Friday, February 26, 2010

India: Death threats, harassment and intimidation against human rights defender Mr Aftab Alam | Front Line

India: Death threats, harassment and intimidation against human rights defender Mr Aftab Alam | Front Line

INDIA: A "disturbing" spate of police violence against journalists



INDIA: A "disturbing" spate of police violence against journalists

Reporters Without Borders is extremely shocked and disturbed by a wave of police violence against journalists in Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. It has registered a total of 13 cases of abusive treatment and physical attacks by police against media personnel in February alone.

"Given that a police officer was recently suspended for hitting a Dalit woman in the state of Uttar Pradesh, it would be appropriate to punish police officers who treat journalists in a similar manner," Reporters Without Borders said. "Public opinion was shocked by the footage of this woman being beaten."

The press freedom organisation added: "We appeal to the federal government and authorities of the states concerned to investigate this unacceptable violence and to urge the security forces to act with more restraint. In Kashmir, in particular, it is no longer enough for those in charge of the police to promise investigations. The abuses must be punished."

Reporters Without Borders also urges the Uttar Pradesh police to quickly produce hard evidence to justify the continued detention of Seema and Vishwavijay Azad, the founders of the Hindi magazine Dastak Nai Samay Ki, who were arrested on 6 February on the basis of allegations that they belong to an outlawed Maoist movement.

"The state police can target anyone who raises their voice against the government," said Sandeep Pandey, a well-known social activist, who has criticised their detention. "I have been told that Seema had been writing against sand mafia and land mafia here," he added.

Kashmir Times photographer Imran Ali was injured by a tear-gas grenade fired by police during a demonstration on 22 February in Srinagar, the capital of the northwestern state of Jammu and Kashmir. S. Tariq, a cameraman with the television news station NDTV, and Umar Ganai, a photographer working for the PTI news agency and the Kashmir Monitor newspaper, were beaten during the same demonstration.

At least six journalists were beaten by members of an elite police unit known as the Greyhounds during pro-separatist demonstrations on the Osmania University campus in Hyderabad (in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh) on 14 and 15 February. The victims included Narsinga Rao of Andhra Jyothi TV, who was beaten with particular ferocity by members of the police unit, who also attacked and damaged press vehicles.

A local reporter for the Kannada TV station was beaten on 13 February by police in Mangalore (in the southwestern state of Karnataka) and was then held in a police station for two hours. Police Sub-Inspector Pramod denied that the reporter was beaten, claiming that he was detained for "rude behaviour" and was released as soon as his identity was established.

Pervez Majeed, the magazine Sahara's correspondent, was threatened and roughed up by a senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on 3 February in Srinagar after he told them he intended to write about a case of police violence against school children he had just witnessed. The officer insulted Majeed and then told his men to "teach him a lesson." Majeed reported the incident to the police chief Kuldeep Khuda, who promised an investigation.

In another recent case in Srinagar, a police officer opened fire on Amaan Farooq, a photographer with the Greater Kashmir daily newspaper, injuring him in the leg, as he was covering a police operation on 6 January. The police officer, Safdar Samoon, said Farooq refused to leave the scene of a clash with separatists. The Kashmir police chief ordered an investigation.

A Kashmir court ordered local TV stations not to broadcast "provocative" or "anti-government" video footage of major demonstrations that took place in the state on 5 February. Judge Meraj Ahmad ruled that such self-censorship was authorised by article 6 of the 2005 law governing the regulation of cable television.

In an encouraging development, the National Human Rights Commission ordered the Uttar Pradesh authorities on 9 February to pay compensation to Samiuddin Neelu, a journalist with the Hindi newspaper Amar Ujala, who was kidnapped and threatened by police officers in 2005 after writing about police corruption and abuse of authority. "This case is a stark example of not only total apathy but also outright antagonism towards a person, whose right to life was seriously endangered," the commission said.

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Monday, February 22, 2010

Child Participation of JMN

Child Participation of JMN

 

 

Conceptual understanding of JMN on child participation

JMN considers all children up to 18 years as children. In this feudal society, chief of family takes all decisions. This phenomenon is available either in patriarchal or matriarchal family. The structure of family and society is constituted on this premise. Although the democratic system of governance has been adopted in this country, but there is no room for participation of all persons equally. Regarding participation of children, all adults, families and above all society seem to be diffident. If we closely observe behaviors of children, we find that children fight among themselves and become united after some-time. However, this does not happen with adults. Adults make division in the society on the basis of caste, religion, class and gender and try to inject this division among children.

JMN considers children as an integral part of democracy; and their voices need to heard in all decision making process. However, JMN does not believe in creating anarchy in the name of democracy. In this context, JMN thinks that individuals including children make the society. So it is to be seen that some individuals do not take away rights or enjoy rights at the cost of rights all individuals. In the same vein, society as a whole does not deprive individuals.

JMN also does not like to form a parallel BAL panchayats as that panchayats. The organization considers that it is the duty of the government organs to oversee that local panchayats functions properly.

The organization feels that children should become aware and conscientious about their own rights. And this conscientisation process should not be imposed on them; rather it should grow out from them. So there is a need to have sustained dialogues with children to know their viewpoints about society and after knowing their viewpoints children should be engaged to dissect of their viewpoints. Such dissection will facilitate the process of building perspective among children about society. Activists should learn from children and should engage children for further learning. Then only programme of children should be designed and implemented.

The organization likes to ensure that children should be engaged in curriculum design, teaching and learning and evaluation of schools. The organization believes in creating an environment where every individual including child can equally and intelligently participate in learning and exchanging knowledge and ideas.

Right to participation

·         Children will take decision.

·         Children and adults will take decision jointly.

·         Opinions of children have been taken.

·         Children have taken decision, which have been prescribed or asked.

·         Children's voices are heard and children's perspectives are looked into.

Present position of child participation in JMN

JMN works in villages: Belwa, Shivrampur, Ayer, Sarairmohana, Kuwar, and Pindara. It also works in urban slums Baghawanala.

Who are members of BAL Panchayats?

Any child in the age group of 6-14 can become member of bal panchayats.

How are leaders and where does the work would be done?

All children will elect a coordinator and an assistant coordinator in a village. All coordinator and assistant coordinators will assemble together at the panchayat level to elect a coordinator and assistant coordinators.

What are the functions of bal panchayats ?

Bal Panchayats members will understand child related issues and will develop perspective on child related issues. Bal panchayat members will together in every month. They will organize and agitate against exploitation, violation of child rights through street plays, demonstration and gathering.

How does bal panchayas will ensure child participation?

Members of BAL Panchayat members will reach to all children and sensitise them about their rights. Members will work towards ensuring participation of all children in decision-making.

What would be the role of adults?

The role of the adults would be facilitator of blooming and ensuring participation of all children.

 

 



Right to Child Participation

Sunday, February 7, 2010

NHRC issues notice to UP Government on the alleged starvation deaths of children

 
 

 

NHRC issues notice to UP Government on the alleged starvation deaths of children

The National Human Rights Commission took cognizance of the alleged death of 18 tribal children in District Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh due to hunger in response to a petition sent by Dr. Lenin, Convenor of Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights. Dr. Lenin stated that 18 children between 3 -7 years died because of hunger in Naibasti, Rope Village, Tehsil Robertsganj, District Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh. He also alleged that the District Administration had not taken proper steps.
At a recent meeting, the Full Commission noted that if the allegations were true, the matter required urgent attention by the authorities as precious human rights of the tribals were alleged to have been violated. The Commission also noted that it presented a very distressing picture. Accordingly, it issued notice to the Chief Secretary, UP to examine the allegations and send a report to the Commission within six weeks.
Dr. Lenin also drew attention of the Commission to the restrictions imposed on the access of Ghasia tribals to forest produce, land alienation among tribals and harassment of tribals by forest officials. He also alleged that the tribals were forced to subsist on poisonous grasses and wild mushrooms. He also complained of lack of ration cards, support systems for pregnant women in the 43 villages adjoining the district of Varanasi in which a survey was conducted by the Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights.

Note: For further details kindly contact National Human Rights Commission, Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg, New Delhi, PIN 110001 Tel.No. 23382742 Fax No. 23384863 E-Mail: covdnhrc@nic.in, ionhrc@nic.in

Disclaimer: Neither NHRC nor NIC is responsible for any inadvertent error that may have crept in the Information being published on NET.

--
Dr. Lenin
Ashoka Fellow
2007 Gwanju Human Rights Awardee
Convenor-PVCHR
Mobile:+91-9935599333
 Please visit:  
http://www.universalrights.net/heroes/display.php3?id=101
www.pvchr.org
www.youtube.com/pvchrindia
www.pvchr.blogspot.com
www.sapf.blogspot.com
www.antiwto.blogspot.com
www.dalitwomen.blogspot.com
www.lenin-shruti.blogspot.com

My final words of advice to you are educate, agitate and organize; have faith in yourself. With justice on our side I do not see how we can loose our battle.. The battle to me is a matter of joy. The battle is in the fullest sense spiritual. There is nothing material or social in it. For ours is a battle not for wealth or for power. It is battle for freedom. It is the battle of reclamation of human personality….
Dr. B.R.Ambedkar
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality." (Desmond Tutu)

This message contains information which may be confidential and privileged. Unless you are the addressee or authorised to receive for the addressee, you may not use, copy or disclose to anyone the message or any information contained in the message. If you have received the message in error, please advise the sender by reply e-mail to pvchr.india@gmail.com and delete the message. Thank you.

National Human Rights Commission - New Delhi

National Human Rights Commission - New Delhi

Saturday, February 6, 2010

success story of Jan Mitra Rickshaw Sangh


Nizamuddin after plight of weaving industry turned as rickshaw driver. He took rickshaw on loan from Jan Mitra Rickshaw Sangh, an initiative of Jan Mitra Nyas with America India Foundation and Punjab National Bank. The rickshaw sangh is managed by the Capital Market for Marginalized (CMM),  a sister concern organization of Jan Mitra Nyas.

 After looking the tear –jerking condition of his family member, Jan Mitra Nyas exempted the remaining installment of rickshaw to improve his economic condition and prevent his family from hunger and malnourishment. Nizamuddin daughter Saniya suffering from Grade IV malnutrition was admitted in Jain Hospital for medical treatment with support from Swedish women Ms. Parul Sharma After continuous advocacy Nizamuddin received the house under Kanshi Ram Awas Yojana.

 Please see the given below URL: for the story broadcast by NDTV. http://www.ndtv.com/news/videos/video_player.php?id=1173492

 Till now 18 rickshaw driver became the owner of the rickshaw and 10 rickshaw driver are in pipeline of being owner of the rickshaw.