Flood In Assam And Bihar, Dozens Dead

July 17, 2019

As South India is facing drought like situation, heavy rains continue across the north- eastern parts of India worsening the flood situation, which has left millions of people displaced in Bihar, Assam and a few other north-eastern districts.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has declared a red color warning for action for Assam on Tuesday, as widespread and heavy rainfall is likely to continue over Assam during next 24 hours and decrease thereafter.

However, the forecast indicated that the rainfall activity over Bihar has decreased and is likely to decrease further during next two-three days.
As many as 24 people have lost lives in Bihar with over 12 districts facing a severe deluge. Large scale damage has been reported from Sheohar, East Champaran, Purnea, Darbhang and Kishanganj.

According to a Water Resources Department bulletin, five rivers -Baghmati, Kamla Balan, Lalbakeya, Adhwara and Mahananda are flowing above their respective danger levels at various places in the state due to incessant rainfall occurring in the catchment areas of the rivers in India as well as in their source regions in Nepal.

Most of the Rivers in Brahmaputra and Baraka Basin are flowing in severe flood situation in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sub-Himalayan West Bengal. Tributaries of Brahmaputra have started falling and the main river Brahmaputra is still rising from Guwahati to Dhubri, as per the latest report by Central Water Commission (CWC).

Over 26 teams of the National Disaster Response Force and the State Disaster Response Force along with 796 personnel have been deployed across Bihar for carrying out relief and rescue operations in the affected districts.

In Assam, flood waters have submerged 30 of the 33 districts of Assam, with over four million people affected as flood water submerged 30 of the 33 districts of the state. The road connectivity to various districts has also snapped due to flood waters.

The situation is likely to continue for another two-three days and then slowly recede as the rainfall activity reduces, stated CWC.

Courtesy: Counter Current

Muslim youth attacked in Tamil Nadu for consuming beef soup

July 17, 2019

Mob lynching that seemed to be occurring in Northern states of India has now crept in South India for the first time.

Mohammed Faizan, 24, posted a picture of himself having beef soup on his Face Book account some days back. His post invited vulgar comments and threats from members of Hindu Makkal Katchi which they deleted after some time.

Faizan thought that was the end of it but he was in for a rude shock when on 10^th July around 30 men from Hindu Makkal Katchi an outfit associated with right winged ideology, with their faces masked attacked him with rods and other weapons. They beat him up and stabbed him all over.

Had some policemen who happened to be walking from there not stopped the mob, he would have been dead.

Mobs going on a rampage lynching people from the Muslim and Dalit communities have been taking place ever since the BJP have formed their government. However in southern states such incidents have not taken place over the eating choice of individuals. This seems to be the first case in Tamil Nadu in Poravachery village of Nagapattinam District.

Police have arrested 4 persons who were involved in this attack and investigations are going on. The accused Dinesh Kumar, Ganesh Kumar, Mohan Kumar, and Agasthian have been charged for attempt to murder and other sections of IPC.

The family of Faizan has demanded action against the members of the Hindu Makkal Katchi members who tried to kill him. Several Muslim organisations including Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) and the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) have come out in support of Mohammed Faizan and begun protesting against this hate crime.

Courtesy: Two Circle

RSS in Textbooks: Contrasting Concepts of ‘Nation’ and ‘Nation Building’

July 17, 2019

Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University changes ‘Rise of Communalism in India’ with ‘History of RSS and its Role in Nation Building’ in B.A. History syllabus

Nationalism has become a matter of National debate yet again. Since the past few years, we have seen individuals being labeled as ‘Anti- National’ for criticizing the ruling Government. We have also witnessed the attack on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), on grounds of it being a breeding ground of Anti- Nationals. At the same time, those rooting for ‘Hindu nationalism’ have been presenting themselves as Nationalists. The shrewdness involved in this is that they have been attaching the prefix ‘Hindu’ to the word, Nation. It is this prefix, which shows that they, in no way, were part of the process of India becoming a nation. Indian Nation- building, has been a multi layered process. On one hand it was to oppose the colonial rule, while simultaneously, it was a journey towards democratic values.

This issue comes to the fore yet again, as Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University has brought in a damaging change in their second year Bachelor of Arts History (B.A. History) course. The former chapter in the book was on the Rise of Communalism in India. It has now been replaced with a chapter on, ‘History of RSS and its role in Nation building’. The university spokesperson put it,“Nationalist school of thoughts… is also part of the Indian history. Similarly, history of the Sangh is a part of the nationalist school. Hence, introduction to RSS was included in the course.” On the other hand the state Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant disputes this by saying, “Where would Nagpur University find reference of RSS & Nation Building? It is most divisive force which collaborated with British, opposed freedom movement, didn’t hoist Tricolor for 52 years- calling it inauspicious, wanted Manusmriti in lieu of the constitution, spreads hatred.”

What have been the components of India becoming a Nation? The earlier kingdoms were replaced by the colonial rule. The colonial phase was marked by the introduction of major economic and social changes. These changes related to transport (railways), communication (Post and Telegraph), modern education (Schools and Universities), free press and modern judicial system among others. With these changes, the social relations began to take place. The process of breaking of the ‘iron frame of caste structure’ also began. The subordinate status of women was challenged by the likes of Savitribai Phule as she started schools for the education of girls. The new class of Industrialists, modern businessmen and educated classes, came up in the society. The political expression of these processes got reflected in multiple streams.

The major expression of this political phenomenon was the formation of Indian National Congress (INC). The movements for breaking caste inequality were inspired by Joti Rao Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar. The aspirations of workers got expressed in the unions led by Narayan Meghaji Lokhande and Singarvelu. Revolutionaries like Bhagat Singh, stood against the colonial rule, with the dream of a socialist society. This process of nation building has two sides. One, was to express the social aspirations of these classes coming up in society; workers, women, educated classes, bureaucrats and industrialists in particular. The other, was the political expression; the struggle against British colonialists.

To oppose these socio-political changes, section of declining classes, the kings and landlords and their fellow travelers, threw up their organizations. These organizations had two aspects. One, to oppose the social changes related to caste and gender transformation and second, to harp on Nationalism in the name of Religion. They were the ones who were opposed to the anti-British national movement. These declining sections had religion as a prefix to their nationalism. Their aims were purely political. Their political agenda, was to preserve the birth based values of hierarchy, as manifested during feudal times.

Muslim League on one hand and Hindu Mahasabha- Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on the other, stood for Muslim and Hindu nationalism respectively. In case of Muslim League, Hindu Mahasabha, the religion is written on their sleeves, in case of RSS religion is the core part of their nationalism. Savarkar did work against the caste system in patches, however, these organizations were almost totally aloof from the social changes related to caste and gender transformation. As far as freedom movement is concerned; as organizations they were never a part of any anti- British movement. Individually, pre-Andaman Savarkar was anti British, but after his release, his was a changed man. Similarly Dr. K. B. Hedgewar, the founder of RSS, as an individual, did take part in the 1930 Civil disobedience movement, but with the goal of finding like-minded workers in jail. As far as RSS is concerned, the instructions were given by Golwalkar, to not disturb the peace of British.

During the Quit India Movement, the second Sarsanghchalak M.S. Golwalkar states, “In 1942 also there was a strong sentiment in the hearts of many. At that time too, routine work of Sangh continued. Sangh vowed not to do anything directly.” Defending his decision to keep aloof from the movement, he says, “We should remember that in our pledge we have talked of freedom of the country through defending religion and culture, there is no mention of departure of British from here.” (Shri Guruji Samagra Darshan, vol. IV, page 40) “

While Indian nationalism is inclusive and plural, as expressed in the Indian Constitution, RSS has been eulogizing the ancient laws, particularly those of the Manusmriti. Nationalism is not just about the state and it’s boundaries, it is about social relationships. In case of Indian nationalism, these values are Liberty, Equality and Fraternity. ‘Nationalism under the garb of religion’, regards these values of equality as Western, not suitable for this or that country. For example, the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt promotes feudal hierarchical values under the garb of Islam. It labels democratic values of equality and liberty as being Western. The RSS, similarly regards the Indian Constitution, as being Western.

With these types of changes in our educational syllabus, the attempt is to present the RSS as a part of Indian nation building. This lie conceals the fact that the RSS neither struggled against the British rule, nor struggled for the democratic values of equality. The efforts like change in syllabus, are attempts to give legitimacy to the RSS as an Indian nation builder, which they are not.

Courtesy: Indian Cultural Forum

Workers Demand Implementation of Safety Regulations in Delhi Factories

July 17, 2019

The national capital has witnessed several incidents of fire in the past few years.

The national capital has witnessed several incidents of fire in the past few years. The number of these incidents have only increased in the past year. Various trade unions’ activists and workers gathered today outside the house of Delhi Labour Minister Gopal Rai to demand the implementation of proper safety regulations in factories.

Courtesy: News Click

‘Clear undermining of health as government’s priority’: Jan Swasthya Abhiyan on Rajasthan’s budget

July 17, 2019

Ashok Gehlot-led Congress government’s maiden budget hasn’t received a positive response, with civil society groups expressing their disapproval of the budget. Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (JSA), Rajasthan chapter of People’s Health Movement have called the state’s health budget ‘Rhetoric Galore, Nothing New to Offer.’

In a press statement released on July 15, JSA stated that the state health budget announced by the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on July 10 didn’t have anything to offer in real terms. It stated that the overall allocation to medical, health and family welfare for this fiscal year of Rs. 13038.60 crores up from Rs. 12163.41 crores, which is equivalent to a rise by 7.2%, is negligible if inflation is taken into account. It stated, “In fact, if we do a deeper analysis taking inflation into account this rise can only be taken as a customary mount which is utterly negligible and would barely mean anything in terms of increase in per capita expenditure on health or its share in state’s GDP.”

Strikingly, there has been a reduction in the constitution of the medical, health and family welfare budget as a proportion of the entire budget when compared to the previous fiscal year. In the current fiscal year, the health budget constitutes 5.97% of the total budget while in the previous year it constituted 6.16%. This reduction is “really problematic and alarming.” Concerned over this reduction, the statement read, “This slash indicates a clear undermining of health as a priority of the government and a total denial of the very need for intensifying health budgets so as to strengthen an already severely undernourished public health care system.”

Further, the statement mentions that surprisingly there is no specific budget allocation for ‘Janta Clinics’, despite the CM announcing its plan to form such clinics, in line with the famed ‘Mohalla Clinics’ in Delhi. The statement read, “With no clarity about the budgetary provisions for its operationalisation, this announcement sounds more like a hollow promise than anything significant..” Also, to one’s surprise, there was not even a single mention or reference to the much-awaited Right to Health Act in the entire budget speech of the CM, despite it being one of the major promises made by the Congress in its 2018 state election manifesto. Notably, the Rajasthan unit of JSA had submitted a draft bill to the state government after which multiple consultations were held but there hasn’t been any progress in the legislative assembly on the same.

Further, there has been a slash in the expenditure on the state’s health insurance scheme, Bhamashah Swasthya Bima Yojana which was formulated by the previous BJP government. Unfortunately, only Rs. 631 crores have been allocated for this scheme which had an allocation of Rs. 1491 crores during the BJP rule in the state. This might be an indication that the state may soon merge the scheme with centre’s Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Bima Yojana (PMJAY) which would have centre and state contribution in 60:40 ratio. This merger was also hinted at by the Health Minister, Raghu Sharma, in one of his statements given to the media last month. The free medicines and free diagnostics schemes, both started by the Congress during its last tenure in power in the state, were expected to receive huge boosts this fiscal year. However, the budgets for both the schemes have almost remained the same. In fact, the estimated budget for free medicines scheme this year is slightly less as compared to previous year, with an allocation of Rs. 556.43 crores announced this year as opposed to Rs. 557.09 crores last year. The budget for free diagnostic scheme saw a slight increase from Rs. 185.39 crores announced last year to about Rs. 222.16 crores this fiscal. However, the increase is quite insignificant.

Disheartened by the Rajasthan government’s budget allocation for the health sector, the JSA press statement reads, “Overall, the health budget announced this fiscal is no different than the budgets previously announced and brings about nothing significant to look forward to in terms of health systems strengthening. The budget lacks focus and commitment, does not align with the promises made in the manifesto and yet again leaves public health sector starving for adequate resources.”

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Fresh demands regarding sample re-verification, attempt to derail NRC?

July 16, 2019

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) that is in the last leg of the update process in Assam and expected to be published by July 31, 2019 as per the Supreme Court’s directive, could get delayed… even derailed. On July 16, 2019, the petitioner in NRC monitoring case, the Central Govt and State Govt have filed Interlocutory Applications (IAs) making a range of prayers for re-verification of names of people included in the NRC.

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Image Courtesy: PTI

According to their application, there is a demand for sample re-verification of 20 percent of the names from districts bordering Bangladesh and 10 percent of the names from other districts. This sample re-verification will only serve to delay the publication of the NRC. It may be recalled that the Supreme Court had insisted on a time-bound update and directed that the NRC be published by July 31, 2019. However, one of the prayers in the application is expressly for an extension of the deadline for publication in view of the additional time required for re-verification.

Apart from concerns over delay, activists and civil society members also fear this last minute re-verification process could be misused in a bid to further the State’s divisive agenda. Already, there have been allegations of a communal colour being added to what has been a matter related to ethnicity and demography. Therefore, there are concerns that the NRC will not be updated in the original spirit of the Assam Accord.

The Supreme Court will now hold a hearing on the matter at 2 PM on July 17. The entire application may be read here.

Bombay HC hits the brakes on Coastal Road project, quashes CRZ clearance

July 16, 2019

The Bombay High court has set aside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the much hyped Coastal Road project that aims to connect Marine Drive in South Mumbai to the northern suburb of Kandivali.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice NM Jamdar was hearing a batch of petitions against the Rs 14,000 crore project that has drawn sharp criticism from activists, residents who live along the coast and the fishing community. The PILs were filed in response to the CRZ clearance granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) in May 2017. Petitioners objected to the construction of a proposed 10 kilometer long stretch from Marine Drive to Bandra, stating that it would cause damage to the coastline as well as marine life in the region.

A key aspect of the petition also dealt with fisher-folk who stand to lose their livelihoods if the project is allowed to go through. In fact the Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavasay Sahkari Society Ltd. and the Worli Machimmar Sarvodaya Sahakari Society, were two of the key petitioners against the coastal road. Other key petitioners include environmental activist Debi Goenka, the Bombay Environmental Action Group, the Conservation Action Trust, architect Shweta Wagh, Vanashakti, Society for Improvement, Greenery and Nature, etc.

The court studied, with a keen eye for detail, all submissions and went through the details of meetings conducted and other actions taken by the government to understand the real repercussions of the project. After this the court held that, “there is lack of proper scientific study and this has been overlooked by MCZMA, EIA and MoEF warranting the approval granted by MCZMA on 4th January 2017, the approval granted by EAC on 17th March 2017 and the final approval granted by MoEF on 11th May, 2017 are liable to be quashed and set aside.” The court ruled, “We quash the decision taken by MCZMA on 4th January 2017 and the approval granted by MoEF on 11th May 2017 on said ground alone.”

The court had reserved judgment on July 1 and it was delivered on July 16. The entire judgment may be read here.

Chharas of Gujarat : ‘Stealing’ the show

July 16, 2019

As we get closer to India’s 73rd Independence Day on 15th August this year, I realized that we have not yet achieved ‘Sampoorna Swaraj’ or complete and absolute independence. Independence for each and every citizen of the country is still a novel concept for many. Freedom to – live, laugh, speak, work and entertain is not yet a gift for all of us. The problem gets worse – some of our countrymen are not recognized as rightful citizens of our country. People call them ‘criminal’ tribesmen or ‘denotified tribes’ today – perhaps casting the shadow of British colonialism till date. Chhara is one of 190+ such unique communities in India, living primarily in Gujarat and some parts of Rajasthan. While countless number of articles today will talk about their plight, this article intends to shed some light on their successes, and what makes them unique in their very own way. It also talks about the now world-famous Budhan Theater, born out of Chharanagar.

This 15000+ people settlement in Chharanagar of Ahmedabad, Gujarat is one of the most closely-knit communities. Known to have served the British royalty back then by theatrical and dance performances, they were taught to brew country liquor out of fruits, jaggery and different vegetables. As years went by, they perfected the art, and today every household in Chharanagar knows how to make liquor of different flavors. Having been a nomadic tribe for long before settling down, most of this liquor was for personal consumption by adults in the family. Even today, they speak proudly of the subtlety and talent in their alcohol-brewing process. Inspite of Gujarat being a dry state, the Chhara liquor is famous and consumed by people in Ahmedabad in various quantities.

The community prides itself in having a high gender ratio, a high female literacy rate, and increasing acceptance in terms of love and inter-caste marriages. People are progressive towards adopting new vocations to earn their livelihood. Even though Chharanagar has a lot of widows, the women in the settlements are actively trying to uproot alcohol addiction towards their spouses and other male family members. Beset as they are with lack of civic amenities, atrocities by authorities and discrimination by the society at large, Chharanagar showed signs that the community has not given up.

Perhaps the most powerful weapon in their arsenal is their expression of art. Adding a softer dimension to their struggle, artistic expression by Chharas has been heard and seen by the world over. Driven partly by the exorbitantly demanding streams like science and commerce, Chhara students have actively taken up arts and humanities disciplines and plowed back to their cause. ‘Science makes products, art makes humans’, says Atish Indrekar, a Chhara community activist with graduation in Dramatic Arts and diploma in Mass Communication. The Budhan Theater, setup by Ganesh N. Devy as a theater for community development, has made strides in the direction of advocating their cause – “Born Actors, not Born Criminals”. The theater is located at the heart of Chharanagar in their ‘library’, a sight worth admiring in a place which lacks basic civic facilities. The theater derives its name from the first play on the police atrocities on Bhudan Sabar, an innocent ‘criminal’ tribal in West Bengal.

Today, they have 30+ plays some with over 300+ shows, and 3-4 award-winning, critically-acclaimed movies. Dakxin Bajrange, Budhan Theater’s creative head and a Ford Foundation fellow has directed a film called ‘Birth 1971’ – a movie showing the conditions of stigmatized, then criminal and today’s denotified tribes. Apart from garnering awards and recognitions, what makes the theater unique is its boldness in expression of social injustice issues. They believe in presenting hard facts and harsh realities while still being able to maintain a connect with the audience. The entire group, including actors, directors and playwrights are members of the Chhara community and produce shows in vernacular and common national languages.

Notably, they enjoy consistent support of NGOs like Bhasha, TISS etc. to spread awareness and drive their movement. Bhasha’s recent engagement with the Chhara community in curating an exhibition in Satya Art gallery at Ahmedabad was the only project in India to be selected to Communities Connecting Heritage project by Washington-based World Learning and sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. IIM Ahmedabad also has an elective course in collaboration with Budhan Theater to engage B-school students in participatory theater to develop social analysis and empathy skills.

At the core of all their problems sits a lack of leadership at the top, to lead from the front and uplift them from the lowest echelons of the society. 190+ tribes need to come together to move the legislation in their favor. States like Haryana and Gujarat have recognized Denotified and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs) and witnessed some success, but only a strong national unison can break the shackles of this social stigma from the core. Till then – a strong sense of communal unity, a resistance from youth and the strength of their expression of arts in the form of Budhan Theater will create awareness and develop empathy. Perhaps the legislation take its due course of time, but such deeply-rooted social stigma can only be dealt with a feeling of harmony and social acceptance and rejection of the second-class notion of Chharas.

As we celebrate the 73rd Independence Day next month with a feeling of pride in our hearts and heads held high, let’s also participate in what Chharas and other DNTs call their own Independence Day or Vimukt Divas on 31st August – the day in 1952 when the horrific Criminal Tribes Act of 1871 was repealed by the then Indian Parliament. It is also hoped that with destigmatization of such communities, we could be able to achieve the Sampoorna Swaraj our forefathers and freedom fighters wished and died for.

Gulshan D is a management student who wants to contribute to the cause of such marginalized communities in the Indian society.

Courtesy: Counter Current

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Flood In Assam And Bihar, Dozens Dead

As South India is facing drought like situation, heavy rains continue across the north- eastern parts of India worsening the flood situation, which has left millions of people displaced in Bihar, Assam and a few other north-eastern districts.

Muslim youth attacked in Tamil Nadu for consuming beef soup

Mob lynching that seemed to be occurring in Northern states of India has now crept in South India for the first time.

RSS in Textbooks: Contrasting Concepts of ‘Nation’ and ‘Nation Building’

Sant Tukdoji Maharaj Nagpur University changes ‘Rise of Communalism in India’ with ‘History of RSS and its Role in Nation Building’ in B.A. History syllabus

Workers Demand Implementation of Safety Regulations in Delhi Factories

The national capital has witnessed several incidents of fire in the past few years.

‘Clear undermining of health as government’s priority’: Jan Swasthya Abhiyan on Rajasthan’s budget

Fresh demands regarding sample re-verification, attempt to derail NRC?

Bombay HC hits the brakes on Coastal Road project, quashes CRZ clearance

The Bombay High court has set aside the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) clearance for the much hyped Coastal Road project that aims to connect Marine Drive in South Mumbai to the northern suburb of Kandivali.

Chharas of Gujarat : ‘Stealing’ the show

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