Day II: Solidarity fast continues to get support

Day II: Solidarity fast continues to get support

On the second day of the fast in support of Irom Sharmila in Keishampat, Imphal representatives of NIPCO (National Identity Protection Committee), AMSU (All Manipur Student Union), HERICOUN, Thangmeiband Khunthokhambi Meira Paibi lup (TKMPL), AIHRA (All India Human Right Association), All Manipur Social reformation and Development Samaj, All Manipur Tammi Chingmi Apunba Nupi Lup and AMKIL (All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup) came to extend support to the demand to repeal Armed Forces Special Powers Act.

Even on the second day hundreds of school students belonging to DAV Public School and North Point Higher Secondary School joined the dharna for the entire day. Former MLA, L. Ibomcha Singh came to the fast site and presented copies of his book ‘Manipur under AFSPA – A Bizzare Experience’ to the people fasting as well as those who had come in support. People who were on fast on the second day included Rakesh Naorem, Biju Birbaruah, Faisal Khan, Sandeep Pandey, Rajeshwar Ojha, Mahesh Pandey, Manish Kumar, Prem Kumar, Dr. G Satyabhama, NG. Tondon, N. Bimola, H. Sobita and S. Ibeton.

The fast in Imphal is also making a demand to ‘Free Burma’ and ‘Free Aung San Suu Kyi’ through speeches and posters.

Sapamacha Kangleipal (+91-9862096539)
Irom Singhjit Singh (+91-9863151540)
G. Radha Pyari Devi (+91-9856164548)
Biju Borbaruah (+91-9435198562)

RTI Act gives hope to anti-AFSPA protestors in Manipur

RTI Act gives hope to anti-AFSPA protestors in Manipur

IMPHAL: Many people are fasting for five days (13-17 September) in Keishampat junction, Imphal, Manipur, to lobby more support to Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting since past 7 years, demanding to repeal the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).

They declared today that an application under the Right to Information Act (RTI) shall be filed in Prime Minister’s office (PMO) to help the cause. Delhi-based RTI activist Suchi Pandey shall file the application.

The reports of Jeevan Reddy Commission 2004 and Veerappa Moily Administrative Reforms Committee earlier haven’t been made public, and RTI application shall be filed in PMO demanding information related to the status of these two reports and actions taken on the recommendations, said Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey.

It is understood that these two reports supported the demand to repeal the AFSPA that had led to gross violations of human rights by Indian troops in the conflict ridden region.

The launch of this five days solidarity fast came two days after the ‘Apunba Lup’ observed Anti-army Act Day on September 11 here to mark the completion of five decades of the act in the North-East. The present UPA Government had constituted the Justice Jeevan Reddy Commission in 2004 to review AFSPA in response to an intensive campaign led by ‘Apunba Lup’.

“It is not only the North-East region but the human rights violations are going on in almost every place of India. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of encounter killings in the country, but there is no draconian law like the AFSPA there. The Government of India is biased against North-East and J&K in this aspect” lambasted Dr Pandey, who also heads NAPM (National Alliance of People’s Movements) and Asha Parivar.

“Prolonged imposition of the Act has hampered all developmental fronts. Because of the large-scale violation of human rights including extra judicial killings, atrocities and raping of women and girls by the security personnel with immunity granted under the Act, the people of the North eastern region are becoming more and more alienated from the mainstream India” said Biju Borbaruah, another NAPM activist from N-E India.
Biju further observed that the people of North-East want peace and development but have been compelled to join the unrelenting protest against the oppressive Act.

Talking about the separatist movement in the north-eastern region, Dr Pandey said: “Continuous presence of military in this region will have a severe impact on the people. If this process goes on, the Northeast will soon become militarized state. Whatever form of Naxalism, separatism and terrorism exists, the only way to solve is by political solution. It is up to the people of the region to find out an amicable solution. What the local people want should be respected. The Government will facilitate talks. I think dialogue is the only way to solve the insurgency. Militarisation will never solve the issue.”

Sharmila had gone on hunger strike on November 2, 2000 demanding the repeal of the AFSPA, after soldiers of the Assam Rifles allegedly killed ten young Meitei men in Malom. Three days later, police arrested Sharmila on charges of attempted suicide. To keep her alive, she was forcefully fed a cocktail of vitamins, minerals, laxatives, protein supplements and lentil soup through the nose with a rubber pipe.

Hundreds others from different countries in the world have signed up on www.ashaparivar.org to fast for varying durations from September 13 to support the demands of 'Iron lady' from Manipur – Irom Sharmila.

Manipur: Irom, the iron lady

Manipur: Irom, the iron lady

Is it because Irom Sharmila represents a region which is so remote for us--geographically and socially--that what happens to the 38 million people residing there is none of our business? - Shobha Shukla

As a woman I feel privileged to be living in a state (UP) run by a woman and in a country whose highest office is adorned by a woman and where the reins of the ruling party are in the hands of yet another woman. A formidable trio indeed, doing any feminist proud. Yet as a woman, I am deeply ashamed of not being aware till recently, about the laudable achievements of a fourth woman which surpass the 'tiranga power'. This woman is 34 years old Irom Sharmila Chanu from Imphal- a superwoman in the real sense of the word.

This woman has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 2, 2000, protesting peacefully against army atrocities on the peace loving people of Manipur and the entire North East region. She is requesting a repeal of the repressive Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFPSA) which has been used with brazen brutality resulting in the killing of innocents and rape/molestation of countless hapless women in the conflict ridden areas of north east India.

Now in the 7th year of her marathon fast, Sharmila has been in and out of police custody, arrested for 'attempt to commit suicide'; hospitalized, forcibly nosefed through tubes, but has not touched any solid or liquid food or even water. Her organs are now failing steadily.

This unique protest of Sharmila is one of the longest solitary and peaceful struggles of our times--unique also because it has gone largely unnoticed by the press and public alike and totally ignored by the government.

Why this inhuman indifference?

Is it because Irom Sharmila represents a region which is so remote for us--geographically and socially--that what happens to the 38 million people residing there is none of our business?

Is it because she is not affiliated to any political party or social organization and does not come under the protective banner of any outfit?

Is it because the Mahatma's tool of non violent protest has become obsolete in this age of brutal violence and Gandhigiri is actually dead?

Is it because the glowing Indian economy has deadened our senses towards all acts of human rights violation unless they occur in the 'mainland mainstream India?

It is high we at least start searching for the right answers as Sharmila's lone fight has stretched to 7 years, making her body a battle field. The people of Manipur are solidly behind her ,but they are fighting a losing battle. Manipur has been a wasteland of fears and counter fears for decades. With the army on one side and rival insurgents on the other side, the present is dark and the future dismal for them. Sharmila began her historic fast unto death to protest the killing of 10 innocent people when the army opened fire at Malom bus stand in Imphal (in retaliation to the bombing of an army column by insurgents. This was the proverbial last straw for the likes of Sharmila. She protested against the excessive militarization of the north east region and the promulgation of the draconian AFSPA aiming to curb the civil rights and liberty of the common people.

Are we going to remain silent, basking in the glory of our ignorance? Or are will we support this gritty 'iron lady' in her peaceful protest against a callous state and an indifferent media/public of mainland India? A 100 T.V.channels and yet we are oblivious.

It is a miracle indeed that Sharmila is still alive. And that is perhaps God's way of saying that she is on the right path and also giving us a chance to atone for our past apathies. For her satyagrah represents the best form of a peaceful struggle for truth, love peace to prevail upon violence and hatred.

Some right-minded citizens from mainland India have decided to support her in her quest for justice. They are starting a solidarity fast from 13th September for a few days outside Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Imphal, where Sharmila is currently lodged.

Let all of us become a part of this symbolic effort.

I appeal to the women of India , nay of the whole world, to fast, not for a son or a husband, but for a sister who thinks that 'it is my bounden duty to restore freedom and dignity to my people'.

Let this solidarity fast be an ongoing process. Once in a week or in a fortnight let us fast in moral support of this crusader who has put her life at stake in her quest of seeking justice by peaceful means.

Let us make Irom's mission a movement so that truth may prevail.

Curse of poverty

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=169773

Friday 14 September 2007

Curse of poverty

Under-nutrition levels in India are among the highest in the world. While the overall state of nutrition and health in India is bad enough, the situation is even worse in the poorer states, not to speak of the more deprived regions within these states.

Around 40% of the children are of low birth weight and around 47% malnourished. It is understood that 60% of infant and child deaths could be prevented only if we were able to check malnutrition among children. This was reported on the last day of the National Nutrition Week (1-7 September) by representatives of the Food and Nutrition Board of the Union government and CARE. CARE has been fighting malnutrition and hunger in UP. The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Week was “Nutrition Promotion for stronger Nation”.

Malnutrition in the form of under-nutrition or deficiencies of essential nutrients continues to cause severe illness and morbidity. It is estimated that more than half of the women suffer from anaemia and almost the same proportion are at risk of iodine deficiency (source: National Family Health Survey). Millions of children are affected by insufficient vitamin A. Keeping in view the severity of the issue, CARE launched the Integrated Nutrition Health Project (INHP) in UP, in close partnership with the Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), to improve the health and nutrition status of women and children, especially girl children.

Since infants’ feeding practices are one of the important determinants of child malnutrition, awareness generation on the nutrition care of the children is very important. Mothers and other family members need to be made aware of important issues in care of newborn and children. Therefore, the INHP focuses on the following:

a) Breast-feeding: Early initiation of breast-feeding within one hour of birth is important as this ensures better lactation as well as colostrum availability to the infants, which is considered to be the first immunisation of the child. Colostrum is rich in anti-bodies which safeguard the child from infections. Colostrum also contains high quality proteins and is very rich in Vitamin A which is required for the child’s growth during the first few days of life.

b) Exclusive breast-feeding: Only breast milk and not even water for the first six months fulfils all the nutritional requirements of the child for growth and development

c) Complementary feeding: All children need complementary foods after six months as breast milk alone cannot meet the nutritional requirements of the fast growing child. These complementary foods can be prepared at home with cereals like wheat, ragi, bajra, dal and rice after roasting and powdering, mashed seasonal fruits, green vegetables, etc.

Better utilisation of health services and better acceptance of family planning, and even better education cannot obviously compensate for and overcome the effects of poverty, economic deprivation and poor diet on nutrition, body build and stature. Substantial improvements in the nutritional status of the poorest population groups in the country cannot be achieved merely through programmes for fertility control and child survival through better health services, in the absence of substantial economic improvement. On the other hand, it is also true that the effects of economic improvement would be greatly reinforced through parallel improvement of health services and literacy.

The key to child health lies in much greater emphasis on the physical state, economic state, health and nutrition, and education of the mother. Such attention to the mother must start not after she has become a mother, not even when she is just about to become a mother, but even when she is herself an infant and a child, because it is what happens to her during her own childhood that will eventually determine the adequacy of her maternal state.

http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=169773

IROM, THE IRON LADY

IROM, THE IRON LADY
Shobha Shukla

As a woman I feel privileged to be living in a state (Uttar Pradesh) run by a woman and in a country whose highest office is adorned by a woman and where the reins of the ruling party are in the hands of yet another woman. A formidable trio indeed ,doing any feminist proud. Yet as a woman, I am deeply ashamed of not being aware till recently, about the laudable achievements of a fourth woman which surpass the ‘tiranga power’.this woman is 34 years old Irom Sharmila Chanu from Imphal—a Superwoman in the real sense of the word.

This woman has been on an indefinite hunger strike since November 2, 2000, protesting peacefully against army atrocities on the peace loving people of Manipur and the entire North East region. She is requesting a repeal of the repressive Armed Forces Special Powers Act ( AFPSA) which has been used with brazen brutality resulting in the killing of innocents and rape/molestation of countless hapless women in the conflict ridden areas of north east India.

Now in the 7th year of her marathon fast,Sharmila has been in and out of police custody, arrested for ‘ attempt to commit suicide’; hospitalized, forcibly nosefed through tubes, but has not touched any solid or liquid food or even water. Her organs are now failing steadily.

This unique protest of Sharmila is one of the longest solitary and peaceful struggles of our times---unique also because it has gone largely unnoticed by the press and public alike and totally ignored by the government.

Why this inhuman indifference?

Is it because Irom Sharmila represents a region which is so remote for us---geographically and socially--- that what happens to the 38 million people residing there is none of our business?

Is it because she is not affiliated to any political party or social organization and does not come under the protective banner of any outfit?

Is it because the Mahatma’s tool of non violent protest has become obsolete in this age of brutal violence and Gandhigiri is actually dead?

Is it because the glowing Indian economy has deadened our senses towards all acts of human rights violation unless they occur in the ‘mainland mainstream' India?

It is high we at least start searching for the right answers as Sharmila’s lone fight has stretched to 7 years, making her body a battle field. The people of Manipur are solidly behind her, but they are fighting a losing battle. Manipur has been a wasteland of fears and counter fears for decades. With the army on one side and rival insurgents on the other side, the present is dark and the future dismal for them.

Sharmila began her historic fast unto death to protest the killing of 10 innocent people when the army opened fire at Malom bus stand in Imphal (in retaliation to the bombing of an army column by insurgents. This was the proverbial last straw for the likes of Sharmila. She protested against the excessive militarization of the north east region and the promulgation of the draconian AFSPA aiming to curb the civil rights and liberty of the common people.

Are we going to remain silent, basking in the glory of our ignorance? Or are will we support this gritty ‘iron lady’ in her peaceful protest against a callous state and an indifferent media/public of mainland India? More than 100 TV channels and yet we are oblivious.

It is a miracle indeed that Sharmila is still alive. And that is perhaps God’s way of saying that she is on the right path and also giving us a chance to atone for our past apathies. For her satyagrah represents the best form of a peaceful struggle for truth, love peace to prevail upon violence and hatred.

Some right-minded citizens from mainland India have decided to support her in her quest for justice. They are starting a solidarity fast from 13th September for a few days outside Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital, Imphal, where Sharmila is currently lodged.

Let all of us become a part of this symbolic effort.

I appeal to the women of India, nay of the whole world, to fast, not for a son or a husband, but for a sister who thinks that ‘it is my bounden duty to restore freedom and dignity to my people’.

Let this solidarity fast be an ongoing process. Once in a week or in a fortnight let us fast in moral support of this crusader who has put her life at stake in her quest of seeking justice by peaceful means.

Let us make Irom’s mission a MOVEMENT so that truth may prevail.


Shobha Shukla
(The author teaches Physics at India’s noted Loreto Convent, and is an Asha Parivar (www.AshaParivar.org) activist. She has been writing on development issues in English and Hindi publications. She can be contacted at: shobha1shukla@yahoo.co.in)

Activists to fast in Imphal to support Irom Sharmila

http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/12bobby.htm

Activists to fast in Imphal to support Irom Sharmila

September 12, 2007 16:23 IST


Many people will be fasting in Imphal, Manipur from September 13 while hundreds from different countries in the world have signed the petition to fast for varying number of days (one to five) to support the 'Iron lady' from Manipur -- Irom Sharmila.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting for the last seven years, and government has been forcibly keeping her mostly in hospital confinement, has a clear demand: repeal the amended 1972 Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.

Not only in Manipur, but even in Dhaka, Bangladesh, civil society has been mobilised by Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum to organise a symbolic demonstration to support her demands.

The abuse of AFSPA is currently spawning grave human rights violations in some parts of India, say activists. Under the powers of AFSPA, on November 2, 2000, the Indian military opened fire on citizens in Manipur. Since then, Irom Sharmila has refused to eat and drink anything in resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against civilians.

"I am very encouraged to see how a single woman has been able to withstand a fast for seven years. It only shows how deeply she has been affected by the brutality of our armed forces and her extraordinary determination to fight for justice. As for our authorities, I hope they will soon see the light and recognise the sincere demands of this one person who fights on behalf of thousands of victims of the brutality of our armed forces" said Xavier Sanjivi.

"This fast is to support one of the longest solitary peaceful struggles of our times which saddens our hearts but doesn't move the authorities a bit. We are confident that the truth will emerge victorious one day," remarked Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey before boarding the train to Manipur.

Dr Pandey, who is the convener of India's largest network of people's movements - the National Alliance of People's Movements will be sitting on a five-day fast along with other activists outside Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Imphal from September 13.

International Health Partnership to strengthen health systems

International Health Partnership to strengthen health systems

International Health Partnership (IHP) was launched on 5 September 2007 to save millions of lives by fostering better co-ordination between global aid donors, helping developing countries improve their national health systems and supporting the specific health priorities of developing countries.

IHP brings together a range of stakeholders including health ministers from developed and developing countries, and leaders from the major health agencies and foundations.

Burundi, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mozambique, Nepal and Zambia are the seven ‘first wave’ countries in Africa and Asia that announced to join the new IHP, which is supported by donor governments and agencies representing half of the world’s aid spending on health, which totals $14 billion.

“It is not lack of cash or commitment, or lack of good tools to get the job done. The biggest bottlenecks are inadequate systems for delivering these powerful tools, and ineffective aid. Without explicit support, health systems will not be able to reach the poor, with essential interventions, on an adequate scale, in time” remarked Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the World Health Organization at the launch.

IHP will help build national health systems in some of the poorest countries in the world. It will mean healthier people, living longer lives.

The lack of strong health systems, have appallingly slowed down the health response in most of the developing countries. Over time these countries can potentially address the massive health challenges they face, only if they take on the task of strengthening their health systems and receive sufficient international support.

“There is no greater cause than that every man, woman and child in the world should be able to benefit from the best medicine and healthcare. And our vision is that we can triumph over ancient scourges and for the first time in history conquer polio, TB, measles and then with further advances and initiatives, go on to address pneumococcal pneumonia, malaria and eventually HIV/AIDS” said UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown at the launch.

Despite advances over recent years – for example, in expanding vaccination coverage and access to antiretroviral therapy – progress towards achieving the key health targets in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is too slow, costs lives and must improve. One woman dies in childbirth each minute. Every day, about 28,000 children under five die from largely preventable causes, including malaria; more than 10,000 people are infected with HIV; and 22,000 people become sick with tuberculosis.

This is neither fair nor tolerable. Rates of death and illness must be reduced, health inequalities resolved and access to basic health services vastly increased.

Urgent action is needed if we are to get back on track to reach these goals. This process must be country-led and outcome-driven, based on priorities set out in comprehensive national health plans. It will require increased emphasis on collaboration, teamwork and effective coordination.

The renewed political interest in strengthening health systems gives the important opportunity to redouble efforts to meet the challenge of the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) head on. Strengthening health systems means addressing key constraints related to health worker staffing, infrastructure, health commodities, logistics, tracking progress and effective financing.

Donor agencies that signed the partnership agreement at the launch were: World Health Organisation, European Commission, World Bank, UNAIDS, UNFPA, GAVI Alliance, UNICEF, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, African Development Bank, Global Fund to Fight HIV and AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and UN Development Group.

Inequities in health are among the major development challenges. The WHO World Report on “Knowledge for Better Health: Strengthening Health Systems” argued that science must help to improve public health systems and should not be confined to producing drugs, diagnostics, vaccines and medical devices. Biomedical discoveries cannot improve people's health without research to find out how to apply them within different health systems and diverse political and social contexts, thus ensuring that they reach those who need them the most.

Health systems research suffers from a poor image and has been under-funded compared to biomedical research despite widespread recognition of its importance. The field attracts less than one tenth of 1% of total health expenditure in low-income countries. The lack of attention given to this field is also reflected in the fact that only 0.7 % of scientific articles published globally in the year 2000 were in the area of health systems research.

Health systems strengthening, is a continuous process of implementing effective changes in policies and management within the health sector. The approaches to health systems strengthening are manifold and often may be different from country to country, however some of the existing interventions have demonstrated that reducing bureaucracy by streamlined management, increasing cost-effectiveness, improving efficiency through reorganized services, decentralizing health systems, and allocating resources to better address the needs of the population, improve the health systems by making them effective, efficient, and equitable.

Published in:

The Tripoli Post (Libya): 24 September 2007

Why we should fast in support of Irom Sharmila

Why we should fast in support of Irom Sharmila

To sign the on-line petition in support of Irom Sharmila, go to:

www.ashaparivar.org/petition/Sharmila

Let's talk about why should I fast in support of Irom Sharmila? Because her commitment and resolve has shamed me! And I am a coward, who doesn't have enough courage to go to Manipur and sit with Irom Sharmila. This is the least one can do, in solidarity.

Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been fasting since last 7 years, and government has been forcibly keeping her mostly in hospital confinement, has a clear demand: repeal the amended 1972 Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).

The Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) which is operative at the time of a 'suspected' riot(s) in order to 'maintain public order', allows killing by shooting, entering and search of property, and arbitrary detention, etc., its abuse is currently spawning grave human rights violations in some parts of India. Under the powers of AFSPA, on 2 November 2000, the Indian military opened fire on its own citizens in the state of Manipur. Since then, Irom Sharmila, a resident of the tragic state, has refused to eat and drink anything in resistance to indiscriminate use of the AFSPA against civilians. The response of the Indian government to her resistance has been repetitively evasive: the government has repeatedly arrested her on a charge of 'attempted suicide', confined her in hospitals, and then freed her under applicable law, but, up until now, has failed to provide any fundamental alternative to the law in question.

"This fast is to support one of the longest solitary peaceful struggles of our times which saddens our hearts but doesn't move the authorities a bit. We are confident that the truth will emerge victorious one day" poignantly remarked Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey before boarding the train to Manipur today. Dr Pandey, who is the convener of India's largest network of people's movements – NAPM (National Alliance of People's Movements), will be sitting on a 5 days fast along with other activists outside Jawahar Lal Nehru Hospital in Imphal, Manipur from 13 September 2007.

Other frontline activists who will be joining the fast in Imphal include: Biju Barboruah, Mahesh Kumar Pandey, Editor of 'Sachchi-Muchchi' Arvind Murti, Jai Shankar, Prem, Paras Ram Rana, and Faizal Khan.

Several other individuals in many parts of the world will be keeping the fast – where they are – for varying durations – in support of Irom Sharmila's struggle, I am just one of them.

North-East India abounds with sordid sagas of rape and molestation of women with alleged involvement of Armed Forces personnel. Who can forget the stunning sight three years back, of about three dozen naked women protesting on the street outside the then Assam Rifles headquarters at Kangla Fort in Imphal carrying placards saying ' Indian Army rape us,'outraged by the rape, torture and murder of 32 year old unmarried Thangjam Manorama?

The AFSPA has been used in the north-east of India, to carry out extra judicial killings, extra judicial deprivation of liberty to people by illegal imposition of curfew, long periods of detention at army posts and camps and use of churches and school as detention or interrogation centers. Torture, with a view to extract confessions, includes beating with rifle butts, kicking with boots and hitting with blunt weapons, giving electric shocks, breaking limbs, depriving persons of food, drink and sleep, hanging persons upside down and beating on soles, burying persons alive, stripping, stuffing chilli powder in nose, eyes and private parts, hands and feet tied, and the whole body suspended over fire with a bamboo in between the hands and legs and threat to shoot, interrogation at gun point. Most of these would be considered a serious offence under sections 330 and 331 of the IPC. Provisions of AFSPA make it extremely difficult for a person to seek any legal recourse for justice.

I heard first about Irom Sharmila when she was awarded the 2007 Gwangju Prize for Human Rights. I was indeed amazed to read about Irom Sharmila's steely resolve, and later I learnt more about her peaceful non-violent struggle from other fellow-activists. An enormous guilt surfaced within me, because I had no courage to go to Manipur and join her struggle, even for tokenism. I rather flew to Thailand.

She has no banner, no organization, no vested interest, no press-release, no statement – except a compulsive singular demand to repeal AFSPA. She hasn't resorted to violence, rather has sacrificed her life to her strongest conviction – repeal AFSPA for the larger benefit to humankind, especially to women in conflict-stricken areas. This is indeed one of the most peaceful non-violent struggles one can come across, and as Dr Pandey noted "I am an atheist. But if there is any divinity it is this. If this is not spiritualism then what is? She is the epitome of purity."

The protest of Irom Sharmila represents the most ideal form of peaceful struggle for a democratic demand. Her victory is essential for the strengthening of democracy in India and for the respect for human rights around the world. Her victory will determine whether the voice of common citizen will be heard or the state will trample over people's rights with anti-people laws and policies.

A fast in solidarity, from wherever you are in the world, is just one of the easy ways to express your solidarity and strengthen Irom's voice.

To sign the on-line petition in support of Irom Sharmila, go to:
www.ashaparivar.org/petition/Sharmila

Under-nutrition levels in India among the highest

Under-nutrition levels in India among the highest

Under-nutrition levels in India are among the highest in the world. Worse still, while the overall state of nutrition and health in India is bad enough, the situation is even worse in the poorer states, not to speak of the more deprived regions within these states.

Around 40% children are low birth weight and around 47% children are malnourished. It is understood that 60% of Infant & child deaths could be prevented only if we are able to check malnutrition among children. This was reported on the last day of National Nutrition Week (1-7 September) by representatives of Food and Nutrition Board of Government of India and CARE. CARE has been fighting malnutrition and hunger in UP. The theme for this year’s National Nutrition Week was “Nutrition Promotion for stronger Nation”.

Malnutrition in the form of under-nutrition or deficiencies of essential nutrients continues to cause severe illness and morbidity. It is estimated that more than half of women suffer from anaemia and almost the same proportion are at risk of iodine deficiency (Source: National Family Health Survey). Millions of children are affected by insufficient vitamin A. Keeping in view the severity of the issue, CARE launched INHP (Integrated Nutrition Health Project) in UP in close partnership with Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), to improve the health and nutrition status of women and children, especially girl children.

Since infants feeding practices are one of the important determinants of child malnutrition, awareness generation on the nutrition care of the children is very important. The mothers and other family members need to be made aware about the following important issues in care of newborn and children. Therefore, INHP focuses on the following:

a) Breast Feeding: Early initiation of breast feeding within one hour of birth is important as this ensures better lactation as well as colostrum availability to the infants, which is considered to be the first immunization of the child. Colostrum is rich in anti-bodies which safeguard the child from infections. Colostrum also contains high quality proteins and is very rich in Vitamin ’A’ which is required for the child’s growth during the first few days of life.

b) Exclusive Breast Feeding: Exclusive breast feeding (only breast milk, not even water) for the first 6 months fulfils all the nutritional requirements of the child for his growth and development
c) Complementary Feeding: All children need complementary foods after 6 months as the breast milk alone cannot meet the nutritional requirements of the fast growing child. These complementary foods can be prepared at home with cereals like wheat, ragi, bajra, dal and rice after roasting and powdering, mashed seasonal fruits, green vegetables, etc.

Better utilisation of health services and better acceptance of family planning, and even better education cannot obviously compensate for and overcome the effects of poverty, economic deprivation and poor diets on nutrition, body build and stature. Substantial improvements in the nutritional status of the poorest population groups in the country cannot be achieved merely through programmes for fertility control and child survival through better health services, in the absence of substantial economic improvement. On the other hand, it is also true that the effects of economic improvement would be greatly reinforced through parallel improvement of health services and literacy.

The key to child health lies in much greater emphasis on the physical state, economic state, health and nutrition, and education of the mother. Such attention to the mother must start not after she has become a mother, not even when she is just about to become a mother, but even when she is herself an infant and a child, because it is what happens to her during her own childhood that will eventually determine the adequacy of her maternal state.

Time to check campus violence

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Time to check campus violence
The Statesman, India
6 September 2007


Many Dhaka University teachers and students were manhandled and detained for staging a peaceful protest. They were questioning the presence of an army camp at the Central stadium of the university for which they were brutally beaten up by army and police forces and several of them were detained.

Civil rights organisations in the world have strongly condemned the attack on the university faculty and students. Asha Parivar, an international network of individuals who are committed to establishing a just and humane social order free from all discriminations, has spoken out against the incident.

“The quality of education and the prevalence of campus violence in Bangladesh, particularly in institutions of higher education, and their unavoidable interaction, are some of the major concerns in the country’s educational sector,” reported a Dhaka University Press publication **Quality of Education and Campus Violence** in 2000. Despite these reports, the grim scene at the university hasn’t changed much over the past years.

Campus violence is not just limited to Bangladesh. In India too, especially northern state universities are ridden with campus violence. “Instead of enhancing the standards of these seats of learning, the faculty members have to bother about how to just keep the normal affairs going” said Magsaysay awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey, who is also the convener of India’s largest network of people’s movements - NAPM (National Alliance of People’s Movements).

Not only did the army and police manhandle the protesting Dhaka University students and teachers, but also five professors, including the general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers’ Association, Dr Anwar Hossein, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Molecular Sciences, were detained by the military backed interim government of Bangladesh under the emergency rules.

The students were staging a peaceful protest against the presence of army camp at the Central stadium of the university when army and police mercilessly started beating them up in their attempt to check the growing resistance from students and faculty members.

Dr Hossein had also led a movement earlier against the BNP-Jamaat-e-Islami regime whose police had molested a female student of the same university. At midnight, the police raided the ladies’ dormitory and many of the protesting students were taken into custody. This was on the 28th of July 2002. There has not been any significant decrease in violence and sexual harassment on campuses; in fact, the violence has become increasingly raucous.

Dr Sandeep Pandey adds: “Sadly, violence in institutions of education has become a normal affair. The outbreak of violence and lawlessness on campuses of educational institutions is regrettable. Today’s need is reorientation of the educational structure. Education should be made vocational and humane.”

Activists of NAPM and Asha Parivar (www.ashaparivar.org) have condemned the detention of students and five professors and demanded their immediate and unconditional release from the state’s custody. KM Sabir, senior advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, has supported the struggle not only to release the detained professors and students, but also to restore a more conducive environment on the campus.

Online at: http://www.thestatesman.net/page.news.php?clid=4&theme=&usrsess=1&id=168890

After 20 years, RTI is another blow to Hashimpura survivors

After 20 years, RTI is another blow to Hashimpura survivors


It was disappointing that despite of 615 RTI applications filed by victim families and survivors of Hashimpura custodial killings more than 100 days ago, vital information hasn’t been provided by the UP State government. These RTI applications were filed on 24 May 2007 in Lucknow– to mark 20th anniversary of the Hashimpura bloodbath and their unduly agonising long wait for justice!

Most of the critical information pertinent to the case, including the Crime Branch - Central Investigation Department (CB-CID) report, has not been provided. RTI Act had earlier provided hope to these people who have been struggling despite of all odds for justice since past 20 years.

Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC) personnel had allegedly gunned down over 40 people on 22 May 1987 (all muslim). The Hashimpura massacre occurred during the communal riots that broke out in Meerut in May 1987. Apparently, the immediate provocation was the Rajiv Gandhi-led Central government's decision to open the Babri Masjid for worship by Hindus.

The triad of police, administration and judicial system made all efforts to delay or even expunge the case in some instance.

On 24 May 2007, they had asked the State to tell them why these PAC accused have not been suspended from service while being prosecuted for custodial murders? What departmental proceedings and disciplinary action, if any, were initiated against them? Why was there a delay of almost a decade in even charge sheeting the PAC accused? Why were most of those indicted by the CB CID Report let off the hook? They are asking for the CBCID Inquiry Report into the PAC killings to be made public.

In 1988, the State government ordered an inquiry by the CB-CID. The CB-CID 's report, submitted to the State government in 1994, was never made public. In 1995, some of the victims moved the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court to make the report public and to prosecute those indicted in it.

Also in May 2007, Senior Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover had filed 2 RTI applications with the Home Department of UP Government. These RTI applications asked for a copy of CB-CID inquiry report. The State was also asked to reveal how many persons were indicted by the CB-CID report as complicit in the PAC killings and why did the State sanction criminal prosecution only against 19 PAC men and not all the others indicted in the CB-CID report?

No reply has been given to these two RTI applications filed by Vrinda Grover. The State has simply chosen to stonewall the citizens’ right to information.

Today (3 September 2007) Vrinda Grover met the Appellate Officer at CB-CID who accepted that the information should have been provided in response to RTI applications, and assured Vrinda and other activists including Magsaysay Awardee (2002) and senior social activist Dr Sandeep Pandey that prompt remedial action shall be taken.
In response to the remaining 613 RTI applications filed by victim families and survivors in May 2007, some information has been provided which also includes duly-attested blank pages! The Annual Confidential Report (ACR) of the accused PAC men reveals that mass custodial killing of muslims doesn’t even invite a negative entry. Ironically the ACR noting for the year 1987 gives the accused PAC men a glowing and congratulatory entry. Further documents provided in response to these RTI applications disclose that accused PAC men were suspended very briefly and then quickly re-instated in service on flimsy grounds.

The struggle of survivors and family members of those killed in Hashimpura massacre, has undoubtedly intensified over the past 20 years, despite of all disappointments and multi-prong attempts to wash-it off. It also raises valid questions on the extent to which our systems in governance have turned communal.

No RTI relief for Hashimpura victims

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/03bobby.htm

No RTI relief for Hashimpura victims
September 03, 2007 20:43 IST


For the kith and kin of Uttar Pradesh's Hashimpura massacre victims, it has been a long wait for justice. After knocking several doors, the survivors' last hope was the Right to Information Act.

But even that failed to yield results. At least 615 RTI applications were moved 100 days ago (May 24) -- the day which marked the 20th anniversary of the bloodbath in Hashimpura. Some queries were answered, which included some blank pages, said survivors.
However, on Monday, the appellate officer at the Crime Branch-Central Investigation Department assured some activists of prompt action.

Critical information, including the Crime Branch-Central Investigation Department report, has not been provided, the victims said. They alleged that the police, administration and judicial system tried to delay or even expunge the case.

The RTI queries they posed were: Why the Provincial Armed Constabulary accused have not been suspended from service while being prosecuted for custodial murders? What departmental proceedings and disciplinary action, if any, were initiated against them? Why was there a delay of almost a decade in charge-sheeting the PAC accused? Why were most of those indicted by the CB-CID report let off the hook?

The RTI application also wanted the CB-CID inquiry report into the PAC killings to be made public.

In 1988, the state government ordered an inquiry by the CB-CID. The report, submitted to the Uttar Pradesh government in1994, was never made public. In 1995, some victims moved the Allahabad high court to make the report public.

Also in May 2007, senior Supreme Court advocate Vrinda Grover filed two RTI applications with the state home department. The state was also asked to reveal how many persons were indicted by the CB-CID report. No reply has been given to Grover.

While accepting that information should have been provided in response to RTI applications, the CB-CID appellate officer on Monday assured Vrinda and other activists, including Magsaysay award-winner Sandeep Pandey, of prompt action.

Some documents provided in response to the rest of the RTI applications said that the accused PAC men were suspended briefly and then re-instated, said activists.

PAC personnel allegedly gunned down over 40 people on May 22, 1987. The incident occurred during the communal riots that broke out in Meerut after the then Central government opened the Babri Masjid for worship.

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/sep/03bobby.htm

NAPM Condemns Bangla Army Repression

National Alliance of People's Movements

National Office: A wing, First Floor Haji Habib Building,

Naigaon Cross Road, Dadar ( East) Mumbai-400014

Phone: 022-24150529 , E-mail –mumbainapm@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------------

Press Release

31 August 2007

NAPM Condemns Bangla Army Repression

The last week's brutal onslaught of military backed regime in Bangladesh against the students and the teaching community has deeply hurt the freedom loving people of India. We at the National Alliance for People's Movement deplore these incidents and demand that Bangladesh army should immediately withdraw from the forceful occupation of the Dacca University campus and release the detained students and professors.

NAPM also appeals to the International Community to raise its voice against the brutal suppression of civil rights by the military backed regime and ask for immediate cessation of anti-people activities of the government. Having shown a way towards and exemplary grass roots development and improvement in human development indices in the recent years, the ruling class in Bangladesh cannot allow the country to recede into the days of totalitarian rule. People of Bangladesh had earned their freedom and civil liberties at enormous sacrifice and the government should not dilute its importance.

Sandeep Pandey, Sanjay M.G. (Ex Senate Member, Mumbai University) , Medha Patkar, Mukta Srivastava, Thomas Kocherry, Geetha Ramakrishanan, Gabriele D., P. Chennaiah, Ulka Mahajan, Rajendra Ravi, Anand Mazgaonkar, Sr. Celia.

( National Convenors NAPM)

Published in:

- Asian Tribune Thursday 30 August 2007

- Scoop Independent News, Thursday 30 August 2007

Dhaka University teachers and students beaten up and detained

Many Dhaka University teachers and students were manhandled and detained for staging a peaceful protest in Bangladesh. They were questioning the presence of Army camp at the Central stadium of the Dhaka University for which they were brutally beaten up by army and police forces and several of them detained.

Several civil rights' organizations in the world have strongly condemned the attack on the University faculty and students. Asha Parivar, an international network of individuals who are committed to establish a just and humane social order free of all discriminations based on religion, caste, gender, race, nationality, class, education, age, political power, muscle/military power, employer-employee relationship (and similar human created categories which become the basis for discrimination and domination), has condemned the attack by army and police on the University staff and students.

"The quality of education and the prevalence of campus violence in Bangladesh, particularly in institutions of higher education, and their unavoidable interaction, are some of the major concerns in the country's educational sector" reported a Dhaka University Press publication 'Quality of Education and campus violence; in 2000. Despite of these reports, the grim scene in the university hasn't changed much over the past years.

Campus violence is not just limited to Bangladesh. In India too, especially northern state universities are ridden with campus violence. "Instead of enhancing the standards of these seats of learning the faculty members have to bother about how to just keep the normal affairs going" said Magsaysay Awardee Dr Sandeep Pandey, who is also the convener of India's largest network of people's movements - NAPM (National Alliance of People's Movements).

Not only army and police manhandled the protesting Dhaka University students and teachers, but also five professors including the general secretary of the Dhaka University Teachers Association Dr Anwar Hossein, who is also the Dean of the Faculty of Biology and Molecular Sciences, were detained by the military backed interim government of Bangladesh under the Emergency Rules.

The students were staging a peaceful protest against the presence of Army Camp at the Central stadium of the university when army and police mercilessly started beating them up in their attempt to nip the growing resistance from students and faculty members against presence of Army Camp on-campus.

Dr Anwar who is among the five professors arrested, had also led a movement earlier against immediate past BNP-Jaamaat-e-Islami regime whose police had molested a female student of the same university and had later raided the female dormitory at midnight and took many of the protesting female students to the police custody on 28 July 2002. There has not been any significant decrease in violence and sexual harassment on campuses; in fact, the violence has become increasingly raucous.

Dr Sandeep Pandey adds that "sadly there is a complete normalisation of violence in institutions of education. The outbreak of violence and lawlessness on campuses of educational institutions is regrettable. Today's need is the reorientation of the educational structure. Education should be made vocational and humane," adds Dr Pandey.

Activists of NAPM and Asha Parivar have condemned the detention of students and five professors and demanded their immediate and unconditional release from the state's custody. Km Sabir, senior advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, has supported the struggle not only to release the detained professors and students, but also to restore a more conducive environment on-campus for learning.

Online at: http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7173

Online at: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0708/S00406.htm

Asian Tribune

Thursday 30 August 2007

Public pressure mounts against the arrest of Binayak Sen

People from not only Chattisgarh but across India and abroad have demonstrated support and signed on-line petition campaign demanding action against the unlawful imprisonment by the state since 14 May 2007 of Dr Binayak Sen. Dr Binayak Sen is the General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh PUCL (People's Union for Civil Liberties) and also the Vice-President of the National PUCL. Dr Sen has been a tireless crusader working towards an alternative health system responsive to the needs of the poor.

Dr Sen, a medical doctor from Christian Medical College, Vellore . In recognition of his work, the CMC, Vellore conferred on him the Paul Harrison Award in 2004, which is the highest award given to an alumnus for distinguished service in rural areas. He continues to be an inspiration to successive generations of students and faculty. He is a committed people's rights activist, and has been struggling to protect the rights and liberties of tribal people in Chattisgarh. His arrest by the state on 14 May 2007 had left countless activists and communities stunned.

"Dr Binayak Sen should be immediately released unconditionally by the state" said noted social activist and Magsaysay Awardee (2002) Dr Sandeep Pandey, who heads National Alliance of People's Movements (NAPM). "Binayak Sen has made commendable contribution in responding to healthcare needs of the most underserved communities over decades now, and has brought hope and empowerment to tribal communities of Chattisgarh by strengthening people's voices to safeguard their rights and civil liberties" remarked Dr Pandey.

Dr Sen had a distinguished medical career in CMC Vellore, graduating in Medicine and later acquiring an MD in Paediatrics. From 1976 to 1978, he was a faculty member at the Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health at the Jawaharlal Nehru University , New Delhi. He left his academic appointment to work in a community based rural health centre in Hoshangabad district of M.P. focusing on problems of tuberculosis. During the late seventies, he became an active member of the Medico Friend Circle , a national organization of health professionals working towards an alternative health system responsive to the needs of the poor. This involvement continues till today.

Binayak worked with mine workers in Dalli Rajahara towards addressing their health needs, helping them set up and manage their own Shaheed Hospital . When this hospital no longer required his leadership, Binayak moved to a mission hospital in Tilda where he worked in Paediatrics and Community Health. After the death of Shankar Guha Niyogi with whom he was closely associated, Binayak moved to Raipur. From 1991, he has worked in developing relevant models of primary health care in Chhattisgarh. He was a member of the state advisory committee to initiate the community based health worker programme across Chhattisgarh, now well known as the Mitanin programme. He also gives his services to a weekly clinic in a tribal community in Dhamtari district. He continues to provide health care to the children of the marginalised, especially the migrant labourers.

Binayak has been active and effective in defending the liberties of the disadvantaged, especially through the PUCL. He has served as the General Secretary of the State PUCL Committee for the past five years and as Vice President of the National Committee for the last three years. As General Secretary of the Chhattisgarh PUCL, he helped organize fact finding campaigns into human rights violations in the state including custody deaths, fake encounters, hunger deaths, dysentery epidemics and malnutrition.

In recent times he has worked intensively to bring large scale oppression and mal-governance within the so called Salwa Judoom in Dantewara to national and international attention.

The state had earlier failed to save the life of a dedicated frontline activist Shankar Guha Niyogi years ago. People around the world are outraged by the unlawful arrest of Dr Sen and very concerned about safety and dignity of Dr Sen in custody. More than 100 days have passed since Dr Sen was imprisoned. It also puts a question mark on our democracy where voices of pro-poor activists are stifled by the state in one of the most outrageous manner. Hope the vanguards of justice are listening.

Online at: http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/7169

Amend Constitution to enable public debate

REDIFF NEWS (23 August 2007)

Amend Constitution to enable public debate
Medha Patkar, Aruna Roy and Sandeep Pandey

Much has been said and written about the India-United States nuclear deal; beginning with the statement issued by many eminent nuclear scientists soon after the talks on the deal began between India and US governments. Public fora and people's organisations such as Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament and Peace called it anti-sovereignty.

Today, when it is seen as an issue of conflict between the UPA and its Left Front allies, we as representatives of people's movements must reiterate our stand, which is that the deal is not just anti-democratic but against peace, and against environmentally sustainable energy generation and self-reliant economic development.

The Left Front is questioning the fact that such an international deal with significant implications is imposed on the Indian people and Parliament, with no public debate and consultation in India. While US Congress took a year and a half to discuss the proposed change in the US laws, permitting nuclear commerce with India, the process in India has been totally undemocratic.

The deal is part of a successful attempt by the United States to build a strategic relationship with India, in confronting the rising capitalist challenge from China where India will be used as its client in the region. Directly or indirectly, the US will also enter the Indian subcontinent, to manage intra-regional, inter-country relations. This whole process is likely to escalate the arms race between Pakistan and India, sabotaging the India-Pakistan peace process. How can we ignore that fact the US sells arms to both India and Pakistan?

The agreement also facilitates a full-fledged international exchange of nuclear fuel and technology with insufficient caution and control. There will no doubt be a corporate rush to extract, export and misuse nuclear fuel and technology, and it will be very difficult to prevent misuse even for the arms trade. Highly superficial clauses don't instill any confidence against such a possibility.

However, our basic objections to this deal stem from our opposition to the production and use of both nuclear weapons and nuclear energy. The irreversible dangers of radioactivity and its ongoing impact on health, water, and the environment are factors that are being summarily dismissed in an irresponsible manner. The whole cycle of nuclear production beginning with uranium mining, is fraught with catastrophic dangers, and as a nation we cannot use the decisions of another country as justification for our own. Places like Jaduguda in Jharkhand, Kota and Pokhran in Rajasthan, have already demonstrated the ongoing dangers of nuclear use to the common citizen.

We, in India, have inherited rich renewable sources of energy, which are environmentally benign and abundantly available. The solar, wind, and ocean waves along with human power need to be fully tapped and put to use with people's control. Appropriate technology, research and development for production of cheaper equipment and tools, need to be combined with just distribution, for the right priorities. There is no political will for this in the ruling establishment. Estimates show that India can generate far more energy through alternative, environmentally sound sources. The nuclear energy option should be put up for widespread public debate giving citizens a full opportunity to make an informed choice.

This deal, however, raises questions beyond nuclear energy, opening up large spaces for US government and corporate control in India. This, no doubt, is a symbol of imperialism already demonstrated through the Iraq war and the obvious links of US policy with corporate control over resources. With unbound exchange of information, data and material, knowledge and technology the dominant global power is all set to encroach upon Indian reserves and impinge upon our sovereignty. The deal ensures supply of sufficient nuclear material to nuclear reactors in India for the next 40 years, but the precautionary agreements to negotiations and consultations are only promises for the future. All this is subject to approvals and conditions to be monitored by the US Congress, while sidelining Indian Parliament.

The United Progressive Alliance government is proving to be increasingly submissive to the exploitation of our resources, knowledge and cheap labour by commercial interests and corporate interests. The Bharatiya Janata Party and its allies are also in the power game, using capitalist forces for support. The Left has raised an important issue using their bargaining power. Non-party people's formations may not have the power in Parliament, but we have an important set of issues that need to be considered.

The Indian Constitution which allows deals such as this, as well as international treaties and agreements to be reached without democratic consultation, needs an amendment to make public debate and referendums mandatory and pre-conditional. We need an approval from the Indian electorate before we agree to sign the agreement.

Online at: http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/aug/23guest1.htm