Naxals in Chhattisgarh interfering in the lives of tribals

Naxalites in Chhattisgarh are interfering in the day-to-day life of tribal forcing them to support the movement, indulge in human trafficking and enroll minors in their organisation, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has said.

The Commission said the right to life of tribal is being "practically enjoyed" only at the mercy of naxalites and anyone who tries to raise a voice against their "tyrannical" ways were "killed or maimed".

"The naxalites interfere in the day-to-day life of the tribal - in family matters, education, marriages, religious beliefs etc. They force tribal to give one boy or girl from each family to become 'sangham' member," it said.

These are among the findings of a three-member NHRC inquiry committee which investigated a complaint against Salwa Judum, an anti-naxal programme in Chhattisgarh.

It said naxals were "indulging" in human trafficking and forced labour by compelling villagers to send one young member from each family, either boy or girl, to become members of their organisational units called 'sangham' or 'dalam'.

"In addition, it is also well known that the naxals use minors in one of their oraganisations called Bal Sangham," the report said.

It said many villagers told the inquiry panel that naxalites always "discouraged" education beyond Class V and "forced" the villagers to send their children to 'Bal Sangham' besides destroying school buildings.

On the rights violation of Salwa Judum, the report said there have been instances where Salwa Judum activists, Special Police Officers and security forces have also been involved in excesses.

Source: The Times Of India

481 SC/ST candidates receive appointment orders as lecturer

Chennai: “We have been waiting for over 10 years for this moment,” said B. Vatsala, who received her appointment order as a government college lecturer from Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi here on Tuesday. “We will remember this,” she said, and folded her hands in gratitude.

As many as 481 candidates belonging to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes received similar appointment orders from Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy and Higher Education Secretary S. Ganesan at the University of Madras Senate Hall. Many had travelled long distances to reach in time to receive the order; and they did not seem to mind. Many parents, too, travelled to Chennai to see their children get the order.

Mr. Ponmudy explained that the backlog of vacancies of SC/ST lecturers had not been filled for over a decade. In addition to this, the earlier government banned recruitment, which led to more delays for all job seekers, especially those from the oppressed classes.

Mr. Ponmudy said that the recruitment was done in a transparent manner. Qualifications, such as a Ph. D carried weightage, which were publicised ahead, and marks were also awarded on the basis of experience.

The whole process of marking was transparent and anyone could calculate his/her marks.

After presenting appointment orders to a select few, Mr. Karunanidhi said that the government was committed to filling the backlog of vacancies of SC/STs and backward classes.

In the distant past, only about three persons from the oppressed classes from among a hundred had the benefit of education. Now, as many as 97 out of 100 had access to education.

They should utilise the opportunity available now, work hard and occupy high positions in academia and other frontier fields of knowledge.

Source: The Hindu

Kandhmal violence: Tribals to join peace talks

Chakapada (Kandhmal): After a month of relentless violence driven by ethnic and communal passions, the tribals of Kandhmal on Sunday decided to join the peace talks.

Separate talks will be held between the administration and representatives from Christian and Hindu Pana communities. Senior government functionaries have made arrangements for organising the maiden joint meeting involving tribal Kandhs, dalit Panas and Christians at Phulbani on Monday.

"I appeal all of you not to engage in any act of violence for at least a month so that the government can fulfil some of our demands. If rioting continues then the administration cannot settle forged caste certificate and land alienation issues," Lambodar Kanhar, secretary of Kui Samaj Samanwaya Samiti told a convention of tribals.

"However, if the government does not keep its promises then we will again give a call to all of you to fight for our rights. In such an eventuality, the agitation would be much more intense and nobody can stop us," he warned, as the audience of around 1,000 tribals cheered him. Christian representatives and Hindu Pana community leaders, meanwhile, ventilated their grievances and demands at a meeting chaired by SC, ST welfare secretary Taradutt.

The tribal meeting to discuss peace, the first since communal and ethnic strife hit the region in the aftermath of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati's murder on August 23, coincided with the spotting of the bodies of a couple in Badasalunki river at Bisipada village near here. The couple was killed at Sankarakhol on Thursday. Some tension between local women and CRPF personnel was also reported from Tikabali area.

Source: The Times Of India

The life of Benjamin Lakra

A professional writer, a social thinker, and the Accountant General of West Bengal


At the click of a mouse Benjamin Lakra can rattle off fiscal figures of the West Bengal government, which one may say, he is expected to, in any case, he being employed as an accountant general.

So, when one comes across books and articles credited to an author Benjamin Lakra, one can be forgiven for scratching one's head and wondering if the strong, satirical language dealing with burning issues of the day are by the same man busy compiling fiscal data. For, that's not very expected from a man dealing with fiscal figures. People often wonder if this is the same Benjamin Lakra about whom the young talk so enthusiastically and draw inspiration from. He is all this. And much more.

His life story is the story bollywood blockbusters are made of. There's simply no stopping him. Nothing ever did. For if a man didn't get disheartened even after having to work as a manual labourer after graduating from an institution like St Xavier's College, Ranchi, very little else can. And he proved it by continuously reaching new milestones in his career.

From his beginning in a middle class family in Jharain village of Simdega district to where he is now, it's a journey worth looking back with pride.

Coming to Patna after his graduation, he found the employment scene not so bright, even in mid 1970s. But not one to sit back and wait, he started with a job of loading sand on trucks and tractors at Pahalwanghat. Moving on to be a peon after a year, while holding on to hopes of better things. He kept up with his readings and writings, contributing articles to various leading periodicals, which was satisfying, but obviously not enough to make ends meet.

His hard work began to pay off and he became an assistant teacher in an English-medium school, which is today considered one of the best schools in the capital. After two years of dedicated teaching, he became the principal of the school. But he knew this was not the end of his destined journey.

Quitting the post, he became a clerk-cum-currency note examiner at RBI, Patna. In 1982 he was selected for the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS).

Today, after 25 years in the services, he stands as rooted to the grounds as he ever was, embracing all his achievements with a quiet humility, proud of the effort that has gone behind the carving out of his destiny, but not boastful of it.

He has held important positions in different parts of the country but remains one of the few senior officials who is accessible to people. But being accessible doesn't mean he doesn't know where to draw the line. Even off the record comments are hard to draw out of him, if he feels he ought not to.

But talk to him about contemporary literature, tribal affairs or challenges facing the youth, and he will pour his heart out. Ask him about this and he straightaway says: I am a munshi (accountant). Though I have updated accounts of everything, I cannot divulge information.

But that hardly matters. One has more interesting things to hear from him. With the kind of experiences he has picked up in his life, it's not surprising he has even penned an autobiography. True to his personality and interests, it's called Aye Yuva Tu Rota Kyun Hai? and hit the stands about 3 years ago.

It's not a soft, romantic rumblings of how he made it. It's very satirical and strong in its comments and confessions, which actually managed to stir quite a controversy in literary circles. This writer's honesty didn't even spare his father, which is evident from the title of the chapter dedicated to his father Abhaga ludhakta Patthar (unfortunate rolling stone).

His creative juices are far away from being dried up. Yuva Doston Ke Nam khusat Buddhe ki Chittiyan is his compilation of 12 well-researched articles. These articles give the youth valuable tips on personality development and character building.

It's a subject he has a sound grip on, his writings on youth and tribals published in leading journals already having been well appreciated by known anthropologists and social scientists.

A self-made man, Lakra doesn't even wait for publishers. He wants his ideas to reach the people, and to do which if he has to publish his works himself, he is willing to walk that extra step. He stocks and sells them from his house, too. For every problem, he has his solutions.

An active social worker, Lakra is also the president of Kurdeg Students Association. He was the secretary of RBI SC and ST Employees' Association and has been associated with various tribal and catholic organisations. He has addressed over a hundred social and religious gatherings in different parts of the country.

"Our youth needs proper guidance. I strongly feel that the youth today are emotionally challenged," he said. As if so many interests are not enough to juggle, Lakra is a keen gardener, too. And his wife Jacainta, who earlier worked as a translator with the Bihar government, says they hardly ever have to buy vegetables, rather, they even have enough to gift some away.

Having seen so many sides of him, Lakra is perfectly summed up by one of his probationers, who says Lakra is an inspiration for them, someone they can count on, always.

By Sudhir Kumar Mishra

Cut-off marks for STs in medical exam under SC scanner

The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the validity of the 40 per cent cut-off marks in entrance exam prescribed by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for Scheduled Tribe students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges.

A bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and P Sathasivam has sought a response from the MCI, Dental Council of India and the Kerala Government on the issue.

Though the issue has been raised by some aggrieved students of Kerala, a decision by the apex court is bound to have its bearing on the rest of the country.

According to the petitioners, on account of the 40 per cent cut-off marks, reserved seats meant for tribals either remained unfilled or were filled by Scheduled Caste students or general category candidates, thus, frustrating the very purpose of reserving seats for the tribals.

Quoting statistics, the petition claimed that ST students who secured 90 per cent marks in the qualifying examination, were ranked behind the 10,000 top rankers in the entrance exam rendering them ineligible for admission as they had failed to achieve the 40 per cent cut-off marks.

The petitioners submitted that in the present academic year only two out of 51 seats allotted for the ST students in the medical stream were filled due to the cut-off marks being fixed at 40 per cent.

The petitioners said unlike other students, they did not have the wherewithal to afford high tuition fees to compete in the entrance exams for achieving the 40 per cent cut-off marks.
Hence, they wanted reduction in the cut-off marks to enable them successfully compete in the entrance exams.