity, and raises concerns that farmers suffer disproportionately from poverty, hunger and malnutrition. It also raises alarm over the increasing number of farmers forcibly evicted or displaced every year and the increase in farmers suicides across the world. The Declaration also recognises that several factors make it difficult for peasants to make their voices heard, to defend their human rights.

India is, at present, in the midst of an agrarian crisis within which the controversial passage of laws perceived to be anti-farmer have caused anger and protest.

The Indian Parliament, in one of its most controversial sessions of late (Monsoon Session, 2020), has passed three bills that affect farmers and their rights, without giving the Opposition an opportunity to debate and discuss on the same. 

Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill, are three bills that are set to become laws as they have been passed by both houses of the Parliament where the ruling party, BJP, has a sizeable majority. Despite the massive uproar of the opposition, sustained attempts at dialogue and debate were turned away, democratic attempts to send the controversial laws to a Select Committee of Parliament, were denied. Flouting all rules and norms, the bills were pushed through. These actions have led to widespread farmers protests across the country while bringing in focus the question, do farmers have rights?

Farmers Rights Protected in the UNHRC Resolution

Article 2(3) of the Declaration (UNDRPOWRA) speaks about an inclusive process of decision making by engaging in a dialogues with farmers and their representative institutions to ensure informed participation and to ensure that the interests of farmers are better served. The Article 2(3) states as follows:

3. Without disregarding specific legislation on indigenous peoples, before adopting and implementing legislation and policies, international agreements and other decision-making processes that may affect the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas, States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with peasants and other people working in rural areas through their own representative institutions, engaging with and seeking the support of peasants and other people working in rural areas who could be affected by decisions before those decisions are made, and responding to their contributions, taking into consideration existing power imbalances between different parties and ensuring active, free, effective, meaningful and informed participation of individuals and groups in associated decision-making processes.

Article 2(5) of the Declaration speaks about ensuring that private enterprises and corporates act in a manner that does not impede upon the interest of farmers and rather strengthen their rights. It reads as follows:

5. States shall take all necessary measures to ensure that non-State actors that they are in a position to regulate, such as private individuals and organizations, and transnational corporations and other business enterprises, respect and strengthen the rights of peasants and other people working in rural areas.

Article 3 stresses upon ensuring that farmers enjoy all human rights including fundamental freedoms recognised in the Charter of the United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and all other international human rights instruments, free from any kind of discrimination in the exercise of their rights.

Article 3(2) speaks about farmers’ right to development as well as their right to determine strategies on how to achieve their right to development. It reads as follows:

2. Peasants and other people working in rural areas have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies to exercise their right to development.

Article 6 seeks to protect farmers from arbitrary arrest or detention, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 8 stresses upon farmers’ right to assert their rights and express them through peaceful means.

Article 10 outlines the farmers’ right to actively participate in formulating policies and laws that may affect their lives, land and livelihoods. Article 10 (2) reads as follows:

2. States shall promote the participation, directly and/or through their representative organizations, of peasants and other people working in rural areas in decision-making processes that may affect their lives, land and livelihoods; this includes respecting the establishment and growth of strong and independent organizations of peasants and other people working in rural areas and promoting their participation in the preparation and implementation of food safety, labour and environmental standards that may affect them.

Article 12 (1) elaborates on the farmers’ right to effective and non-discriminatory access to justice and reads as follows:

1. Peasants and other people working in rural areas have the right to effective and non-discriminatory access to justice, including access to fair procedures for the resolution of disputes and to effective remedies for all infringements of their human rights. Such decisions shall give due consideration to their customs, traditions, rules and legal systems in conformity with relevant obligations under international human rights law.

Article 16 (2) of the Declaration states that the States are obliged to take measures to favour peasants for selling their products in markets. It reads as follows:

2. States shall take appropriate measures to favour the access of peasants and other people working in rural areas to the means of transportation, and processing, drying and storage facilities necessary for selling their products on local, national and regional markets at prices that guarantee them a decent income and livelihood.

 

3. States shall take appropriate measures to strengthen and support local, national and regional markets in ways that facilitate, and ensure that peasants and other people working in rural areas have full and equitable access and participation in these markets to sell their products at prices that allow them and their families to attain an adequate standard of living.

Apart from the above-mentioned provisions, the Declaration also specifies rights of farmers against displacement, their right to seeds, right to further traditional knowledge, right to standards of physical and mental health, right to adequate housing, right to social security, right to protect and conserve the environment and so on.

These are now among the enumerated Rights that have become the International Standards for the Protection of Farmers Rights, to which India is not a signatory. Notably, all the rights mentioned enumerated by UNDRPOWRA in detail, are the ones that stand to be violated with the passage of three bills that have been hastily passed by the Parliament. The passage of these Bills through Parliament were not preceded by any democratic dialogue with Farmers or Farmer Organisations, violating their right to be heard and be involved in the making of a policy that affects their sustenance and livelihood.

The UN Declaration on the Rights of Peasants and Other People Working in Rural Area may be read here.

Related:

MSP for farmers: Exposing the lies of the Modi government
Live Updates on All India Protests against Farm Bills, 2020
Amendments to agricultural laws, dangerous for farmers: National Unions

Advocate-activist Babar Qadri shot dead by militants in Srinagar

By
-
0

Image Courtesy:economictimes.indiatimes.com

Jammu and Kashmir residents were shocked as news came in of an attack on advocate and activist Babar Qadri at his Hawal residence on Thursday evening. Advocate Qadri was shot at, from close range, allegedly by militants. The attackers, who could not be identified, fled the spot after opening fire on Qadri.

According to news reports advocate Qadri, a father of two young children, was rushed to the SKIMS hospital, however he was declared ‘dead on arrival’. Qadri, was a known face from the region and was often seen on television debates, and his sudden death has impacted the lawyer community, almost as much as it has his friends and family.

Qadri was active on social media, and just three days ago, he had tweeted a screenshot and urged the police in Jammu to register an FIR against a Facebook user for spreading a malafide and incorrect campaign against him. He wrote:  “I urge the state Police administration to register FIR against this Shah Nazir who has spread wrong campaign that I work for agencies. This untrue statement can lead to threat to my life.” 

 

Qadri’s last tweet, ironically illustrated the vulnerability of activists, lawyers and journalists in the Union Territory. Journalist posted a warm tribute to Qadri, “Having known him since he was a student of Law at Kashmir University, it was an association of about 15 years. Of course, many of our discussions ended in disagreements but there was a level of respect. As a person he was very warm and affectionate, always. He didn’t deserve to die. He didn’t deserve to be shot dead! Shocked and deeply saddened by your death” 

 

Others too posted condolence messages for Qadri, who was laid to rest on Thursday night. 

 

 

 

 

 

The advocate is the second political or social activist to be shot dead by militants in 24 hours. As reported earlier, Bhupinder Singh, a member of the block development council in Khag area of Budgam district, was shot dead allegedly  by militants at his ancestral village Dalwash on Wednesday night. 

The Jammu & Kashmir Reading Room (KRR), a collective of lawyers, doctors, academicians, researchers, activists and journalists – based across the world, had recently raised its voice against the harassment of journalists and lawyers in the Union Territory (UT). The KRR had released a report on the subject on August 5, 2020, a year  after J&K’s  bifurcation, and withdrawal of its special status enshrined under Article 370. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir, had over the year witnessed the targeting of scores of journalists, lawyers, activists, politicians have been regularly summoned for questioning at police stations, some have been booked under anti terror laws, some allege they may be under surveillance and yet others continue to be jailed or under house arrest, even now.  Many, especially political leaders and activists were also targeted by alleged militants.

The information blackout, that was near complete in the early days of the Kashmir lockdown, also had  an impact on the working journalists and lawyers, making their job an uphill task. Inadequate The KRR had also recorded that journalists and lawyers had been on the receiving end of extra-judicial actions, “ranging from assassinations, death threats, to intimidation.”  

Related: 

Kashmir journalist assaulted, harassed by Cyber Police, for article on cyberbullying  
Kashmir’s politics, social fabric, economy is battered, silenced, imprisoned: Anuradha Bhasin 
I got my award for my work, not for sitting at home: Masrat Zahra
A Pulitzer for Kashmir
Ladakh journalist arrested for third party’s comment against BJP MP on Facebook!
End harassment of Kashmiri journalists, lawyers: Kashmir Reading Room

Bombay HC quashes Tablighi Jamaat FIR;  says trial would be abuse of process of law

By
-
0

Tablighi jamaat

On September 21, the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court quashed FIR and chargesheet filed against 8 Myanmar nationals who were booked for being part of Tablighi Jamaat and its activities.

The application for quashing FIR was heard by a two judge bench comprising Justices VM Deshpande and Amit Borkar and the judgment was authored by Justice Borkar.

The Myanmar nationals landed in Kolkata on March 2 and continued their journey to Nagaur by train where they informed the nearby police station of their entire schedule and also submitted the Foreigner Regional Registration Office mandated form to the police station. After the Junta curfew was announced on March 22, they were moved to Markaz Center at Mominpura, Nagpur; the information of which was provided to the police. A doctor also visited the Markaz centre and the members were put in institutional quarantine where they underwent Covid-19 test for which they all tested negative. After a quite uneventful stay until then, on April 5, the applicants were informed that the F.I.R. has been registered against them under the provisions of the Foreigners Act, the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 and the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and were put under arrest.

The counsel appearing for the applicants, JH Aloni contended that the police were monitoring the activities of the applicants and therefore, there was no question of disobedience of the order issued under Section 144 of the CrPC. There was also no question of spreading infection as contemplated in Sections 269 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code since they all tested negative for the virus. Further, there are no restrictions on foreigners from attending religious gatherings in India under the conditions of Tourist Visa and therefore, there is no violation of Section 14 of the Foreigners Act.

The public prosecutor stated that, relying upon some witnesses it was clear that the applicants had engaged themselves in tabligh work and preaching religious ideology, making speeches in religious places.

The court’s observations

The court held that to prosecute a person for a contravention of section 14 of the Foreigners Act, it is necessary to show that the person has done any act in violation of the condition of the valid visa issued to him for his entry and stayed in India or any part thereunder. The chargesheet had alleged that the applicants had breached condition nos. 1.25 and 19.8 of the Visa Manual which deal with “Restriction on engaging in tabligh activities” and “Foreigners visiting for tabligh work”, respectively.

The court deduced from the witnesses’ statements that the applicants studied Quran and Hadis and offered Namaz and acquainted themselves with Indian Muslim culture. The court held that the prosecution did not produce any material “to prove that the applicants were engaged in tabligh work and they were involved in preaching religious ideology or making speeches in religious places.”

The court observed that under section 195 of CrPC a court cannot take cognizance of offence under section 188 of IPC except on the complaint in writing by a public servant. “In the present case, there is no complaint in writing by the public servant concerned or by some other public servant to whom he is administratively subordinate…Hence, registration of an F.I.R. for an offence under Section 188 of Indian Penal Code is not permitted in law at the instance of Police,” observed the court.

The court’s findings

“There is no material produced by the prosecution in the charge-sheet which even prima-facie proves contravention of condition no. 1.25 or 19.8 of the Visa Manual. On the contrary, from the statements of the witnesses mentioned in the charge-sheet, it is clear that the applicants are not conversant with local language and they studied the Quran and Hadis in their language,” held the court.

While considering the charges under section 269 and 270 of IPC which are concerned with spread of infectious disease, the court held, “There is no material on record to prove that applicants had indulged in any act which was likely to spread infection of Covid -19. Therefore, from the material produced in the charge-sheet, there is no evidence to substantiate the fulfillment of ingredients of Sections 269 and 270 of the Indian Penal Code.”

The court held that the police acted without jurisdiction by filing the FIR under section 188 of IPC on their own accord.

“we are of the opinion that allowing the prosecution to continue would be nothing but an abuse of the process of the Court in as much as there was an express legal bar against the institution of F.I.R. against an accused based on the police report,” held the court

While deciding that the FIR and the chargesheet against the 8 applicants be quashed, the court held that, “Compelling the applicants to undergo the trial would cause grave injustice.”

In August, the Aurangabad Bench of Bombay High Court had quashed the FIR against 29 foreign nationals and 6 Indians while also calling out blatant communalism and the way the entire incident was handled by the government, the police and the media. The judge, Justice TV Nalawade, even pointed towards the malic behind blaming the spread of Covid-19 upon Tablighi Jamaat calling it a propaganda against Muslims. It seems like a Pandora’s box is opening up as it is largely being observed that majority of Tablighi Jamaat members were only mechanically arrested and booked due to orders from their politician bosses without application of mind thus resulting in detention of hundreds of person belonging to Muslim faith from various countries, causing them mental trauma. Although, the Nagpur bench’s order does not comment on the way the police handled the matter or the trauma that the applicants must have gone through in the past 7 months, the quashing of the FIR is testimony to the fact the Tablighi members were merely incarcerated to fulfil some bigger agenda of hatred and communal divide.

The complete order may be read here.

Related:

Bom HC slams gov’t for malice in acting against Tablighi members; quashes 3 FIRs

How courts rescued the Tablighi Jamaat from further hatred

Tablighi Jamaat members attacked in Beed

CJP moves NBSA against India Today’s communal sting operation on Madrasas

Nation continues agitation against anti-people laws

By
-
0

farmers protest

Workers and farmers continued their agitation against the ‘anti-people’ laws of the Centre. Decrying the agriculture Bills and Labour Codes passed by the government, trade unions and organisations across India held protest on September 24.

Large groups were observed in various states. The Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) members amassed right from Himachal Pradesh to Tamil Nadu.

 

In Tamil Nadu, members were heard vehemently denouncing the Central government.

Hashtags such as #BJPModiMazdoorVirodhi #AntiWorkerLabourCodes #VidhanaSoudhachalo and #farmersprotestchallenge were trending during these protests.

Bangalore, which had already seen a huge protest on September 21 once again witnessed voices of dissent.

 

 

Other places such as Ooty and parts of Punjab also heard the voices of dissent.

 

 

Meanwhile in Haryana, CPI(M) MPs Kareem, K .K. Raghesh, Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya and AIKS Joint Secretary Vijoo Krishnan visited farmers protesting against 3 Bills in different districts of Haryana and expressed solidarity for the “Pratirodh Diwas” on September 25. Haryana Kisan Sabha President Phool Singh Sheokand and also accompanied the Haryana protesters.

Image1

Image2

Image3

Image4

Image5

The workers’ ire is trained against the three farmer Bills – the Farmers Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Bill, the Farmers (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Bill – and the three labour codes – the Industrial Relations Code, the Code on Social Security and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code.

According to Unions and workers these laws dilute the rights of farmers and workers and cater to the big-corporates of India. 

Even urban citizens have decried these laws and stood in solidarity with the farmers. Many have even called for a show of strength for the nation-wide protest on September 25.

 

 

Related:

Labour Codes Issues: Spelling out the ABCs

Amendments to agricultural laws, dangerous for farmers: National Unions

Voices of dissent course through the country

We stand in solidarity: Trade Unions oppose Centre’s anti-people laws

Clause 6 committee report to be examined by legal experts?

By
-
0

Assam

On September 20, 2020 a meeting was held at the residence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, where one of the key topics of discussion was the next steps to be taken with respect to the Clause 6 committee report.

Brief background

In February 2020, the Clause 6 Committee constituted by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had submitted a slew of recommendations pertaining to Constitutional, legislative and administrative safeguards for the interests and culture of Assamese people. The 14-member high-powered Committee had been constituted in July 2019 and had been given six months to submit its report, which it did just days before the deadline.

This Report of the Committee on Implementation of Clause 6 of the Assam Accord was however not made public at that time. Then, six months later, some members of the panel including Arunachal Pradesh Advocate General Nilay Dutta and three members of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) released the report independently.

As per the report, what is key to the Committee’s recommendations is a series of amendments to Article 371 B. The report says, “The Committee is of the opinion that to give full effect to its Recommendations, as stated hereinbelow, several Constitutional and legislative amendments will be necessitated. The existing Article 371-B in the Constitution of India will need to be amended.”

Fresh developments

The meeting on September 20, was attended by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, State minister and North Eastern Democratic Alliance (NEDA) convenor Himanta Biswa Sarma, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Joint Secretary (North-east) Satyendra Garg, and Assam Chief Secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, among others. They discussed the future course of action on implementation of the Clause 6 report, grant of Scheduled Tribe status to six communities, implementation of the Bodo Accord and the vital NRC issue, among others.

Speaking to media persons after the meeting, Himanta Biswa Sarma said that since the Clause 6 Committee Report has contents that may require legal amendments, the Union Home Minister has instructed the Chief Minister that the State government should have the report examined by legal experts and determine if there is any need for amendments, and then advise the Centre accordingly.

“The Home Minister does not want the report with legal defects which then may have to be sent back to the State. He wants that the committee’s report should be examined by Constitutional experts so as to ensure that there are no legal lacunae. In future, if the report is stalled because of legal lacunae a wrong signal will go to the people of Assam,” said Sarma.

However, here arises an interesting question. The Committee on implementation of Clause 6 of Assam Accord comprised legal experts like Biplab Kumar Sharma (former Judge, Gauhati High court), Ramesh Barpatragohain (Advocate General of Assam), Nilay Dutta (Advocate General of Arunachal Pradesh), Shantanu Bharali (Legal Advisor to the Chief Minister of Assam) among others.

If the recommendation of such esteemed legal experts requires another round of review, then what was the necessity for inclusion of such legal experts to the committee in the first place? It is alleged that this review is simply an eye wash to placate Bengali Hindus, the core support base of BJP as they have revolted against the report.

Responding to this, Dr Akhil Ranjan Dutta, Head of the Department, Political Science, Gauhati University, said, “For me the suggestion given by the Union Home Minister to Assam Chief Minister to get the Clause 6 Committee Report 2020 examined by legal experts is rather ironic.  The Report has been prepared by a Committee where there are two Advocate Generals of two state governments apart from a High Court Justice (Rtd.) as the Chairperson. Now, how do the legal experts nominated by the State Government examine it? Will it be examined by Constitutional experts? If it is by Constitutional Experts then it is a bit reasonable as they may bring in questions like how do reservations of various kinds up to 80% based on 1951 as the cut off year even for recruitment in the private sector conform to the very premises of universal citizenship.”

Dr Dutta added, “But, more important is the sustainability of the propositions in political and social terms? Will these propositions of reservation up to 80% in all representational bodies contribute towards social harmony and peace that propose to deprive the streams of citizens and their descendants of the period between 1951-71 from constitutional and other safeguards? I am raising these questions for debates and discussions. I am neither endorsing nor rejecting the proposals.”

 

Related:

Constitutional and legislative amendments needed to implement Clause 6 of Assam Accord: Committee

Is MHA distancing itself from Assam Clause 6 committee report?

Lynched, raped, left for dead: Dalits, women remain easy targets for criminals in UP 

By
-
0

dalits
Illustrations: https://www.newindianexpress.com/

While politicians, and activists across the political divide have begun to raise their voices to draw the attention of Uttar Pradesh chief minister to the growing instances of heinous crimes, the state government’s plan of action is yet to be known. Meanwhile, the most vulnerable continue to be victimised in the state. The most recent report is of an incident of sexual assault. This time the victim is a 19-year-old girl, who belonged to the Dalit community. She was reportedly allegedly gang-raped by four “upper-caste” men in Hathras district of Uttar Pradesh. 

The teenager is reported to be still admitted in a hospital, where she was in the ICU even several days after she was attacked on September 14. The accused tried to strangle and kill the girl after they raped her. According to news reports, she is stable now and Police recorded her statement on Tuesday The teenager told the police that she had gone to gather fodder for her animals, when the men sexually assaulted her.

According to reports two accused have been arrested, the police had acted on the complaint lodged by the survivor’s brother, and had earlier registered a case against a man, identified as Sandeep, for attempt to murder and under sections of the SC/ST Act, stated media reports. After recording the survivor’s statement on Tuesday, the police added charges of gang-rape to the FIR. The police have so far arrested two of the four accused and are attempting to nab others, according to a report by The Times of India.

Meanwhile Congress leader Shyoraj Jivan Valmiki met the survivor’s family on Wednesday and demanded that action be taken against the police for the delay in recording the survivor’s statement., Deepak Kumar, the vice president of the UP Congress Committee, alleged that the accused and the local police were threatening the family members of the survivor.

The media also also recorded another incident, where two unidentified men, wearing masks, barged into a 45-year-old woman’s house in Kanpur district’s Bidhnu area on Tuesday night and raped her. On hearing noise, the affected woman’s son woke up and the accused fled. Police have registered a case and efforts are on to establish the identities of the culprits, the SHO Pushpraj Singh said, adding that some people have been detained in this connection. 

On Wednesday,  Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad had alleged that violence, and atrocities against Dalits in Uttar Pradesh are on the rise. He also posted on social media highlighting two such criminal attacks on Dalit leaders in UP, and alleged that the criminals were fearless as if they had official “government protection”. Azad listed the the attack on Dalit leader Suresh Pracheta was allegedly shot at by miscreants, in Jaunpur. This follows closely after the assassination of Dalit leader Satyamev Jayate in Azamgarh, he stated. 

Azad has alleged that while the Dalit community is being targetted this way the states Adityanath-led government was busy hosting meeting to plan a ‘film city’. 

 

 

The Jaunpur police were quick to respond to Azad’s tweet about the attack and said the victim’s acquaintances stated that he was allegedly shot at in a temple compound, and the assailant was unidentified because he was wearing a helmet. However, according to police, a medical examination later revealed that it did “not look like a gunshot injury” but could be an injury caused after being hit by a blunt weapon. The police said the group did not immediately inform the police. 

To say ‘another shocking incident’ by now seems trite. This is perhaps the most inhuman crime reported. According to a newsreport in DNA, a Dalit farmer was beheaded in Uttar Pradesh because he refused to share water for irrigation with another farmer. The accused has been arrested by the police. The victim, 56-year-old farmer Nathu Lal Jatav was watering his field late on Monday, in Badaun’s Din Nagar Sheikhpur village, when he was asked by another farmer, Roop Kishore, to divert water to his field. When Jatav refused, he was attacked with a spade, and beheaded by the angry farmer, stated the news report. Superintendent of Police (SP) Siddharth Verma was quoted in the news report stating that an FIR has been lodged against Roop Kishore, who “has been booked for murder and under sections of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at the Bilsi police station. He was absconding, but we have tracked him down and arrested him. Further investigations are underway to find out if more people were involved.” 

The list of heinous crimes against Dalits, and women in Uttar Pradesh, the question on what the state government is doing to give justice, and prevent atrocities, however, still await answers.

 

Related: 

Men lynched by mobs, cab driver killed by passengers in UP

Kidnapping, rape, torture, murder; just another long weekend in Uttar Pradesh

UP’s Special Security Force Act: The good, the bad, the ugly

 

Media coverage on Covid-19, anti-CAA protests, prejudiced: Report

By
-
0

Wages of Hate

A report by Campaign Against Hate Speech titled “Wages of Hate: Journalism in Dark Times” finds that the reportage on the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the nationwide protests and demonstrations against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the National Population Register (NPR), has been deficient in journalistic ethics to say the least.

The report finds that the reporting is laden with prejudice and based on gender and religious stereotypes which vilify the ‘dissenter’ as well as the Muslim. It locates such coverage within the proliferation of corporate-run media outlets which have made newspapers and television news channels beholden to vested economic interests. 

The report has recorded the following recurring pattern in reportage:

1. Individuals are often defamed and subjected to demeaning stereotypes.

2. Reportage on such stories often include speculations without evidence, leading to wild conspiracy theories

3. Hate groups with recorded history are often given substantial space without any critical engagement.

4. Reportage included passionate calls for action, at the expense of the quest for truth.

5. The abandonment of truth is often accompanied by the promotion of mob justice and disregard of due process.

6. Fake news and half-truths are often covered

The report says, “The demonisation of Muslims in the case of the Tablighi Jamaat cluster was in continuation with the media’s characterisation of the anti-CAA protestors as anti-nationals. In both cases, the message from sections of the media was that these individuals and communities were not entitled to full constitutional rights.”

It adds, “During the anti-CAA protests, sections of print and televisual media had directed much energy to delegitimising the protests by terming them as either violent, a conspiracy, or a threat. Such concerted media coverage that utilised hate speech as arsenal gave ample encouragement for targeted violence against dissenters, including university students in Delhi.”

On the subject of the coverage of the Tablighi Jamaat matter, the report pulls no punches while holding reportage accountable for actual violence on the ground saying, “The vilification and persecution of the Tablighi Jamaat attendees during the pandemic resulted in numerous cases of boycott and physical violence against ordinary Muslims across the country.” It notes, “Firstly the reportage has demonized the Muslim community and rendered precarious their fundamental rights, secondly the reportage has gone on to advocate for the social and economic boycott and finally, reportage in some instances has taken a genocidal turn and called for the elimination of the Muslim community.”

The report takes a close look at the prevalence of hate speech in Kannada media and even delves into the historical background. The report observes that “while progressive voices in the 1970s and 1980s tended to focus on poverty and inequality, they could not respond to the growth of hate groups across the state. The groups organized people and made inroads into the media. Making use of the social power of upper-caste male voices in Kannada media, news began to present a more conservative outlook.”

It adds, “Since the early 2000s, there has been a proliferation of corporate-run media outlets which have made newspapers and television news channels beholden to vested economic interests. While there have been examples of independent news establishments, finance has been a constant struggle for those outside of corporate control. Over the past decade, state and political advertisements have become an important source of revenue, complicating the matter further. The reliance on advertisements, the disproportionate presence of conservative voices in the newsroom, and the organisation by hate groups created an ideal environment for hate politics, biasing the news in favour of political advertisers and against people who might raise a voice against it.”

The entire report may be read here: 

Campaign Against Hate Speech is a collective comprising lawyers, researchers, activists, students and professionals seeking to challenge and confront hate speech by sections of media, public personalities and on social media. It also works to ensure compliance by media companies to law and ethics regarding hate speech. The research team included Kishor Govinda, Swathi Shivanand, Manavi Atri, Poorna Ravishankar, Vishesh Guru, Rakesh Mehar and Apurva Nangia.

Conversations with SabrangIndia co-founder Teesta Setalvad, Shivsundar, Abdussalam Puthige, Suresh Bhat, Sunil Sirasangi helped shape key arguments in the report. Vinay Sreenivasa, Trimurti and Nouman Sadiq helped with contacts and work on hate speech by Clifton D’Rozario and Siddharth Narrain contributed to framing the report.

 

Related:

Time magazine calls Shaheen Bagh daadi global icon!

CJP moves NBSA against India Today’s communal sting operation on Madrasas

NBA suggests making code of ethics binding on news channels to strengthen regulation

SC restrains Sudarshan News from telecasting “UPSC Jihad” show, calls it ‘insidious’

Malnutrition reduced in India: WCD Ministry

By
-
0

Malnutrition reduced in India
Representation Image
 

In a bizarre revelation, the Minister of Women and Child Development claimed in a submission before the Indian Parliament on September 23 that the percentage of malnutrition in the country had reduced in recent years!

This was in response to a question raised by Member of Parliament Mohammad Jawed about the increasing number of malnourished children (including Bihar) in the last three years.

In reply, Union Minister Smriti Irani said that the National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-4 report of 2015-16 showed that 35.7 percent children under five years of age are underweight and 38.4 percent are stunted. Similarly, the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey (CNNS) report of 2016-18 showed that the prevalence of underweight and stunting among children is 33.4 percent and 34.7 percent respectively.

According to Irani this “indicates a reduction when compared to the levels reported by NFHS-4.” However, unlike the NFHS-4 report, the CNNS report does present data for Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Chandigarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli, Daman and Diu, Lakshadweep islands and Puducherry.

A brief comparison of the two reports also showed that the problem of stunting and underweight had improved over the years in Bihar, one of the states that have reported a serious problem of malnutrition. In 2015-16, the NFHS-4 showed that 48.3 percent children under five years in Bihar were stunted while 43.9 percent children under five years were underweight. In 2016-18, the CNNS report said that the percentages of stunted and underweight children under five years had reduced to 42 percent and 38.7 percent respectively.

Similarly, Madhya Pradesh that also faces the problem of malnutrition saw a general decline in stunted and underweight children as per Centre data. The NFHS stated that 42 percent children were stunted while 42.8 percent children were underweight. Later, the CNNS showed that 39.5 percent were stunted while 38.7 were underweight.

When asked about government measures to address the issue of malnutrition among children and the funds proposed for this purpose, the Irani said, “Under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, in order to address the issue of malnutrition, Rs. 20532.38 crores, Rs. 3700 crores, Rs. 2500 crores and Rs. 250 crores have been proposed for the year 2020-21 for implementation of Anganwadi Services, POSHAN Abhiyaan, Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) and Scheme for Adolescent Girls (SAG) respectively.”

She also said that under the anganwadi services of the Umbrella ICDS Scheme, children under six years of age are given supplementary nutrition such as take-home ration, morning snacks and hot cooked meals.

“The Supplementary Nutrition is provided to bridge the gap between the Recommended Dietary Allowances (RDA) and the Average Daily Intake (ADI) among this age group as per the nutritional standards specified under Schedule II of the Act. Severely malnourished children are provided additional nutrition in the form of food supplement providing 800 Kcal of energy and 20-25 g of protein. Further, for the management of malnourished children without medical complications at the community level, the Composite guidelines have been drafted by the Ministry based on the recommendations of the all stakeholders,” she said.

 

Related:

In Madhya Pradesh, eggs blur the line between religion and nutrition

Why India Is Likely To Miss Its Nutrition Targets For 2022

Feeding Mothers, Fighting Malnutrition: The East Godavari Experience

BJP States Most Resistant To Eggs In Mid-Day Meals, Cite Vegetarian Sentiments

1...883884885...2,697Page 884 of 2,697

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Join our mailing list to get the latest human rights news that matters, straight to your mailbox.

JOIN OUR MAILING LIST

Join our mailing list to get the latest human rights news that matters, straight to your mailbox.

Important Links

Other Links

CONNECT

Email: sabrangind@gmail.com

© Sabrang | All Rights Reserved