Social Issues

Inequality and the ‘Class Divide’ in ‘Dalit’ Politics

THE analysis below looks at the question of class formation in selected states which have historically been important for both dalit and Left politics. It analyses the trends in Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh (important centres of Ambedkarite politics), Tamilnadu (which has pioneering movements in radical dalit politics like Panthers) and West Bengal and Kerala (important centres of Left politics). Through such an analysis in an all India context an attempt is made to correlate the problem of disparities within the dalits with the trends in dalit and Left movements.

 

DSMM to Observe April 14 as ‘Social Justice Day’

THE Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, in a statement issued on April 11, has called upon the people to observe the 125th Birth Anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar on April 14 as ‘Social Justice Day’. Dr Ambedkar is a pioneer who strived relentlessly for achieving social justice in the country. On this occasion, the DSMM has demanded the government that it take up steps to ensure the eradication of untouchability, to ensure the protection and development of dalits and pave way for social justice, which were the dreams of Ambedkar and not just confine itself to merely praise him.

The Social Counter Revolution and JNU Crackdown

THE ‘undeclared emergency’ by the Modi government and the onslaught of Hindu Right against Jawaharlal Nehru University have brought into focus the challenge of how to intensify the ideological campaign that is being waged against a democratic and progressive idea of India. Liberal and democratic public opinion has correctly highlighted the authoritarian nature of the fascistic government and the attack by the BJP on the character and autonomy of central university.

AARM Leaders Write to Chhattisgarh CM Over Harassment of Lawyers

Below we reproduce the letter to Raman Singh, chief minister of Chhattisgarh written by Brinda Karat, former MP and vice-president of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, Jitendra Choudhury MP, treasurer and Bal Singh, central executive member of AARM on the harassment of lawyers in Bastar and the continued functioning of vigilante groups like 'Salwa Judum', in the state in violation of the Supreme Court Judgement. The letter was sent on February 19, 2016.

Adivasis to Intensify Struggle

THE call to intensify struggle and take initiative in building up joint struggles on common issues in the states emerged out in the recently held central executive committee (CEC) meeting of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch (AARM).

The organisation held its CEC meeting on February 10-11, 2016 in Delhi, attended by members from 13 states and representatives from the students, peasants and women’s organisations.

 

ATTACK ON

FOREST RIGHTS ACT

The Impact of Counter Insurgency Operations in Bastar

IN its judgment of July 5, 2011, the Supreme Court wrote that the “State of Chhattisgarh shall take all appropriate measures to prevent the operation of any group, including but not limited to Salwa Judum and Koya Commandos, that in any manner or form seek to take law into private hands, act unconstitutionally or otherwise violate the human rights of any person”. This landmark Salwa Judum judgment was to form the basis of all further anti-naxalite and Maoist activities in the state.

NPRD Opposes the term ‘Divyaang’ for the Disabled

THE National Platform for the Rights of the Disabled (NPRD) in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 22, 2016, noted that on December 27, 2015 during the course of his ‘Mann Ki Baat’, the prime minister had referred to persons with disabilities thus: “Those in whom Paramatma has created a deficiency in the body, those for whom some part of the body does not work properly, we call them ‘viklaang’…….……..‘Why don’t we, in our country, replace the word ‘viklaang’ with the word ‘divyaang’?’ These are those people who possess divinity – divyata – in one or more parts of th

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