BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth

Published in:

Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007

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BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth

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Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been trumpeting the welfare of dalits, but in UP state of India where they are in power, one of their own Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) is allegedly shielding the murderers of a dalit youth.

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On the fateful morning of 1 August 2007, a dalit youth Chakrasen was brutally assaulted by two upper-caste men and murdered in Bhadevra village of Pratapgarh district, about 200 kilometres away from the state capital Lucknow.

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Ram Shiromani Shukla, local Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA, has been protecting the accused.
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On 30 September 2007, a fact-finding team went to this village in the morning, led by Magsaysay awardee (2002) and head of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Dr Sandeep Pandey, retired Inspector General of Police SR Darapuri, and Dynamic Action Group activists Gyan, Sujit and Ram Kumar to strengthen community's voices for justice.

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"Ironically this is yet another blot on BSP's claim to champion dalit's welfare in UP with BSP MLA and party workers shielding the alleged murderers of a talented dalit youth" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
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The deceased Chakrasen graduated from Allahabad University this year and had qualified for the State-level Engineering Entrance Examination.

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He came to the village a day before he was murdered, to meet his family before joining the Engineering College.

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On the ill-fated day of 1 August 2007, when he went out in the morning, Santosh Mishra and Akash Dubey allegedly started battering him. Chakrasen tried to escape to the nearby village Sudemau but Santosh and Akash followed him shouting 'thief'. In response to the false 'thief' alarm, some people from the Pasi community caught hold of Chakrasen. He was then tied up with a thick rope, beaten mercilessly, dragged, eyes were gouged with needles and beaten with rods and strangulated to death. Chakrasen's eyes held dreams of college and career. They didn't just kill him. They first punished him by smashing the eye that dared to dream of education.
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Santosh Mishra is a BSP party worker and close associate of Ram Shiromani Shukla, the local BSP MLA.

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On 11 August 2007, a fact-finding team of DAG members went to the said-villages, and met the members of the family as well as other villagers. Till then none of the assailants had been arrested.
.

Surprisingly the role of BSP MLA was not protective towards the dalit community but instead BSP MLA kept the murderers in his protection and had pressurized the local administration not to arrest them. Dalit family members too were being threatened by BSP members to keep silent.

.

The dreams to live with dignity fostered by dalits in the wake of the recent landslide victory for BSP in UP, are being thwarted by such unfortunate incidents.
.

Chakrasen's grandfather Shiv Murat was distributing ration and kerosene in the village. Santosh and Akash made illegal demands for ration and kerosene. Chakrasen reportedly didn't allow them to take more ration or kerosene than the allotted quota. "Santosh and Akash often used to fight with bhaiya for this," says his youngest brother Shaktisen. The family says they got even more upset when he got admission to the engineering college.

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One of the two accused, Santosh Mishra had threatened Shiv Murat by life. Shivmurat reported this death-threat to the local police 'thana' 10 months back but police did not pay any heed to it.
.

Role of police in this case has been very dubious. When Chakrasen was being beaten brutally, the village pradhan Rammani Vishwakarma tried to call the police three times but all calls fell on deaf ears. Although the murder took place at about 6am on 1 August, the police registered a first information report (FIR) only at 7pm of that evening, due to mounting pressure from outraged villagers. The police first lodged the report under Section 304 i.e. culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It was only two days later, that section 302 was added.

.

The police neither allowed the family of Chakrasen nor the villagers to go near the dead body. They took the dead body into their custody after reaching the spot. Panchnama was also not done. The family members of the deceased were called to the police station but the dead body was sent for post mortem before they could reach the police station.
.

The family members of Chakrasen allege that the local police is trying to shield the accused and deliberately trying to weaken the case. For instance, police named Matadin as one of the main accused, who had died four years ago!

.

The two main accused, Santosh and Akash, were arrested earlier on direct orders of Superintendent of Police, but later released on bail. After coming out on bail they had again beaten up the family members of Chakrasen.

.

Let's hope dalit voices for justice are held in the current corridors of power in UP assembly and justice meted out at the earliest!

.

Published in:

.
Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007

BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth

Published in:

Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007

.

BSP MLA shielding murderers of a dalit youth

.

Mayawati led Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has been trumpeting the welfare of dalits, but in UP state of India where they are in power, one of their own Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) is allegedly shielding the murderers of a dalit youth.

.

On the fateful morning of 1 August 2007, a dalit youth Chakrasen was brutally assaulted by two upper-caste men and murdered in Bhadevra village of Pratapgarh district, about 200 kilometres away from the state capital Lucknow.

.

Ram Shiromani Shukla, local Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA, has been protecting the accused.
.

On 30 September 2007, a fact-finding team went to this village in the morning, led by Magsaysay awardee (2002) and head of National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) Dr Sandeep Pandey, retired Inspector General of Police SR Darapuri, and Dynamic Action Group activists Gyan, Sujit and Ram Kumar to strengthen community's voices for justice.

.

"Ironically this is yet another blot on BSP's claim to champion dalit's welfare in UP with BSP MLA and party workers shielding the alleged murderers of a talented dalit youth" said Dr Sandeep Pandey.
.

The deceased Chakrasen graduated from Allahabad University this year and had qualified for the State-level Engineering Entrance Examination.

.

He came to the village a day before he was murdered, to meet his family before joining the Engineering College.

.

On the ill-fated day of 1 August 2007, when he went out in the morning, Santosh Mishra and Akash Dubey allegedly started battering him. Chakrasen tried to escape to the nearby village Sudemau but Santosh and Akash followed him shouting 'thief'. In response to the false 'thief' alarm, some people from the Pasi community caught hold of Chakrasen. He was then tied up with a thick rope, beaten mercilessly, dragged, eyes were gouged with needles and beaten with rods and strangulated to death. Chakrasen's eyes held dreams of college and career. They didn't just kill him. They first punished him by smashing the eye that dared to dream of education.
.

Santosh Mishra is a BSP party worker and close associate of Ram Shiromani Shukla, the local BSP MLA.

.

On 11 August 2007, a fact-finding team of DAG members went to the said-villages, and met the members of the family as well as other villagers. Till then none of the assailants had been arrested.
.

Surprisingly the role of BSP MLA was not protective towards the dalit community but instead BSP MLA kept the murderers in his protection and had pressurized the local administration not to arrest them. Dalit family members too were being threatened by BSP members to keep silent.

.

The dreams to live with dignity fostered by dalits in the wake of the recent landslide victory for BSP in UP, are being thwarted by such unfortunate incidents.
.

Chakrasen's grandfather Shiv Murat was distributing ration and kerosene in the village. Santosh and Akash made illegal demands for ration and kerosene. Chakrasen reportedly didn't allow them to take more ration or kerosene than the allotted quota. "Santosh and Akash often used to fight with bhaiya for this," says his youngest brother Shaktisen. The family says they got even more upset when he got admission to the engineering college.

.

One of the two accused, Santosh Mishra had threatened Shiv Murat by life. Shivmurat reported this death-threat to the local police 'thana' 10 months back but police did not pay any heed to it.
.

Role of police in this case has been very dubious. When Chakrasen was being beaten brutally, the village pradhan Rammani Vishwakarma tried to call the police three times but all calls fell on deaf ears. Although the murder took place at about 6am on 1 August, the police registered a first information report (FIR) only at 7pm of that evening, due to mounting pressure from outraged villagers. The police first lodged the report under Section 304 i.e. culpable homicide not amounting to murder. It was only two days later, that section 302 was added.

.

The police neither allowed the family of Chakrasen nor the villagers to go near the dead body. They took the dead body into their custody after reaching the spot. Panchnama was also not done. The family members of the deceased were called to the police station but the dead body was sent for post mortem before they could reach the police station.
.

The family members of Chakrasen allege that the local police is trying to shield the accused and deliberately trying to weaken the case. For instance, police named Matadin as one of the main accused, who had died four years ago!

.

The two main accused, Santosh and Akash, were arrested earlier on direct orders of Superintendent of Police, but later released on bail. After coming out on bail they had again beaten up the family members of Chakrasen.

.

Let's hope dalit voices for justice are held in the current corridors of power in UP assembly and justice meted out at the earliest!

.

Published in:

.
Asian Tribune (Thailand/ Sri Lanka), 1 October 2007

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 2 October 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Published in
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Mayawati govt in Uttar Pradesh has assured to expedite justice in Hashimpura case recently.

UP’s Principal Secretary (Home) Dr JN Chambers met a delegation in state capital Lucknow and expressed his grave concern at the slow progress of the Hashimpura case, with justice being denied for more than 20 years now.

Dr Chambers assured the delegation to replace the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Mr Surinder Adlakha, whose performance has been reported as ‘very unsatisfactory’. Earlier a petition demanding removal of SPP was submitted signed by senior Journalist and former members of Parliament Kuldip Nayyar and Surendra Mohan, Editor of Communalism Combat Teesta Setalvad, Director of Amnesty International in India Mukul Sharma, senior Journalists Nasiruddin Haider Khan and Shaira Naim, among others.

SPP Mr Adlakha was appointed by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Government in UP about 3 years ago. The families of more than 40 muslim people who were massacred in Hashimpura twenty years back, and 2 survivors allege that Mr Adlakha has failed to prosecute this case effectively and rigorously. In fact, on 31 July 2006, he was fined Rs 5000 for failure to appear in the court for hearing. On many occasions the presiding judge NP Kaushik had verbally remarked that the SPP was not sufficiently prepared with his brief and was not familiar with documents on the case file.

Dr Chambers further promised that UP government will make sure that justice is done and Hashimpura case is expedited. He also committed to ask Registrar General for expediting this case and look into the CB-CID investigation report. If there are no technical issues in this CB-CID report, then it will be made public, Dr Chambers gave an assurance.

UP Government is yet to respond to another petition demanding dismissal of 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men who have been accused for the Hashimpura massacre in which more than 40 muslim people died. Information received through RTI applications filed earlier, revealed that no departmental enquiry was ever conducted against the accused PAC men. A Delhi court has framed charges against all the accused PAC men for participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit mass murder and they are being prosecuted for the same in Delhi.

PAC men had allegedly gunned down over 40 people on 22 May 1987 (all muslim). The Hashimpura massacre occurred during the communal riots that broke out in Meerut in May 1987. Apparently, the immediate provocation was the Rajiv Gandhi-led Central government's decision to open the Babri Masjid for worship by Hindus.

The struggle of survivors and family members of those killed in Hashimpura massacre, has undoubtedly intensified over the past 20 years, despite of all disappointments and multi-prong attempts to wash-it off.

UP government has indeed given a ray of hope to those waiting for justice for more than two decades now.

Published in:
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Published in
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Mayawati govt to expedite justice in Hashimpura case

Mayawati govt in Uttar Pradesh has assured to expedite justice in Hashimpura case recently.

UP’s Principal Secretary (Home) Dr JN Chambers met a delegation in state capital Lucknow and expressed his grave concern at the slow progress of the Hashimpura case, with justice being denied for more than 20 years now.

Dr Chambers assured the delegation to replace the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) Mr Surinder Adlakha, whose performance has been reported as ‘very unsatisfactory’. Earlier a petition demanding removal of SPP was submitted signed by senior Journalist and former members of Parliament Kuldip Nayyar and Surendra Mohan, Editor of Communalism Combat Teesta Setalvad, Director of Amnesty International in India Mukul Sharma, senior Journalists Nasiruddin Haider Khan and Shaira Naim, among others.

SPP Mr Adlakha was appointed by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav’s Government in UP about 3 years ago. The families of more than 40 muslim people who were massacred in Hashimpura twenty years back, and 2 survivors allege that Mr Adlakha has failed to prosecute this case effectively and rigorously. In fact, on 31 July 2006, he was fined Rs 5000 for failure to appear in the court for hearing. On many occasions the presiding judge NP Kaushik had verbally remarked that the SPP was not sufficiently prepared with his brief and was not familiar with documents on the case file.

Dr Chambers further promised that UP government will make sure that justice is done and Hashimpura case is expedited. He also committed to ask Registrar General for expediting this case and look into the CB-CID investigation report. If there are no technical issues in this CB-CID report, then it will be made public, Dr Chambers gave an assurance.

UP Government is yet to respond to another petition demanding dismissal of 16 Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) men who have been accused for the Hashimpura massacre in which more than 40 muslim people died. Information received through RTI applications filed earlier, revealed that no departmental enquiry was ever conducted against the accused PAC men. A Delhi court has framed charges against all the accused PAC men for participating in a criminal conspiracy to commit mass murder and they are being prosecuted for the same in Delhi.

PAC men had allegedly gunned down over 40 people on 22 May 1987 (all muslim). The Hashimpura massacre occurred during the communal riots that broke out in Meerut in May 1987. Apparently, the immediate provocation was the Rajiv Gandhi-led Central government's decision to open the Babri Masjid for worship by Hindus.

The struggle of survivors and family members of those killed in Hashimpura massacre, has undoubtedly intensified over the past 20 years, despite of all disappointments and multi-prong attempts to wash-it off.

UP government has indeed given a ray of hope to those waiting for justice for more than two decades now.

Published in:
The Seoul Times (South Korea), 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 30 September 2007

Who has the right to Water?

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View Point: Who has the right to water?
28 September 2007

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government is contemplating to stop farmers from pumping any more water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from reportedly drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!

"Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions", said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.

A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.

The government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation. "Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation. It is also the question of who has the right to water - is it the local communities or private corporations?", asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar. Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. "Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources" commented Nandlal.

It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government's present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070928/2809307.htm

Who has the right to Water?

.
.

.

.

.

View Point: Who has the right to water?
28 September 2007

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government is contemplating to stop farmers from pumping any more water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from reportedly drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!

"Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions", said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.

A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.

The government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation. "Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation. It is also the question of who has the right to water - is it the local communities or private corporations?", asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar. Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. "Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources" commented Nandlal.

It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government's present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070928/2809307.htm

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija

Editor, Nagaland Page

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Published in:
Central Chronicle, India - 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea - 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand - 30 September 2007

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It is with bated breath and great expectations the entire world is looking at current events in Myanmar and Pakistan. And the expectations are for change and democracy in these two countries, close neighbours of India.

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Now, because Myanmar and Pakistan are close neighbours of India, the world’s largest democracy, and because Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent methods to overthrown undemocratic colonial regimes have inspired countries in all continents in the post-World war period, India today shoulders the great responsibility to hold higher the lamp of democracy in this region. For the past nine days Buddhist Monks of Myanmar have launched a quiet and non-violent protest asking the military junta of that country to restore democracy and eradicate poverty.

As the media reports, the general public has also joined the Monks, meanwhile President George Bush of USA has announced sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta. Several other countries have also pitched in, in support of the monks-led public protest and Australia has already stated that violence would be unacceptable. Indubitably ASEAN countries are also very vigilant about events in Myanmar, mainly because any violent crushing of the pro-democratic movement and continuance of the military junta in that country would now have greater repercussions across the region, much more than it did in 1988.

The repercussions would be probably perceived from economic perspectives, what with East Asian countries forging closer economic and cultural ties, a necessity in today’s globalized context but the most important issue here is the fundamental and human rights of the people of Myanmar. Once this is put in place, healthy economics would be a natural corollary --- this obviously must be seen from the perspective of the military junta in Myanmar having had appropriated complete control over the country’s political, social and economic activities, as also its natural resources for over four decades.

People of Myanmar have been totally alienated and marginalized from ownership of their own country and India should not ignore its legacy of democracy, which Gandhi bequeathed to Independent India, and abdicate the responsibility of providing leadership in the sub-continent by helping the people of Myanmar light the lamp of democracy in their countries. China reportedly has advised ‘restrain’ to Myanmar’s military junta ostensibly in China’s own interest.

Myanmar is China’s trading partner and in its pursuit to be the next Asian economic giant, it certainly doesn’t want its economic apple cart to be upset by events in Myanmar. And then there is the Olympics 2008 at Beijing for which China has invested heavily and not just financially.

Myanmar is also India’s supplier of gas and any move on its part to help usher in change and democracy in Myanmar would also upset a portion of India’s own economic interests. But as reports of deaths and injury of Myanmarese protesters flow in we must acknowledge that the time has come to look beyond economic interests and economic means and methods to help people across the globe live with dignity. In fact, not prioritizing economic interests and methods to light the lamp of democracy would enhance economic benefits.

In any case, economic sanctions have never overthrown dictatorial regimes and resorting to them is simply an eye-wash, which doesn’t wash any eyes. But this is definitely NOT a covert suggestion for any military option. Of all nations, India cannot sit and watch a dictatorial military regime violently crush the people of Myanmar; if we do so, we lose the moral ground to call ourselves a democracy.

So our help must be non-violent and democratic. Citizens of India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, have family and friends across the Myanmarese borders as much as the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab have family and friends in Pakistan. It would be in India’s interest to also focus on the close emotional and cultural ties its citizens have with both the countries. If there is a time to build borders, there is also the time to destroy borders, the kind that deny and deprive people of dignity and fundamental rights, dictatorship being the most iniquitous.

The people of Myanmar need us now --- should we abuse the freedom and the strength, which democracy has empowered us with, by ignoring the plight of our neighbours? Of all countries, India must now shoulder the responsibility, nay the moral obligation, to avert a human tragedy and a human crisis in the sub-continent. Doing so would strengthen India’s position as the tallest defender and deliverer of democracy.

.

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija

Editor, Nagaland Page
Email: tmchangkija@rediffmail.com
.
Published in:
Central Chronicle, India 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand 30 September 2007

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Light the Lamp of Democracy

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija

Editor, Nagaland Page

.

Published in:
Central Chronicle, India - 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea - 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand - 30 September 2007

.

.

It is with bated breath and great expectations the entire world is looking at current events in Myanmar and Pakistan. And the expectations are for change and democracy in these two countries, close neighbours of India.

.

.

Now, because Myanmar and Pakistan are close neighbours of India, the world’s largest democracy, and because Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent methods to overthrown undemocratic colonial regimes have inspired countries in all continents in the post-World war period, India today shoulders the great responsibility to hold higher the lamp of democracy in this region. For the past nine days Buddhist Monks of Myanmar have launched a quiet and non-violent protest asking the military junta of that country to restore democracy and eradicate poverty.

As the media reports, the general public has also joined the Monks, meanwhile President George Bush of USA has announced sanctions against Myanmar’s military junta. Several other countries have also pitched in, in support of the monks-led public protest and Australia has already stated that violence would be unacceptable. Indubitably ASEAN countries are also very vigilant about events in Myanmar, mainly because any violent crushing of the pro-democratic movement and continuance of the military junta in that country would now have greater repercussions across the region, much more than it did in 1988.

The repercussions would be probably perceived from economic perspectives, what with East Asian countries forging closer economic and cultural ties, a necessity in today’s globalized context but the most important issue here is the fundamental and human rights of the people of Myanmar. Once this is put in place, healthy economics would be a natural corollary --- this obviously must be seen from the perspective of the military junta in Myanmar having had appropriated complete control over the country’s political, social and economic activities, as also its natural resources for over four decades.

People of Myanmar have been totally alienated and marginalized from ownership of their own country and India should not ignore its legacy of democracy, which Gandhi bequeathed to Independent India, and abdicate the responsibility of providing leadership in the sub-continent by helping the people of Myanmar light the lamp of democracy in their countries. China reportedly has advised ‘restrain’ to Myanmar’s military junta ostensibly in China’s own interest.

Myanmar is China’s trading partner and in its pursuit to be the next Asian economic giant, it certainly doesn’t want its economic apple cart to be upset by events in Myanmar. And then there is the Olympics 2008 at Beijing for which China has invested heavily and not just financially.

Myanmar is also India’s supplier of gas and any move on its part to help usher in change and democracy in Myanmar would also upset a portion of India’s own economic interests. But as reports of deaths and injury of Myanmarese protesters flow in we must acknowledge that the time has come to look beyond economic interests and economic means and methods to help people across the globe live with dignity. In fact, not prioritizing economic interests and methods to light the lamp of democracy would enhance economic benefits.

In any case, economic sanctions have never overthrown dictatorial regimes and resorting to them is simply an eye-wash, which doesn’t wash any eyes. But this is definitely NOT a covert suggestion for any military option. Of all nations, India cannot sit and watch a dictatorial military regime violently crush the people of Myanmar; if we do so, we lose the moral ground to call ourselves a democracy.

So our help must be non-violent and democratic. Citizens of India, particularly in Manipur and Nagaland, have family and friends across the Myanmarese borders as much as the people of Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab have family and friends in Pakistan. It would be in India’s interest to also focus on the close emotional and cultural ties its citizens have with both the countries. If there is a time to build borders, there is also the time to destroy borders, the kind that deny and deprive people of dignity and fundamental rights, dictatorship being the most iniquitous.

The people of Myanmar need us now --- should we abuse the freedom and the strength, which democracy has empowered us with, by ignoring the plight of our neighbours? Of all countries, India must now shoulder the responsibility, nay the moral obligation, to avert a human tragedy and a human crisis in the sub-continent. Doing so would strengthen India’s position as the tallest defender and deliverer of democracy.

.

Tiamerenla Monalisa Changkija

Editor, Nagaland Page
Email: tmchangkija@rediffmail.com
.
Published in:
Central Chronicle, India 29 September 2007
The Seoul Times, South Korea 29 September 2007
Scoop Independent News, New Zealand 30 September 2007

HC reprimands State Govt

View Point: HC reprimands State Govt

Central Chronicle

Madhya Pradesh

27 September 2007

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the State Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the "Zameen Hak Satyagraha", demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation. "Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people" said frontline leader of NBA Medha Patkar.

"The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in MP" stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person. Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070927/2709303.htm

HC reprimands State Govt

View Point: HC reprimands State Govt

Central Chronicle

Madhya Pradesh

27 September 2007

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the State Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the "Zameen Hak Satyagraha", demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation. "Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people" said frontline leader of NBA Medha Patkar.

"The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in MP" stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person. Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley.

http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070927/2709303.htm

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the state Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the Court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of the Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the “Zameen Hak Satyagraha”, demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation.

“Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people” said frontline leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan Medha Patkar.

“The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in Madhya Pradesh” stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person.

Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley. The main demands include:

- Land-based rehabilitation for the dam-affected families. More than 2 lakhs people still remain in the submergence area

- Adivasis already affected at 122 meters of the dam, should be immediately given land-based rehabilitation

- Height of the Dam should be stayed at 122 meters and not built any further till rehabilitation work is completed

- Cancellation of Special Rehabilitation Package as it is grossly inadequate

- Action against officials involved in corruption while distributing land and cash

- Action against violation of law (NWDTA and SC orders), contempt of Court through false affidavits

It's obvious that in spite of Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP), land for 11,000 families, 90 resettlement sites, right to 5 acres of land for each major son of affected family, which SSP (Sardar Sarovar Project)-affected could seek through long struggle of past 22 years, much remains to be done and attained.

Published in:

27 September 2007: The Seoul Times (South Korea)

http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5696

28 September 2007: The Scoop Independent News (New Zealand)

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00505.htm

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

Court reprimands MP Government for arresting anti-dam protestors

The Jabalpur High Court reprimanded the Madhya Pradesh State Government on 25 September 2007, for illegally arresting and detaining 91 people in jail, who were peacefully demonstrating for their land rights at Taloon on 25 July 2007.

The court orders the state Government to pay Rs 10,000 to each of the above 91 people as compensation for violating their fundamental rights on the basis of Article 19 and 21 of the Indian Constitution. A total of Rs 9,10,000 should be paid to the anti-dam agitators.

The 25 page above order of the Court states that the State government may recover the total compensation from officials found responsible, after conducting a special enquiry, or pay the amount directly. The bench consisted of the Chief Justice AK Patnaik and Justice Ajit Singh.

Earlier on the evening of 25 July 2007, a huge police force came down on the adivasis, fishworkers and farmers who were peacefully agitating as part of the “Zameen Hak Satyagraha”, demanding land-for-land rehabilitation instead of cash compensation.

“Today's verdict is yet another victory for the Narmada Bachao Andolan and people's movements at large. The verdict affirms the rights of the affected people to agitate peacefully and assert their right to land and livelihood. The peaceful and legitimate agitation by the Sardar Sarovar Dam affected people of the Narmada valley, for right to life and livelihood, continues irrespective of efforts by the authorities to sabotage and suppress the movement of the people” said frontline leader of Narmada Bachao Andolan Medha Patkar.

“The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal Award, The Supreme Court orders, Constitutional rights of citizens, all stand violated as submergence without rehabilitation continue to happen in the valley, year after year. 22 years of persistent struggle by NBA has achieved much in terms of rehabilitation and without struggle, the remaining populations will not get their due, especially in Madhya Pradesh” stressed Arundhati Dhuru, another senior NBA activist.

MP Government had stated earlier that not enough appropriate land is available for land-to-land rehabilitation of every eligible displaced person.

Therefore the movement continues to gain ground with water level rising in the valley. The main demands include:

- Land-based rehabilitation for the dam-affected families. More than 2 lakhs people still remain in the submergence area

- Adivasis already affected at 122 meters of the dam, should be immediately given land-based rehabilitation

- Height of the Dam should be stayed at 122 meters and not built any further till rehabilitation work is completed

- Cancellation of Special Rehabilitation Package as it is grossly inadequate

- Action against officials involved in corruption while distributing land and cash

- Action against violation of law (NWDTA and SC orders), contempt of Court through false affidavits

It's obvious that in spite of Special Rehabilitation Package (SRP), land for 11,000 families, 90 resettlement sites, right to 5 acres of land for each major son of affected family, which SSP (Sardar Sarovar Project)-affected could seek through long struggle of past 22 years, much remains to be done and attained.

Published in:

27 September 2007: The Seoul Times (South Korea)

http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5696

28 September 2007: The Scoop Independent News (New Zealand)

http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00505.htm

Coke siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

COKE siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government might even ask farmers to stop pumping water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!

“Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions” said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.

A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.

“While local farmers are finding it difficult to access water with many hand-pumps running dry, and the government considering whether it should 'declare' the area as drought-striken (which might provide for some relief programmes), the Coca Cola plant at Rajatalab in Mehndiganj continues to pump hundreds of thousands of litres of water everyday. Their deep boring infrastructure and the drive for profit-making remains unaffected by the conditions of their neighbours” remarks Nandlal.

At the same time, the government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation.

“Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation but not stopping Coca Cola from taking out huge amounts of water for commercial purposes. It is also the question of who has the right to water – is it the local communities or private corporations?” asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar.

Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. “Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources” commented Nandlal.

It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government’s present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

Coke siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

COKE siphons groundwater while GoI may declare drought

The Government of Uttar Pradesh has been considering declaring drought in some parts of Varanasi. As a safeguard to protect declining groundwater levels, the government might even ask farmers to stop pumping water from their wells. Yet the Coca Cola bottling plant in Raja Talab, Mehndiganj village of Varanasi, has not been restricted from drawing lakhs of litres of water every day!

“Water levels in 9 out of 13 stations in Varanasi district have fallen below drought conditions” said a report from the Hydrology department of Government of India, released on 15 September 2007, in response to an application filed under the Right to Information Act by Nandlal Master, the leader of the Lok Samiti in Mehndiganj.

A recently released report from a regional hydrologist shows that the water-level conditions have actually gone worse. In 2006, 5 stations in Varanasi were reported to have drought or drought like conditions based on the water table. This year, 9 stations have reported such conditions in Varanasi.

“While local farmers are finding it difficult to access water with many hand-pumps running dry, and the government considering whether it should 'declare' the area as drought-striken (which might provide for some relief programmes), the Coca Cola plant at Rajatalab in Mehndiganj continues to pump hundreds of thousands of litres of water everyday. Their deep boring infrastructure and the drive for profit-making remains unaffected by the conditions of their neighbours” remarks Nandlal.

At the same time, the government feels that they need to act - and act by declaring that water from deeper levels cannot be pumped out for irrigation.

“Ironically UP Government is considering banning farmers from taking out water for irrigation but not stopping Coca Cola from taking out huge amounts of water for commercial purposes. It is also the question of who has the right to water – is it the local communities or private corporations?” asks a Varanasi-based social activist Vallabhacharya Pandey who represents Asha-Parivar.

Equity and rights, cultural and ethical issues are essential to be addressed when dealing with limited water resources. “Imbalances between availability and demand, the degradation of groundwater and surface water quality, inter-sectoral competition, interregional and international disputes, all centre around the question of how to cope with scarce water resources” commented Nandlal.

It is yet to be seen whether Government will also consider stopping Coca Cola bottling plant from taking out groundwater for commercial purposes apart from Government’s present move to consider stopping farmers from using groundwater for irrigation in these areas reporting water scarcity at alarming levels.

As natural rights, water rights are usufructuary rights (water can be used but not owned). People have a right to life and the resources that sustain it, such as water. The necessity of water to life is why, under customary laws, the right to water has been accepted as a natural, social fact.

That is why governments and corporations cannot alienate people of their water rights. Water rights come from nature and creation. They flow from the laws of nature, not from the rules of the market.

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

23 September 2007

At least three daily-wage workers died on the IIT-Kanpur campus recently--a fact that the premier institute's authorities tried to hush up. That is what social activist and Magsaysay award-winner Sandeep Pandey, national convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements, says.

All the deaths, he said, could have been avoided had the IIT provided better living conditions for the labourers on the campus.Activists alleged that IIT-Kanpur's director had banned staff and students from speaking to the media about the alleged deaths.

Pandey, who is also a former IIT faculty, said 12-year-old Rohit died on August 26 2006 after being bitten by a snake on the campus. Rohit was reportedly denied life-saving medical intervention at the institute's hospital. The activist said one Udayvir Yadav, 24, died of electric shock four days later.

Again the authorities allegedly tried hushing up the matter.Pandey said another person--Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years--died on 26 July 2007 due to snake bite. He alleged the IIT director tried his best to silence the news.Rustam worked at the core lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on the campus.

His body was allegedly sent out of the campus in a tractor and buried in a graveyard near a mosque in Naramau."Like the IIT director, some IIT professors, too, feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not concerned about the families of the dead or the working conditions of the workers. The insensitive attitude of the IIT community and the shoddy manner in which they dealt with such issues should be condemned," said Pandey, who won the Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002.

Activists now want the staff at the IIT medical centre to be punished for not delivering timely medical aid for Rahul. Besides, the deceased's kin must be immediately compensated, they demanded.

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

IIT-Kanpur hushed up three workers' death, says activist

23 September 2007

At least three daily-wage workers died on the IIT-Kanpur campus recently--a fact that the premier institute's authorities tried to hush up. That is what social activist and Magsaysay award-winner Sandeep Pandey, national convenor, National Alliance of People's Movements, says.

All the deaths, he said, could have been avoided had the IIT provided better living conditions for the labourers on the campus.Activists alleged that IIT-Kanpur's director had banned staff and students from speaking to the media about the alleged deaths.

Pandey, who is also a former IIT faculty, said 12-year-old Rohit died on August 26 2006 after being bitten by a snake on the campus. Rohit was reportedly denied life-saving medical intervention at the institute's hospital. The activist said one Udayvir Yadav, 24, died of electric shock four days later.

Again the authorities allegedly tried hushing up the matter.Pandey said another person--Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years--died on 26 July 2007 due to snake bite. He alleged the IIT director tried his best to silence the news.Rustam worked at the core lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on the campus.

His body was allegedly sent out of the campus in a tractor and buried in a graveyard near a mosque in Naramau."Like the IIT director, some IIT professors, too, feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not concerned about the families of the dead or the working conditions of the workers. The insensitive attitude of the IIT community and the shoddy manner in which they dealt with such issues should be condemned," said Pandey, who won the Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002.

Activists now want the staff at the IIT medical centre to be punished for not delivering timely medical aid for Rahul. Besides, the deceased's kin must be immediately compensated, they demanded.

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

News of three deaths at IIT campus confirmed

News of three deaths at IIT Kanpur confirmed

Rediff News: 23 September
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

Asian Tribune, 24 September
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7485

Central Chronicle, 24 September
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070924/2409303.htm

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm

The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007

http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5691

Despite of all attempts by IIT Kanpur administration to stifle news related to three unfortunate deaths that happened on the campus recently, the news finally got confirmed on Saturday 22 September.

IIT Kanpur (Indian Institute of Technology) is a globally acclaimed engineering institute.

Director of IIT Kanpur had imposed a blanket ban on everyone at IIT to prevent them from speaking to media about these alleged deaths on campus, but his attempts failed with the sad and gory news finally leaking out and a growing concern from human rights organizations and IIT alumni across the world.

The prestigious and world renowned Institute of IIT Kanpur, seems to have a practice of suppressing information about untimely deaths of daily wage workers on the campus.

All these three deaths were preventable – only if IIT administration had provided better living conditions for the daily-wage workers. Two of these deaths happened due to fatal snake/ scorpion bites and one because of electric shock owing to the dangerous wiring of a welding machine. Ironically IIT which is the launching pad for people to have access to world-class living conditions globally, provides such shameful treatment and unfortunate living conditions to daily-wage workers.

News of first death that came out recently was of 12 years old Rohit who was bitten by a snake/scorpion followed by refusal by IIT Medical Centre to treat him on the pretext that he was not an employee’s son. Being denied life-saving medical intervention, Rohit succumbed to the fatal bites on 26 August 2007.

Second death was of 24 years old Udayvir Yadav who died due to the electric shock he got from his own welding machine on 30 August 2007. IIT administration was reluctant to provide any information about Udayvir’s death, till the news became public knowledge and IIT administration began getting the heat.

There were continuous murmurs about a third death and IIT Director was fervently trying to block all information with an order on everyone at IIT to not to speak to media!

Now it is confirmed that Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years, died around 26 July 2007, due to snake/scorpion bite in the early hours like Rohit. He is survived by 3 sons and 3 daughters. He used to work at the Core Lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on IIT campus. His dead body was shipped out silently of the campus in a tractor trolley and buried in a graveyard near a Mosque in Naramau. The Mukhiya of this village was summoned and the matter was settled, till it was finally unearthed by others concerned much to their surprise and shock!

“Like IIT Director, some IIT professors too feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not so much concerned about the families of the dead or the poor working conditions of the daily-wage-workers who have made it possible for IITians to enjoy world class material facilities on the campus. The insensitive and cold attitude of IIT community to the deaths of daily wage workers and shoddy manner in which they are dealt must by strongly condemned” retorted an ex-IIT Kanpur faculty member Dr Sandeep Pandey, who also later won Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002 and is a senior frontline social activist in India today.

Interestingly, Dr Pandey, who was earlier an academician and joined IIT Kanpur faculty after completing Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in late 1980s, left IIT Kanpur to plunge in full-time development activism in 1991 when he was irked by the plight of daily-wage workers and their families and the criminal apathy of then IIT Director to their welfare. Old-timers at IIT Kanpur reminisce that Dr Pandey was so perturbed and frustrated with IIT administration’s apathy that he finally resorted to a fast lasting many days to draw attention of IIT administration to the cause. Although more than 15 years have passed by since then, IIT’s apathy to the welfare of people who work on-campus hasn’t changed. Dr Pandey after leaving IIT, established alternative education centres for the children of these daily-wage workers and have been involved in strengthening people’s rights movements across the country.

It shows IIT in very poor light so far its respect for human rights record is concerned.

It is also to be noted that the nexus of IIT administration and contractors first tried to summarily dispose of these three death cases so that neither becomes liable for these deaths.

The guilty at the Medical Centre, at least in the case of Rohit’s death, must be punished and dependents of deceased must be immediately compensated.

The IIT administration must put in place a transparent and verifiable system for ensuring due rights of the daily wage workers under the law of the land.

Health care for families of workers, education for their children and good quality housing (to prevent incidents like snake/scorpion bites) is the minimum basic responsibility of IIT if it is to live up to its reputation of a world class institution.

Published in:

Rediff News: 23 September
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

Asian Tribune, 24 September
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7485

Central Chronicle, 24 September
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070924/2409303.htm

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm

The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007
http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5691

News of three deaths at IIT campus confirmed

News of three deaths at IIT Kanpur confirmed

Rediff News: 23 September
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

Asian Tribune, 24 September
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7485

Central Chronicle, 24 September
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070924/2409303.htm

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm

The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007

http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5691

Despite of all attempts by IIT Kanpur administration to stifle news related to three unfortunate deaths that happened on the campus recently, the news finally got confirmed on Saturday 22 September.

IIT Kanpur (Indian Institute of Technology) is a globally acclaimed engineering institute.

Director of IIT Kanpur had imposed a blanket ban on everyone at IIT to prevent them from speaking to media about these alleged deaths on campus, but his attempts failed with the sad and gory news finally leaking out and a growing concern from human rights organizations and IIT alumni across the world.

The prestigious and world renowned Institute of IIT Kanpur, seems to have a practice of suppressing information about untimely deaths of daily wage workers on the campus.

All these three deaths were preventable – only if IIT administration had provided better living conditions for the daily-wage workers. Two of these deaths happened due to fatal snake/ scorpion bites and one because of electric shock owing to the dangerous wiring of a welding machine. Ironically IIT which is the launching pad for people to have access to world-class living conditions globally, provides such shameful treatment and unfortunate living conditions to daily-wage workers.

News of first death that came out recently was of 12 years old Rohit who was bitten by a snake/scorpion followed by refusal by IIT Medical Centre to treat him on the pretext that he was not an employee’s son. Being denied life-saving medical intervention, Rohit succumbed to the fatal bites on 26 August 2007.

Second death was of 24 years old Udayvir Yadav who died due to the electric shock he got from his own welding machine on 30 August 2007. IIT administration was reluctant to provide any information about Udayvir’s death, till the news became public knowledge and IIT administration began getting the heat.

There were continuous murmurs about a third death and IIT Director was fervently trying to block all information with an order on everyone at IIT to not to speak to media!

Now it is confirmed that Mohammad Rustam, resident of Malda, West Bengal, aged between 50-55 years, died around 26 July 2007, due to snake/scorpion bite in the early hours like Rohit. He is survived by 3 sons and 3 daughters. He used to work at the Core Lab construction site near Wind Tunnel and SIDBI Centre on IIT campus. His dead body was shipped out silently of the campus in a tractor trolley and buried in a graveyard near a Mosque in Naramau. The Mukhiya of this village was summoned and the matter was settled, till it was finally unearthed by others concerned much to their surprise and shock!

“Like IIT Director, some IIT professors too feel indignant that the stories of deaths have been revealed to the outside world. They are not so much concerned about the families of the dead or the poor working conditions of the daily-wage-workers who have made it possible for IITians to enjoy world class material facilities on the campus. The insensitive and cold attitude of IIT community to the deaths of daily wage workers and shoddy manner in which they are dealt must by strongly condemned” retorted an ex-IIT Kanpur faculty member Dr Sandeep Pandey, who also later won Magsaysay Award for emergent leadership in 2002 and is a senior frontline social activist in India today.

Interestingly, Dr Pandey, who was earlier an academician and joined IIT Kanpur faculty after completing Ph.D. from University of California, Berkeley in late 1980s, left IIT Kanpur to plunge in full-time development activism in 1991 when he was irked by the plight of daily-wage workers and their families and the criminal apathy of then IIT Director to their welfare. Old-timers at IIT Kanpur reminisce that Dr Pandey was so perturbed and frustrated with IIT administration’s apathy that he finally resorted to a fast lasting many days to draw attention of IIT administration to the cause. Although more than 15 years have passed by since then, IIT’s apathy to the welfare of people who work on-campus hasn’t changed. Dr Pandey after leaving IIT, established alternative education centres for the children of these daily-wage workers and have been involved in strengthening people’s rights movements across the country.

It shows IIT in very poor light so far its respect for human rights record is concerned.

It is also to be noted that the nexus of IIT administration and contractors first tried to summarily dispose of these three death cases so that neither becomes liable for these deaths.

The guilty at the Medical Centre, at least in the case of Rohit’s death, must be punished and dependents of deceased must be immediately compensated.

The IIT administration must put in place a transparent and verifiable system for ensuring due rights of the daily wage workers under the law of the land.

Health care for families of workers, education for their children and good quality housing (to prevent incidents like snake/scorpion bites) is the minimum basic responsibility of IIT if it is to live up to its reputation of a world class institution.

Published in:

Rediff News: 23 September
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/23iit.htm

Asian Tribune, 24 September
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7485

Central Chronicle, 24 September
http://www.centralchronicle.com/20070924/2409303.htm

Scoop Independent News (New Zealand), 24 September
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0709/S00443.htm

The Seoul Times (South Korea), 27 September 2007
http://www.theseoultimes.com/ST/db/read.php?idx=5691