Struggle Committee for Annihilation of Caste Holds State Convention

THE first state convention of the Struggle Committee for the Annihilation of Caste (Jaati Anta Sangharsh Samiti) was held at Nagpur on January 25, 2014. The venue was named after Surekha Bhotmange and the hall after Priyanka Bhotmange, the mother and daughter duo who were raped and killed in the horrendous Khairlanji caste atrocity that took place in the adjoining Bhandara district in 2006. The convention was attended by 203 delegates from 25 districts of the state.

NCW must Ensure Speedy Justice: AIDWA

ON February 7, 2014, the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) submitted a memorandum to Ms Mamta Sharma, chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), at New Delhi. The aim was to bring to the notice of the NCW a recent incident of gangrape at Amta in Howrah district in West Bengal. In this case, a 27 years old housewife and her mother-in-law, aged 43 years, were brutally gangraped on February 4, 2014. They were admitted in the Ulberia hospital with severe injuries.

Poverty and Dispossession in Gujarat Model of Development

AS the BJP and its prime ministerial candidate intensify their aggressive election campaign, questions have begun to be raised about the inclusive character of the ‘Gujarat Model of Development.’ Modi has often asserted that his economics and model of development has benefited all. But this claim is based on a manipulation of data which hide the actually rising inequalities within the state. This is seen in the debate that has erupted on the poverty line within the state.

Tripura: DYFI Holds State Conference

The conference was held at Melaghar in Sonamura subdivision under Sepahijala district on February 9-11, 2014. The venue was named after renowned social worker and martyr Dabholkar of Maharashtra and the conference dais after legendary singer Manna Dey who recently expired.

WEST BENGAL: Mamata Banerjee Blatantly Defends the Culprit

Calling Anubrata by his nickname 'Kesto', Mamata Banerjee said that he is an efficient organiser, and some people are after him, but she would defend him to the end, she emphatically added.

“Post Bifurcation also People’s Struggles will Continue”

Speaking to reporters after the bill was passed on 18th February, the CPI(M) leader pointed out that the creation of separate state of Telangana has raised immense hopes among the people of that region while at the same time creating many apprehensions among people of Seemandhra region. The very same ruling classes that have failed to comprehensively develop the united state are set to rule in both the states. They would be implementing the same neo-liberal, World Bank-dictated policies. These policies will create new inequalities in both the states. People’s problems will not be solved.

On the Withdrawal of Wendy Doniger’s book

The following is the statement issued by eminent scholars, academicians, intellectuals on February 15 on the ban on Wendy Doniger’s book

VENEZUELA: With Bloodied Hands, Opposition Playing Dirty

THE OPPOSITION in Venezuela is once again back to its old game – organising violent clashes, creating chaos and thus preparing the atmosphere to destabilise the government. They are desperately trying to create a situation akin to 2002, where they could stage a coup against the Chavez government, however short-lived it may have been. Now that Chavez is no more, they dream that such a coup has more chances to succeed.

Will Caste Discrimination and Untouchability end by Economic Empowerment alone?

AT the outset, I want to make clear what I mean by economic empowerment. It means provision of land, housing, reservations in employment and political reservations etc. My contention is that without ending the social discrimination and untouchability, we cannot bridge the gap between dalits and non- dalits with any number of programmes for empowerment and providing equal opportunities, because, the pervasive presence of caste prejudice at every level of society, especially in villages, will always undo all the well-meaning initiatives of any institution including that of the government.

MID DAY MEAL WORKERS: Fighting for Rights – Relentless and Determined

THE Food Security Act 2013 has made provision of the midday meal in the school the right of every child upto class VIII or within the age group of fourteen years in the country. But the government mechanism to implement the law, India’s prestigious flagship programme ‘National Programme for Mid Day meals in Schools’, popularly known as the Mid Day Meal Scheme, is still in its primary stage with constraints of financial allocation, lack of infrastructure, inadequate monitoring and managing system and poorly paid workers.

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