CNS

Men against violence-4: Men engagement is the need of women's movement

Men against violence-4
Men engagement is the need of women's movement
This will add to women's movement
Nasiruddin Haider Khan

Read the first three parts of this article series by Nasiruddin Haider Khan, online at:
Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?
Men against violence-2: Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence
Men against violence-3: Violence strike at one's heart

DHAKA: Dhaka consultation on engaging men and boys for gender equality and violence prevention was on its last leg. I was going through lots of questions and dilemmas - ideological, political, and strategic. I am actively associated with many organizations working for women. Therefore, I think myself as a part of women's movement. The most important question for me was, is the women's movement ready for this engagement? Will the men, 'the culprit', hijack movement against violence? Will the movement derail from its goal for gender just society? I thought it prudent to ask women, who are part of the movement and not to the men who are trying to engage themselves with movement.

Madhubala Nath, associated with United Nations Fund for women (UNIFEM) based in Delhi, answered some of these apprehensions. And she starts with straight words, "only those will feel threatened to such important engagements whose understanding of gender is problematic. If the movement feels threatened then we have to reclaim the real meaning of gender relation that involves both men and women." She continues, "and this whole issue of men involvement has been settled many years ago. In Nairobi World Women Conference it was decided that work with men is very important and necessary."

Maria Rashid, co-director of Islamabad, Pakistan based organization ‘Rozan” said, "We are a women organization and we are working with men for the last ten years. And this need was felt by the women's movement itself."

She has a different perspective and says, "Women organisations saw men only as a problem. Now they have to see them as a solution too." Not only that, she said, men also have to see the violence against them in outside world to understand violence against women.

Dr. Rakshanda Parveen of SACHET from Islamabad, has different opinion, "I think there was not much done on this issue with women's movement. There is a need to create linkages. It should be." She said, "Yes, there will be little discomfort or opposition but we have to face it. Because engagement of both the streams is necessary for gender justice."

Whereas, an activist of Indian women's movement and Director of Madurai based organization Ekta, Bimla Chandrashekhar is more straightforward, "involvement of men is our need." What is the need, she explains, "When we go to the community, women say we do not have power to do anything. Why don't you talk to our men? Therefore, women have pushed us on this path." She elaborates a little, "With our experience and growth we (women's movement) only focused on violence against women. Now we say all issues are women issues. Women issues should be everyone's issues."

However Dr. Rakshanda points out, "we are not competing with women's movement and rights. No, not at all. I believe in gender harmony." She also cautions, yes there might be certain discomfort on the issue of allocation of resources.

Maria also has important point. She said, we have to be cautious. Otherwise, overemphasis on the male engagement will lead to disconnect with women's movement. We should watch carefully, there should be no competition. We have to keep both connected to the movement.

Madhubala talks about initiative, "We will certainly talk to women's movement to be part of this initiative. This will add to their work and enhance their work." She ensure women groups that they do not have reason to feel threatened at all.

Vimala underlines an important disclaimer, "Not all men are the same. Not all are violent. They have burden of masculinity. Society also expects them to behave in certain masculine way. Society expects a man to be violent and legitimize it. Society also puts burden on men to be a bread earner. This creates lot of pressure on them. This also has to be understood."

But will there be any positive outcome of all this initiatives... engagements...? Madhubala is quick to respond, UNIFEM has firm conviction that engagement with men and boys will give positive result in the direction of gender equality and violence prevention." She gives an example that in prevention of HIV infection it is very necessary to involve men to help women. Engagement with men will prevent them from risky behaviour.

Maria has worked with men. She shares her experience, "we work with police personnel and we observed remarkable change in their attitude and behaviour towards women. So engagement is effective."

(A slightly different version of this series had been published in Hindi daily Hindustan)

Read the first three parts of this article series by Nasiruddin Haider Khan, online at:
Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?
Men against violence-2: Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence
Men against violence-3: Violence strike at one's heart

Nasiruddin Haider Khan

[The author is a senior Hindi journalist based in Lucknow and a noted researcher on gender issues. His website is Gender Jihad (www.genderjihad.in) and he can be reached at nasiruddinhk@gmail.com ]

Men against violence-3: Violence strike at one's heart

Men against violence-3
Violence strike at one's heart
Nasiruddin Haider Khan

[ Read the first two parts of this article series by Nasiruddin Haider Khan, online at:
Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?
Men against violence-2: Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence ]

Dhaka: Why we talk so passionately about gender based violence? Why do we put so much energy on it? The big question is WHY? WHY?? WHY??? Answer lies on the impact of violence. Is not so?

Domestic violence has grave impact on lives of women and children. It affects their personality. What type of human being they will turn out to be is also determined by violence they face. Several researchers have been giving empirical evidences to the impact of violence. Gary Barker of International Centre for Research on Women (ICRW) has been part of such studies. Dhaka consultation gave me the opportunity to ask Gary categorically about the impact. He has given details, which I tried to summarize as follows-

Impact on Women-Boys- Girls
* Violence create fears among them
* Fear turns them to aggression
* Kids gets trouble in schools
* Capability of learning become less
* Concentration is affected
* Feeling of humiliation and shame
* One slap hurt more to 'heart and ego' than to body. This turns to violence. It means shame more than injury is the reason for chain of violence.
* If a woman or kid subject to repeated violence or living in environment of violence, their Fear Hormone increases. We can measure them in blood.
* Fear Hormone- Cortisol and Andrelin are two hormones also known as Fear Hormone. These are necessary hormone in the body to keep human being alert from eventualities or danger. Like attack of a Lion etc. However, what will happen if someone were on position of constantly alert all the time? They will breakdown. Mentally they will become unstable.

Impact on Girls

* Researches from Europe and America show that girls living in a violent home more likely to either accept violence a form of male behavior or something natural.
* Loss of self esteem
* Less likely to seek help
* Suffer from depression
* Stress
* Do not resist violence
* Become docile

Impact on Boys

* Whereas girls internalize violence in most of the cases, boys externalize it.
* Sees violence as natural and intrinsic part of masculinity
* External manifestation of violence is more visible.
* Aggression in attitude
* Manifestation of violent attitude towards others
* See violence as means of solution to smaller things
* Later on, On their relationship they use violence

And is there any impact on the perpetrator of violence? Yes!

* Often feeling of guilt
* Sometime feeling of shame
* Loss of self esteem
* Feeling of damage and harm to relationship
* There are some who feel satisfied after the act of violence
* Feeling of failure
* Psychological manifestation likely to grow that easily triggers violent attitude.
* Frustration on job
* Unwillingness to work
* Loss of job

Why we talk about the gender based violence, this story was started with this question. After jotting down the impact of violence on different persons, courtesy Gary barker, I do not think anybody is going to ask this question again. Am I right?

So, Men and Women show your courage, let us come forward to end this gender-based violence for better today and tomorrow, for better human being, for better and equitable society and home... for gender equality.

(A slightly different version of this series had been published in Hindi daily Hindustan)

[ Read the first two parts of this article series by Nasiruddin Haider Khan, online at:
Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?
Men against violence-2: Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence ]

Media should become the voice of People living with HIV

Media should become the voice of People living with HIV
Alka Pande

It was an occasion with a difference when people living with HIV, opened up their hearts to express their agony and frustration before the media persons. Both the 'affected' and the 'infected' pleaded the media to make their voices reach the policy makers and executors.

"Things will work faster and roadblocks will be removed if the media takes on the responsibility of becoming the voice of the positive networks", the hopeful statement came from Manoj Singh, the president of Banaras Network of People Living with HIV (BNP+).

Over 50 people, mostly children, who were affected or infected with HIV, had gathered at Varanasi Press Club for an informal interaction with the media persons. The unique initiative was the result of a joint effort of UNICEF and Media Nest (a body of media professionals). There were no cameras, no formal interviews and no restrictions, which resulted in children pouring out their hearts to scribes.

"My grandmother keeps mommy and me locked in one small room in our house. She does not let us out and does not allow others also to enter our room. She says we are suffering from some bad disease and will infect everyone who comes in our contact", said eight-year-old Sapna.

Sapna was not alone to have been facing discrimination and stigma, most of the children in the big hall of Press Club had similar stories to share. If Sapna was feeling discrimination at home, ten year old Devendra felt an outcast in his school. "My classmates mostly stay away from me. Some of them told me that their parents have given them strict instructions not to sit with me or eat with me because I have some dreadful disease which might infect all those who share their food with me or sit close to me."

Fearing the social boycott of their children a few of the mothers have not told anyone about their children’s status. "She does not know that she is Positive", says Kamla about her 12 year old daughter Divya. Then how does she take her medicines? "I tell her that this is for her good health and she has to eat that so that she does not fall ill", this is how Kamla manipulates her daughter to take the medicine.

If children face discrimination, their parents too remain at the receiving end, not only at home or at work but even at the medical service centre.

"The staff at the Anti Retro-viral Therapy (ART) centre, is often very rude and has no time to listen to our problems. They work mechanically, mostly due to rush as over 300 people come there every day", Manoj said.

Earlier, there were Drop-In centre to cope with the crowd of ART and Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) centres (VCTC). When a person comes for test and is told that he/she is positive, his/her whole world crumbles down. The news comes as shock and what the person can see is only a dead-end. In such situations the Drop-In centres used to be a big help. Besides, the centres served as ideal resting and relaxing places for people coming from far-flung places. An interaction with people having similar problems relieved many while giving support. But the government has closed down these centres without any reason.

Even the existing facilities sometimes don’t reach the positive people. The Disposable Delivery Kits are often not available risking many new lives. "If I had known that I am HIV Positive I would have never given birth to this child", says Mamta, the mother of a five-year-old.

It is an alarming situation as India has an estimated 200,000 children infected with the virus, of which over 50,000 are born to HIV infected mothers, every year. Although the latest National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) guidelines state that every woman expecting a child should undergo HIV test, the number of institutional deliveries is far more less in comparison to deliveries at home, this is true especially in a backward state like Uttar Pradesh.

The UNICEF Communication Expert Augustine Veliath mooted formation of a 'media support group for positive people'. The group should have regular interactions with the Positive Network People to listen to their woes and try taking it forward to officials concerned, besides raising their issues through some sensitive writing.

"We must build up a safety net of support around this very vulnerable group of people," Augustine exhorted the media to come forward and support the positive network with an ongoing and regular relationship. "We want to create journalists who are interested in the rights of children."

Speaking on the occasion senior journalist and secretary general of Media Nest, Kulsum Talha said that a journalist is a true social worker who uses his pen to raise issues related to every section of the society. "Media Nest provides a platform to journalists for fulfilling their responsibility towards the society and also acts as capacity–builder for journalists by helping them do their work better."

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

Law turns lawless in Uttar Pradesh

Law turns lawless in Uttar Pradesh
Anjali Singh

Lucknow: Is the state of UP ready to accept the fact that there is a problem with Uttar Pradesh Police Force? Or are they comfortable condoning the acts of brutality that are becoming a frequent occurrence now. The khaki brigade is running rampant and nothing seems to be done to reign them in either.

With another custodial death taking place in Hanspura Police station in Kanpur of a labourer Jung Bahadur Singh, the incident brings home the point of how uncontrolled the law enforcers are now in state of UP. Their tyrannical attitude is more than evident in cases like the one of a small time labourer who was thrashed to death for a crime as petty as some bricks being stolen by his two minor sons.

In a serious violation of human rights the incident comes close at heels of the UP Police implicating five innocent people for torching the house of UP congress Chief Rita Bhaguna Joshi.

While not a single accused the police claim to have arrested from the spot of the crime are in any way related to the crime, there seems to be no one ready to take action against the false arrests. Though the UP Congress Chief has been openly condemning the arrests, she has demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue.

As per Akhilesh Singh, Spokesperson UP Congress, “She has also filed a petition in the High Court against the unlawful arrests and from August 1 we will start a jail bharo andolan if our demand for a genuine high level CBI inquiry is not granted. We have personally visited the family of the arrested and have given them our word that innocent people will not be allowed to be made scapegoats in a government sponsored crime. The police is obviously involved in the arson as well which will come to light only when a CBI inquiry is conducted.”

A fact which is also corroborated by SR Darapuri, IPS (retd) and former Inspector General (IG) police and Vice President, Public Union For Civil Liberties (PUCL), UP, a human rights organization that has constituted a 5 member team to investigate the five arrests made, “The investigating team has began preparing the report. Based on our findings and I can confidently say that the arrests made are false. Innocent people have been implicated and charged with arson which can get them life imprisonment if convicted. Though the CB CID has interrogated those accused, it very obvious that they are innocent. The police have picked these five just to show that they are prompt in their action as it’s the matter of a politician from the ruling party. Infact there were no spot arrests made three people Inder Kumar, Shiv Kumar and Guddu Yadav all relatives and residents of Neel Matha, Lucknow Cantt were booked at the Sadr Cantt police station. They were brought there after they had family brawl over water. They were kept sitting at a tempo stand in Sadr where a police jeep picked them up and send them to jail. The other two were in a motor accident and went to the Hussainganj police station on their own and ended up being arrested and charged with arson under Section 436 IPC. This is the way actual culprits were allowed to go scott free.”

Stressing further on the fact that the crime the five have been booked for is a heinous crime and face very serious implications for it despite the fact that they had not committed the offense. Darapuri adds, “PUCL in its report will demand that a CBI inquiry be conducted in the matter apart from demanding a judicial inquiry as well. We will also ask for strict action against those police personnel responsible for implicating innocent people falsely. Compensation from the state will also be asked for the victims and their family who are from a very improvised background. “

Also on the agenda of the PUCL report will be scrutinizing the role of agencies like the National and State Human Rights Commission who do not play stringent role in ensuring that such serious human rights violations do not go unpunished in the country.

Adds Vandana Mishra, who is also on the five member PUCL Team constituted to investigate the matter, “The report we present will definitely help the case of the five accused to prove their innocence in the court of law. While as per our inquiry conducted there it is very obvious innocent persons are being implicated PUCL’s effort will be to ensure that no injustice is done.”

But what has caused the UP Police to take on such an autocratic stance in the state?

As per Anjali Singh, Director, Saaksham Foundation, and member, PUCL, who is also on the investigating team of PUCL, “The Uttar Pradesh Police goes by the motto ‘Protection of Good and Destruction of the bad.’ But with the UP Police Force now topping the list of human rights violations, their motto seems to have been reversed. And when it’s the largest police force in the world, we indeed need to sit up and take stock of where the Khaki Brigade is heading as a law enforcement agency and does it take its role seriously when it comes to protecting those who are innocent. As per a study by Human Rights Features, a publication that raises the Voice of the Asia Pacific Human Rights, it came to light that the Police abuse of authority is so prevalent in Uttar Pradesh as it has an inordinate amount of power and discretion delegated to them by the legal system, the political climate and society in general. The internal reward system, which provides monetary incentives or promotions for carrying out extrajudicial executions, also acts as a catalyst. Systemic and endemic corruption in the police and within the political and judicial agencies exacerbates the problem and ensures that such crimes go unpunished.”

In short it is the poverty stricken, the dalits and illiterate sections of society, generally become sitting ducks of such a system. The lack of access to the few difficult legal remedies that actually exist further emboldens the police force that is already out of control.

Feels IB Singh, Senior Advocate ,High Court, who has been addressing such issues, “No body is above the law, not even the police. The IPC(Indian Penal Code) has numerous sections that come into effect when the rights of a citizen is violated. Though there are no separate laws drawn up in case of violations by the police, the fact remains that the existing sections are applicable on the khaki brigade as well. Section 504 IPC, Section 506, Section 323 and Section 325 IPC which deals with assault, harassment, registering fraudulent cases, corruption and extortion all can be used to bring erring police personnel to book.”

But is the BSP led state government interested in doing? With the way things are being done in UP, it does not seem so.

Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

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Manmohan Singh breaks new path in Indo-Pak relations

Manmohan Singh breaks new path in Indo-Pak relations
Dr Sandeep Pandey

[To listen to the audio podcast of this article, click here]

The worst fears of some of us have now been confirmed. Pakistani society, politicians and media has always been talking about the involvement of Indian intelligence agency RAW in fomenting trouble inside Pakistan . First it was in Sindh, particularly in Karachi . Now people say there is no doubt about Indian involvement in Balochistan and some say that RAW is also supporting Baitullah Mehsud in NWFP. Questions are being raised on unusually high number of Consulate offices opened by India in Afghanistan . The involvement of CIA and Mossad is also not ruled out. There is a speculation that Baitullah Mehsud could not have survived for so long since the US drone attacks began if it was not for the support of one or more of foreign intelligence agencies and/or military help.

Asif Ali Zardari has now openly admitted that the Talibans are creation of Pakistan . The terror that Pakistan exported has now come back to it. Until it was limited to NWFP it was not seen as a major problem. But now that it has the potential of taking over Islamabad , Rawalpindi and Lahore even the military and intelligence which were not too keen on taking on the home grown terrorists have been forced, partly because of US pressure but primarily due to threat it poses to them, reluctantly but decisively to come around to confront them. When Zardari makes a bold statement he obviously has the approval of military and intelligence.

The terrorist groups in Af-Pak region whether al-Qaeda, Taliban or Lashkar-e-Toiba were propped up by the US and Pakistani governments. They received arms & ammunition, money and training from military professionals. The association of terrorist groups with Pakistani government during the military regime was so close that some former military officials are part of terrorist set ups and terrorists have infiltrated the Pakistani establishment. One reason why the governments, whether Punjab or Federal, in Pakistan is reluctant to take action against Hafiz Saeed, the LeT founder, is that he can become a cause of much embarrassment for the establishment there if he decides to open his mouth.

But the question is after the present Pakistani establishment has made up its mind to confront the terrorist groups and US has relentlessly pursued the terrorists even going to the extent of launching attacks inside the sovereign territory of Pakistan, how are the terrorists holding fort? One would assume that the lot which was trained to fight the Russians would be old enough to be combatants now. So, even if there is supply of money from Saudi Arabia or somewhere or plenty of drug trafficking money is available, and there are youth from central Asia, southern Punjab (Pakistani) and from all around the world ready to be trained as jehadis who is providing them the training in use of modern methods of warfare? Is CIA playing a double game? Peace in the area would make the justification of US military presence in the region untenable. And it is no secret that US wants to be involved not only in the Af-Pak region but also in Kashmir . We’re not talking about George Bush. We’re talking about Barack Obama. Even before Obama’a victory results became public he had already announced his intention of appointing a Kashmir aide. Why on earth is an uninitiated US President interested more in Kashmir than his own country?

But what would be disturbing for most educated self-righteous middle class Indians, who have always seen India as a peaceful country and Pakistan as source of all trouble, is the revelation that India could have a role in instigating violence inside Pakistan . The joint bilateral statement issued from Sharm-el-Sheikh has reference to Pakistan having information on threats to Balochistan. Pakistan sees it as diplomatic victory. The response in India is that of shock, especially from the hawks. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has displayed rare courage and insight in saying that he is willing to discuss any issue with Pakistan . He has also encouraged Pakistan to take action against perpetrators of November 26, 2008, incident in Mumbai without linking it to resumption of composite dialogue. As a leader of the senior (in terms of experience with democracy) and bigger nation only he could have been expected to be magnanimous. And he has lived up to his role. He has breached the parochial approach which constrains progress on India-Pakistan official relations.

Manmohan Singh has merely acknowledged something which is common knowledge in Pakistan . But Pakistan will have to provide concrete proof of RAW’s involvement in Balochistan or elsewhere in Pakistan just like India has done in the case of Mumbai incident. But this is only a trivial matter. It is an open secret that ISI and RAW have been working at cross purposes.

What Manmohan Singh has achieved as a statesman is that he has set out to define a new paradigm in which India-Pakistan relations will be discussed. For the first time in the history of the two nations he has laid the grounds for India and Pakistan to work together to solve the common problems, including that of terrorism. The US has already given an indication of this by asking India to provide help to Pakistan . And why not? If India can develop close ties with Afghanistan and provide financial help to it and Pakistan can derive help from the US , India and Pakistan , if they can shed their historical baggage, can cooperate as friendly neighbours. Pakistan , where receiving US aid is a government policy now, can enjoy a more democratic relationship with India . Can we conceive of RAW and ISI working together, like both of them have a working relationship with CIA, to root out terrorism from the region? Pakistan , being the smaller and more insecure of the two nations, would warn up to India only if it feels comfortable. The long adversarial relationship between the two has dried up all the trust. Manmohan Singh has certainly made Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan feel that they can do business with India .

Note: The author is back from a week long trip to Pakistan in July, 2009.

[Dr Sandeep Pandey is a Ramon Magsaysay Awardee (2002) for

emergent leadership, member of National Presidium, People's Politics Front (PPF), heads the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and did his PhD from University of California, Berkeley in control theory which is applicable in missile technology. He taught at Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur before devoting his life to strengthening people's movements in early 1990s. He can be contacted at: ashaashram@yahoo.com. Website: www.citizen-news.org]

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HINDI - version of this article at Hindi CNS

Men against violence-2: Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence

Men against violence-2
Socio-economic inequality leads to gender-based violence
Nasiruddin Haider Khan

[Read the first part article of this series here: Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?]

DHAKA: If violence is not natural, and not ingrained in our genetic makeup then the question is, what the root of violence is (violence, which is gender based). Gary Barker has done lot of research in this area and he has an answer. He is associated with International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) as Director, Gender, Violence and Rights. He strongly advocates for the engagement of men in ending gender-based violence (GBV).

During sidelines of the consultation in Bangladesh, he answered volley of questions on this topic. He counted several social, cultural, economical, and political reasons for violence. He termed them structural influences of violence.

"Patriarchal legal structure has positioned women in lower social status," he starts with this opening line. "They (women) do not have property rights. They have lower income. Inequality in property and income give power to men. That power leads to subjugation and violence," Barker said. Interestingly, Barker points out, "income inequality not only persists within a household but there is class difference at social level too. Class and economic inequality put the same men in a violent situation outside home too. And Men have to understand this to prevent violence."

Globalization and economic liberalization, Gary says, is one of the emerging causes of violence. According to him, traditional form of production, profession and mechanism have been swept away by the new globalized economy. Situation is the same from farming to small-scale household industries.

Above all, he says, our socialization put onus of earning on men. This has been linked to masculinity. In this grim economical situation when men do not have enough income or he became unemployed then he feels he is a failure. As a result, he indulges in drinking, drugs, purchase sex, use violence against his better half and children, becomes carrier of HIV infection and sometime commits suicide. Gary's explanation reveals the complexities of violence.

What about media’s role? Yes, Gary say it also perpetuate patriarchal norms and promotes or justifies gender-based violence. He explains, today you will find a CD or DVD in ten Rupees. Cable TV and Internet is also easily accessible. Through different medium, men are getting access to images, which is violent and gendered. These mediums basically promote indiscriminate sex, commoditization of women body and project women as a toy. All these create web of violence around women's life.

Gary also sees emergence of nationalism as an important cause of GBV. According to him, nationalist brands anything coming from outside the country as anti-national. He said, "attack of a Hindutva organization on girls in Mangalore in India is an example of this nationalistic ideology. Attacks of Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan on women are the same mentality. They want to keep women in subjugated position." In his opinion, "this is the result of sexist interpretations of Islam and Hinduism."

According to him, militarization and wars are also major cause of violence inside a home. "State like Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal has been always in a warlike like situation. Hundreds of armed personnel have been always put on high alert. And what for- to kill! Unless you stop glorifying war, they will not be on alert or ready to kill. Global war on terror did the same thing. They glorified the military might of America."

But what is the impact of war on women? Gary thinks a bit and informs, "study done in the West on the wives of military or police personnel who went for war or on peace- keeping missions, clearly showed the increased incident of violence against them at home."

He puts a simple question, "how is it possible on one hand you glorify killing and sent them for the same and also expect them to be on peace mission inside their homes. You want them to be violent outside the home and non-violent within the home!"

Thus, If we want to counter and prevent gender-based violence, we have to think about the reasons for violence in the society with all its complexities.

Caution for Media
Gary believes that expansion of media is the reflection of strong democratic society. But as far as gender based violence is concerned, he has a different opinion. He thinks media did a lot to cover incidents of violence. But, yes, but ... he says, media sees the issues of violence in a man and a woman as a binary structure. Media should give up this binary and antagonistic type stories. His suggestion is very sharp and crisp: show the complexities of violence.

(A slightly different version of this series had been published in Hindi daily Hindustan)

[Read the first part article of this series here: Men against violence-1: Learn masculinity from Mahatma Gandhi?]

Hearing of writ petition against diluting RTI Act: Court directs State govt to reply in 2 weeks

Hearing of writ petition against diluting RTI Act:
Court directs State govt to reply in 2 weeks
[To read this in Hindi language, see below or click here]

Today the honorable Court directed the UP State government to reply within two weeks on why five subjects have been removed from the purview of the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

The court was hearing to a writ petition filed on behalf of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) by Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey and noted RTI crusader Naveen Tiwari.

“We beg to differ with the decision of the State Government to still keep out five subjects from the purview of the RTI Act. The RTI Act, passed by the Parliament of this country in 2005, empowers the citizen of this country information on all matters except those covered under Section 8 of the Act” said Dr Sandeep Pandey, national Convener of National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM).

“It is against the letter and spirit of the RTI Act to exclude information related to appointment of Governor, High Court Judges, Ministers, code of conduct for Ministers and letters written by Governor to the President from its purview. Section 24(4) of the Act doesn't apply as these matters are not related to intelligence or security organizations of the State” said Naveen Tiwari, who is a noted RTI activist advocating for transparency and accountability in governance.

The state government had issued the notification on 7 June 2009 stating that five subjects (appointment of Governor, High Court Judges, Ministers, code of conduct for Ministers and letters written by Governor to the President) will not come under the purview of the RTI Act, 2005. In an earlier order of Civil Aviation department on 25 March 2008, two units of Civil aviation department were also removed from the purview of RTI Act, 2005.

Both these notifications are prima facie illegal because Section 24 (4) of RTI Act, 2005, doesn’t apply to them. This section 24 (4) only applies to organizations and in both these notifications, the exempted entities are not organizations, said SN Shukla, retd IAS officer.

NAPM requests the UP State Government to retract any attempt to tamper with the RTI Act and restore the original scope of the Act.

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Civil society raises alarm on 'politicisation of bureaucracy'

Civil society raises alarm on 'politicisation of bureaucracy'
Alka Pande

In the recently concluded general elections for the 15th Parliament in India, there was a growing movement in the citizens to become proactive towards cleansing of politics in the country. The social activists not only launched campaigns to educate people about their right to vote in a democracy, they made the public aware about the background of the candidates. Besides, the activists motivated the public to use their franchise judiciously.

The elections are over now and the government too is in place – however discussions are carrying on, on politics, criminalisation of politics, nexus of mafia and politicians, democracy and governance.

Criticism of politicians and political parties having a nexus with criminals is common in India, but today it was another issue that took centrestage in a discussion amongst a group of intellectuals - the issue of politicisation of bureaucracy in India, in general and in the state of Uttar Pradesh, in particular.

"From time immemorial fingers are being raised on politicians, now the time has come that the civil societies start speaking about bureaucracy as well", the point was raised by political thinker and social activist Dr Ramesh Dixit, who is also a senior professor in the department of Political Science, Lucknow University. He cited a few examples of bureaucrats in Uttar Pradesh to stress on his point as to how transparency reaches a full stop at the level of bureaucracy. "At the Chief Minister’s office in Uttar Pradesh, which is also known as pancham tal (fifth floor) democracy gets killed a slow death", Dixit emphasised.

"It is because they are not answerable to anyone. If one bureaucrat does something wrong he is transferred to some other post – the other one takes over – he does more or less the same and the corruption goes on and grows on. But the politicians – even if they are corrupt, at least they are answerable to their people as they have to go to the public asking for votes, every five years and sometimes earlier", he said. His view was that instead of criticising the politicians alone, the civil societies should also work in coordination with them to confront the bureaucracy and thereby help improve governance.

The speakers concluded that since information and awareness are the strongest tools to strengthen democracy, agencies and organisations are making efforts to gather statistics about area, political candidate, candidates’ profiles etc during the elections so that the voter knows whom he is going to vote for. They felt that in the same way Right To Information (RTI) Act, 2005, has empowered the public, same way information relating to politicians too will help the public become powerful and then take active part in democracy and governance.

A prefix is dangerous for democracy
It was the neighbouring state Pakistan which started the trend of democracy with a prefix, in 1995 when it introduced Basic Democracy during its military rule. The trend was followed by Nepal, which introduced Panchayat democracy, Indonesia, which gave a term Guided Democracy and Philippines, where a new kind of democracy emerged – New Democracy. India too was not far behind where Jai Prakash Narain launched a movement for Party-free Democracy. "Every time a prefix is attached to democracy, the word loses its very essence and gives a new meaning and new dimension to the word", said Dr Ramesh Dixit. His views were - "If a common man can express his feelings without any fear and cast his vote without any scare – the situation can be termed as democracy and governance."

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior journalist)

'Hunger and Poverty home to India'

'Hunger and Poverty home to India'
Anjali Singh

LUCKNOW: Though this is her fifth visit to the Lucknow, state capital of Uttar Pradesh, Kristin Kjaeret, Director FoodFirst Information and Action Network (FIAN) Norway, an international human rights organisation campaigning for right to feed oneself, maintains that things have not changed even now.

In a candid interview to Citizen News Service (CNS), she rues the lack of strong political will in India to help people get their rights to live a life of dignity sans discrimination, poverty and starvation.

You have submitted a report on the Right to Adequate food to the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (CESCR), in your estimation how is food security going to be in India?
India has had to face a lot of criticism recently from the international communities for not being able to provide people their fundamental right to food. Predictably these communities are now also asking for awareness raising campaigns to highlight not only the right of a person to feed themselves but also the schemes which the Indian government has put in place to allow people to do that. The right to food security for all must be publicised well only then the situation will improve in the India.

What according to you causes the problems of food shortfalls. Is it due to crop failure or of inefficient public distribution system?
Well a case that came to the Supreme Court in 2005 and urged the court to order a food census is a fitting example of what causes food shortfalls in India. When carried out, the census revealed that over 60 million tons of grain was stored in the government godowns but due to lack of efficient distribution systems and effective implementation of government lead schemes the grain did not reach the people causing thousands to starve. So I believe that if the distribution system in the country is freed of discrimination and corruption India can provide people food security very well.

Would you say its the rural economy as a whole which needs to be given attention?

Frankly I have not studied in depth the rural set up of India so to comment on setting up an alternative rural economy would not be right. But I feel everyone is trying to function in the existing system to the best of their ability so setting up a shadow economical system for rural area would not be a good idea. There are already many schemes put in place for the rural sector, if awareness of these schemes can be improved things will change for the better.

You have said that corruption, discrimination and poor implementation of the schemes to provide people their right to food are the reasons behind the violations of human rights in India. How can this be prevented?
Its a challenge, and we are in touch with some Indian parliamentarians who are working on the issues and doing a good job to improve the distribution system. Secondly we are also encouraging them to enact food laws and suggest its im

plementation with the help other members in your parliament. But as I said a strong political will is necessary for these changes to work.

What are the three important actions the Indian government needs to take to fulfill its commitments to CESCR?
There has to be a strong political will to ensure there are no violations of people's rights and the government should stress upon legislation against the violations and complaint must be redressed immediately. But most importantly the effective and early implementation of the schemes for food security must be focused upon.

If India fails to fulfill its commitments as a signatory, is it liable for legal action?
Let me put it this way, soon hopefully the UN will be formally adopting a policy of Optional Protocol of CESCR. Through this the ratification of states will be given a legal nature which will enable people to be brought directly to the UN committee and make a statement if their case come up for hearing. The committee has already made it clear that all the programmes for human rights being introduced by Indian government must be implemented and if it is not and the cases it hears proves as much, it will want to know why. FIAN committees in different states in India will be mediated for the people.

There is the issue of genetically modified foods and corporatisation of agriculture which has been strongly opposed by civil society groups. What is FIAN doing to prevent this trend?
GMOs is a widely debated issue worldwide and there are many organisations in USA already opposing it, so FIAN does not feel the need to take up the case of an issue that is already being fitfully addressed. But we are not in favour of GMOs, and we can intervene only if cases of violations of food security arise due to GMOs. Individual cases if complaints are made and if brought to us will be taken up. But we don't lead campaigns against GMOs as a policy.

You met the govt officials of the handicap department in UP to urge them to create jobs for for the physically and visually challenged, what was the response of the officials?
Well (smiles) they have promised to create 1500 jobs this year for the handicapped as as per a law passed in 1995, 3% government jobs had to be reserved for the handicapped. But that has not been implemented yet. The two training centres set up in UP to train people to be fit for the jobs provided to them by the government are now full as, since two years the students have not moved out due to lack of employment generation. But as per our discussions with the officials at the handicap welfare department they have initiated the process of creating jobs for the physically and visually handicapped. So lets hope for the best.

[Photo Caption: Kristin Kjaeret, Director FIAN, Norway]
Anjali Singh
(The author is a Special Correspondent to Citizen News Service (CNS) and also the Director of Saaksham Foundation. Email: anjali@citizen-news.org)

Spread love, not infection...

Spread love, not infection...
Alka Pande

"Say Yes to Condom – No to HIV"
"A Rupee saves a life"
"Stay Negative Love Condom"
"Love yourself, Love your partner, Love Condom"

With these catchy slogans, a health organisation distributed condoms to people in New Delhi, much to the irritation of political outfits like Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena, who along with their political activities in India, also play the role of moral police in the country.

Recently, its activists damaged a condom vending machine and forced the State AIDS Control Society to remove the machine placed in a park, in one of the northern states of the country.

However, this did not deter those who are dedicated to educate the public of the ways to safeguard themselves from this deadly virus.

The message that was disseminated with the condoms was - "Say yes to condom, no to HIV’", "Stay Negative – Love Condom" and so on. More so, an attention-grabbing image of a semi-nude male with the words "Stay Negative" tattooed on his upper back is already there on the streets of the capital catching attention of the passersby.

It was AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) which distributed the AHF-LOVE-Condoms. The AHF works with communities for HIV and sexually transmitted disease (STD) testing programme and is now focusing on urban population by trying to motivate it to visit the site www.freehivtest.net and find out where to get the blood test done quickly, conveniently and free of cost.

Senior Global Policy Director of AHF (USA), Ms Terri Ford, who is presently on a mission to India, is advocating this worldwide free distribution of AHF-LOVE brand condoms. "It is a new beginning to restore the condom's critical place at the front-line of effective Global AIDS Prevention and Control. If a rupee can save a life, there is no reason why free condoms should not be distributed", She argues.

Why are Condoms So Important for Global HIV and STD Control?

If global AIDS control has defined an absolute reduction in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS in the world, condoms can be give a large share of credit for successfully achieving that goal.

Treatment has played a crucial role in bringing hope to millions and in motivating masses of people to get tested. The huge success of the last World AIDS Day – One Million Test Campaign – during which men, women and children lined up across the globe to be tested – demonstrates that people want to know their status.

The simple formula for global AIDS control involves -

* Identifying those who are still undiagnosed and linking them to treatment, which will render them less infectious.

* Promoting use of condom - the known and tested method for preventing the sexual transmission of HIV.

* Ensuring that the Positives protect their partners by using condom.

* Breaking the chain of infection by getting more and more people tested to know their HIV status.

The AHF has tied up with HLL Lifecare Limited for this LOVE- Condom campaign. "A key component of the campaign is the website www.getfreecondoms.org , which contains crucial information about HIV transmission, prevention and treatment, including facts about condom use. The site also incorporates an extensive 'myth v/s reality' section that frankly addresses false beliefs about HIV infection, which often prevent some individuals to go for testing,’’ the medical expert Dr Nochiketa Mohanty says.

This campaign is aimed to bring public-private partnership to facilitate access to free condoms and is expected to complement the ongoing social marketing and free distribution of condoms promoted by Government of India.

The HLL representative claims that the goal of LOVE Condom Campaign is to scale-up global support for condom usage by distributing ten million high-quality World Health Organisation (WHO) approved condoms free of charge to any individual, non-governmental or government agency, which makes a commitment to support the campaign's aim of achieving hundred per cent access to free condoms worldwide.

To achieve 'Global AIDS Control' an aggressive inclusion of condoms as a safety measure is essential. The experts claim that the ABC model focusing on Abstinence-Be faithful-Condoms, which proved to be a success in countries such as Uganda, loses its strength without including C (Call for) condoms. The time has come to bring Condoms from the back to the forefront and evolve a new model of ABC (Abstinence-Be faithful-Call for) Condoms.

Alka Pande
(The author is a senior Journalist)

Mayawati’s Idolization and quest for Dalit Emancipation

Mayawati’s Idolization and quest for Dalit Emancipation
SR Darapuri

During the Assembly elections 2007, the people of Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) India and especially the Dalits voted Mayawati’s Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) to absolute majority. They expected that this time with a stable government she will be able to take U.P. out of the quagmire of underdevelopment and backwardness. They also hoped that now she will work out a development agenda for the State as well as for the Dalits and implement it faithfully. During her previous three stints as Chief Minister she took the plea that due to her dependence on other parties for support she could not act independently. As such she needed a government with majority to give her a free hand in running her government. But even this time Mayawati did not come up to the people’s expectations. Neither she neither worked out development agenda nor stopped wasting public money on installing statues, creating memorials and making parks.

If judged from the point of view of development, at present U.P. is the one of the most backward states of India. As per 2001 Census Repot it has the largest population (16.16 crores) which stands as 16.16 % of total population of India. According to development parameters the total literacy rate of U.P. is 56.30 % (Male 68.8 and Female 42.2 %) whereas at the national level it is 68.84 % (Male 75.26 and 53.67 %). The sex ratio of U.P. stands at 898 whereas the national ratio is 933. According to available statistics the per capita income in U.P. during 2005-06 was Rs. 13,316 which is the lowest in the country excepting Bihar (Rs. 7875) whereas at the national level it is Rs. 25,716. During this period the per capita power production and consumption in U.P. was 113 and 167 K.W.Hour as compared with 563 and 372 K.W.Hour at the national level.

From the Public Health angle the birth rate, death rate and child mortality rate for U.P. were 30.4, 8.7 and 73 respectively whereas the national rates were 23.8, 7.6 and 58 respectively. As per the findings of NFHS-III, 2005-06 the infant mortality (number of infant deaths per thousand live births in the last five years) rate at national level is 57 whereas for U.P. it is 73. In India, 46 per scent children under three yeas of age are underweight whereas in U.P. it is 47 percent. Almost 38 % children (under three years age) are stunted (too short for their age). In U.P. their percentage is 46. Almost 79 % of children (6-35 months) and 56 % of women in India are anemic. In U.P. the figures are 85 and 51 percent respectively. From the employment angle during 2001 in U.P. only 23.78 % of total workers were Main Workers and 66 % were engaged as Agriculture Labourers. At present 32 % of U.P. population is living below poverty line against the national average of 27.5 percent.

From the above details it is clear that from the development point of view U.P. is one of the most backward states of India. In such a situation, not only Mayawati but every government is expected to utilize all the resources of the State for the development of the people. But it has not happened for last many years. According to Sudha Pai “There is evidence that the conditions of the poorer sections in U.P. which include the major chunk of the Dalits have become worse during the 1990s. The National Human Development Report (NHDR) has pointed out the poor conditions of life in comparison with many other states. The State’s position in terms of Human Development Index was 29th in 1981 and has fallen to 31 out of 32 states (NHDR 2001:140-41). Similarly the Monthly Per Capita Consumption Expenditure registered a fall in the State between 1993-94 and 1999-2000; that this is due to a drastic reduction in the consumption expenditure on food between two periods clearly suggest deterioration in the standard of living. This down slide took place when the B.S.P. supported by B.J.P. was in power in U.P. for the most part (National Herald, Lucknow May 1, 2002). Despite the fact that the BSP. had formed a government twice during the 1990s and was again in power with the support of the Bhartiya Janta Party, the conditions of Dalits have not improved according to the draft proposals of the Tenth Five Year Plan (Jha, 28 December, The Times of India, New Delhi-2002). The BSP did not put forward any policies for improving the socioeconomic conditions of the subaltern sections of the Dalits. The emphasis has been on political empowerment only.”

It is well known that Mayawati did not take up any development agenda during all her tenures of Chief Minister ship. During the elections BSP never came out with an election manifesto. This was done purposely. Because declaration of an agenda being about the responsibility of implementing it and failure to do so invites public wrath. Mr. Kanshi Ram, the mentor of Mayawati, attracted Dalits by promising to fulfill the incomplete mission of Dr. Ambedkar but cleverly he never defined it in writing. “First capture political power and then any work” was the promise given by BSP. In the beginning, Dalits were instigated against higher castes by raising emotional and non-material issues but later on all sorts of unprincipled and opportunistic alliances were made to get political power. All the principles of Ambedkarism were thrown to winds and dalits were exploited emotionally in the name of caste. Personal ambitions were pursued in place of Dalit issues. This unprincipled, non developmental and corrupt politics has resulted in poverty, unemployment and backwardness of the people of U.P. and the Dalits at large.

Now it will be pertinent to see on what items the budget money was spent during this period. It has been found that major part of budget was spent on non-development projects. It is noticeable that 90 % of Cultural Department and about 40 % of Public Works Department budget was spent on parks, memorials and statues. What ever money was spent on welfare programmes, a major apart of it was eaten away by corruption. As such the poor were deprived of any benefit there of. The main cause of it has been the personal greed and corruption of Mayawati which may land her in jail in the near future. She has spent a major portion of state budget on installing statues, making parks and creating memorials. Along with the statues of Dr. Ambedkar and some other Dalit icons she has installed her own statues along with her mentor Kanshi Ram. She seems to have taken inspiration from North Korean dictator Kim Jong-Ill. She has made history by installing her own statues as a living person. According to available information she has spent more than 3,000 crores of Rupees on statutes and parks. These statues and memorials are so grand and costly which can put any king or queen to shame. According to one German scholar Maren Schempp, “Mayawati is building her own Rome.” Another scholar has labeled it as a criminal waste of public money.

Now Mayawati is ruling the State for the fourth time and she proclaims to be the savior of Dalits. In the face of this claim it will be proper to see what she has done to for the upliftment of Dalits of U.P. According to 2001 Census Report the population of Dalits in U.P. is 3.51 crores which is 21.2 % of State population and is the largest in whole of India. Ordinarily it is expected that in a state where a Dalit Chief Minister has occupied the chair for the fourth time, the Dalits of that state might have benefited much from her rule. But the ground reality is totally to the contrary. At present U.P. dalits are the most backward in whole of India leaving aside the Dalits of Orissa and Bihar. According to 2001 Census Report the Male- Female sex ratio of U.P. dalits is 900 whereas the national average of Dalits is 936. Similarly the literacy rate of U.P. Dalits is 46.3 % (Male 60.3 and Female 30.5 Percent) against the national average of 54.7 percent (Male 66.6 and Female 41.9 %). According to above Census report out of 1.33 crore children between the age of group 5-14 yeas only 58.3 lacs ( 56.4 % ) were going to school.

According to above census Report among total workers U.P. has got 42.5 % dalits working as Agriculture Labourers against the national average of 45.6 %. The percentage of U.P. dalits below poverty line is about 50 %. In U.P. Work Participation Rate of Dalits is 34.7 % which is lower than the national average. Being a dominantly agriculture based society land is an important source of production. In U.P. the number and size of land holdings with dalits is very small but land reforms have not been given proper priority in the State. What ever land was given to the landless, most of it is under illegal possession of higher castes and Mayawati cannot afford to annoy them as they form an important part of her Sarvjan (all included) followers.

On account of feudal social set up caste discrimination and practice of untouchability are the main factors behind atrocities against Dalits in U.P. Their number is highest in whole of India. A decrease in atrocities and prompt action against the offenders is the general expectation from Mayawati but the reality is totally otherwise. During 2001 Mayawati in order to keep her crime figures low issued a written order suspending the use of Scheduled Cases and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities ) Act but was forced to withdraw the same in 2003. This had a very adverse effect on dalits. The atrocities continued to be perpetrated but their cases were not being registered by police. Besides this, the practice of untouchability is quite prevalent in midday meals in Primary Schools, Anganwari Centres and government hospitals but very little action is taken at government level. Thus Dalits continue to suffer under Mayawati’s rule. They have not experienced any empowerment material or otherwise.

“The statues serve as a source of inspiration for dalits” is the argument put forward by Mayawati for justifying her idolization. But this argument is quite contrary to the philosophy of Dalit icons. Let us see what Dr. Ambedkar said in a letter published in Bombay Chronicle in 1916. Following the death, in 1915, of Pherozeshah Merwnjee Mehta, one of the founders of Indian National Congress, and of Gopal Krishana Gokhle, another Congress leader and founder of Servants of India society, Ambedkar notes: “The memorial for Gokhle is to take the form of establishing branches of Servants of India Society at various places, while that of Sir P.M. Mehta is to stand in the form of a statue before the Bombay Municipal Office.” While appreciating the memorial for Gokhle, Ambedkar records his dismay over a statue for Mehta being “very trivial and unbecoming.” He is “at pains to understand why this memorial cannot be in a form that will be “of permanent use to posterity.”. He suggests that the memorial should be a public library named after Mehta. Drawing from his experience at “one of the biggest universities in the U.S., Ambedkar laments how we have not yet “realized the value of the library as an institution in the growth and advancement of society.”

Later, Dr. Ambedkar acted on these principles when he had the opportunity. He was driven by the belief that education was the greatest weapon for advancement. He founded “People’s Education Society” in 1944; three branches of Siddharth College beginning 1946; and Milind Mahavidhyalya in 1950. With a view to benefit the maximum number of students he established colleges in Bombay and Marathwar which is the most backward area in Maharashtra.

It is true that statues serve as source of inspiration but this role is very limited. The lasting inspiration comes by following their ideals and propagating their philosophy. But Mayawati has done hardly any thing in this direction. If the money spent on statues had been spent in establishing educational institutions in the name of dalit icons, it would have brought a qualitative change in the society.

From the brief above discussion it transpires that the emancipation of dalits can be achieved not by installation of statues but by working out a Dalit development agenda and implementing it honestly. In stead of spending crores on the statues, establishing educational institutions, hospital, libraries and useful institutions in the name of Dalit icons will be a true honour and memorial to them.

SR Darapuri, is a retired Indian Police Service (IPS) officer (former Inspector General (IG) of Police), Vice-President of People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), UP, and also represents the National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM) and Lok Rajniti Manch (People's Politics Front). Email: srdarapuri@yahoo.co.in