National Convention for Dalit Rights on Nov 27

The Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) is organising a National Convention on November 27 in New Delhi at Constitution Club Annexe. In a press meet organised in New Delhi on November 3, 2014, the Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM) has demanded the Central Government to call a Special Session of Parliament to discuss the issues concerning the dalits. They demanded a status report from the government on the number of Scheduled Castes employed in the private sector. The press meet was addressed by K Varadarajan and V Srinivas Rao. Those who were present at the press meet included

The Spectre of Social Counter-Revolution - II

THE fourth factor impinging on caste-contradictions in a neo-liberal economic regime arises from the tendency of this regime to get into crises and periods of prolonged stagnation. Growth under a neo-liberal regime depends essentially upon the formation of “bubbles” in asset prices. When such bubbles get formed, especially in the economy of the United States, which is the leading capitalist power in the world, the entire world capitalist system, and with it Indian capitalism as well, experiences high growth.

The Spectre of Social Counter-Revolution

The following is the text of the Ambedkar memorial lecture delivered by Prabhat Patnaik at the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies in September.

I WOULD like to use this occasion to dwell upon a point to which Dr Ambedkar had drawn attention in his closing speech to the Constituent Assembly on November 25, 1949.

NPRD Welcomes SC Verdict on Reservations for Disabled

THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD), in a statement issued on September 13, has welcomed the judgment of the Supreme Court setting at rest all hitherto misinterpretations of the three percent reservation provided to persons with disabilities as per the Persons with Disabilities Act, 1995. The Court has ruled that the three percent reservation applies not just to recruitment to all categories, but to departmental promotions as well.

Tripura Seminar Calls for Intensifying Struggle for Social Justice

THE Tripura Tapasili Jati Samanway Samiti organised a seminar, titled the ‘Relevance of Dalit Movement and Organisation in the Present Indian Politics’, at Agartala’s Nazrul Kalakshetra on August 7.

Hindutva, White Lies & the Mask of Development

FROM love jihad to the appropriation of the revolutionary freedom fighter Rajguru as a ‘dharma yoddha’, it is abundantly evident that the Modi government is more about aggressive reassertion of the Hindutva agenda and less about development, efficiency and accountability. The growing spate of communal riots and the recent campaigns of the Sangh Parivar show that the BJP and its government has created the legitimacy and space for dangerous political polarisation and discourse.

‘Clean India’: Is the Modi Govt Serious?

‘CLEAN India’, this is one of the slogans given by Prime Minister Modi in his much acclaimed speech on Independence Day. Modi announced that by 2019 all habitations will have safe drinking water and each school will have a toilet and all villages will have latrines for women. The basic infrastructure of 500 small towns will be upgraded. While the repeated announcement of a sanitation drive is always welcome, the launching of a total sanitation and Clean India Campaign is not unique to ‘Modi’s vision’.

The CAG Exposes the Plight Of the Urban Poor in Delhi

THE first set of reports by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) in 2014 have exposed the state and local government’s negligence towards the urban poor in the National Capital Region. Though the corporate media has largely highlighted the failures of the previous state government, it must be noted that the BJP run municipal corporations have also been indicted by the CAG.

Increase the Pension for the disabled: NPRD

RESPONDING to the call given by the National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) members owing allegiance to various affiliates of the NPRD held demonstrations in various parts of the country on July 23 focusing on the demand for enhancement in the pension (maintenance allowance) paid to persons with disabilities.

CPI(M) Leader writes to Finance Minister on SCSP

K Varadharajan, Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) has written to finance minister Arun Jaitley, on July 12 regarding the budget allocations for the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan. Below is the text of the letter.

THE Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) is a crucial initiative in closing the development gap between the Scheduled Castes and the others. One of the most important budgetary issues for Dalits is the allocations for the Sub-Plan.

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