Report of April 2007

JanMitra Nyas/PVCHR
Monthly Report April-07

1.A convention of weavers and artisans was organized towards Varanasi Weavers Trust(VWT) in which a large number of weavers and craftsmen collected at Paradkar Bhawan- Dr Darin Gunsekhara an eminent economist from Shrilanka was the chief guest and the brain behind total plan of the trust scheme. He shared his views which was widely appreciated by all section of society. Convention decided to send the letter to all parties in UP during election for inclusion of agenda of weavers and VWT,which sent by Siddique Hasan,coordinator of Weavers and artisans forum of PVCHR.
2.May day(International labour Day) was celebrated in various villages of Varanasi, Ambedkar Nagar, and Sonebhadra, in the Varanasi region, Mushars bastis and weaver concentration areas earthen lights and candles were lighted and a vow was made as to make a joint struggle for the rights of labour like minimum wages and NREGA be imposed in Varanasi district be included.
In Sonebhadra may day was celebrated by Ghasia people who got there job cards recently along with their voters card after a long period of struggle. They pledged at matryas dome of their starved children prayed for them. With making a vow that in future this incidence will not occur- labour being their rights- they would work hard and make the area hunger free zone.
At Ambedkar Nagar May Day was celebrated at Alhadpur village regarding starvation and malnutrition among childrens- the matter was brought to the administration, NHRC, AHRC simultaneously by PVCHR. Please See:http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2338/
3.UP election watch activity with ADR initiatives was done in order to have a clean government which is concerned about peoples welfare motive behind this activity consisted collecting affidavits from the district head quarters and analysis of these affidavits be released through media to the society and to have a watch on any malpractices the activity in election this attracted non political people to work independently to initiate in bringing out legislative candidate of better image.
4.PVCHR organized a meeting in Sonebhadra and Chandauli campaigning for demand as to accountability of government regarding its proper 100-day guarantee of work under NREGA and a fortnightly meeting of worker of unorganized sector being held, so as to monitor the programme.
5.Ms Geetanjali released an article in business standard in banking and finance forum subjected to Banarasi silk.
In her article she studied the condition of weavers and states of affairs, all the different players involved weavers, traders, buyers and NGO have different take on it and tried to find where this centuries old craft is headed.
She further urged while summing up that Government and NGOs to create and promote structure and allows weavers to directly engage with the market and this is something that emerged most strongly in the three days she spent with Banarasi silk weaving community much of the exploitation that weavers undergo will be mitigated if they have option of selling their product directly.
She felt that the Banarasi sari business has sounded a death knell to not only the livelihood of thousands of weavers- it is a matter of shame that Banarasi silk for which the area has been known for few centuries, to virtually disappear from the local markets.
6.In the Hi-Tech city area the peasants and weavers condition has become worst. In Mangalpur weavers organized a meeting in which they made the programme of 9th April 07 to attend the programme of Dr Darin.
7.Again on 13th April a pledge has been made so as to vote for only that MLA contestant of political party who gives a written affidavit and will care the cause of peasants against the hi- tech city.
8.In Sakaldeeha block of chandauli district the mushars of Alampur brought to the notice of District magistrate the ignorance and irregularities related to their basic natural rights, as they were living a life of hard ship. This complaint was made to the DM in which the scenario of PDS, AAY ICDS programme, old age pension, National family planning benefits, NREGA and demanded ration cards etc were made.
9.UP election watch exhibition was made at Rajendraghat in order to aware the public in general to cast their votes only to contestant who don’t have a criminal background or pending cases lying at the court.
10.78 Musahar family were dying of starvation due to negligence of the government inaction and neglect in Sakaldeeha. The demand was placed to the district magistrate Sakaldeeha under the right to livelihood was made on 5 April 07.
11.PVCHR wrote letters to all political parties for inclusion of issues of Musahar,weavers and hunger and Savitri Bai Phule women forum wrote the letters in this context with the issues of 33 percentage reservation to women,sex selective abortion issues. All issues are included by all major parties. Congress (I)'s manifesto supported the demand of PVCHR that
Musahar will be in ST category.

Case Study 1:

www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2338/

Several families in Alhadapur village were engaged in the weaving industry. However owing to the influx of cheap alternatives from outside the country and various other factors like poor management of the industry by the private entrepreneurs and lack of government support, the weaving industry in Uttar Pradesh deteriorated. This terminated the source of income of several thousand families in the state. Most of these families are staying in villages and Alhadapur is one such village.
Many persons who found it difficult to manage a daily meal for the family resorted to various other jobs, like Mr. Laxmi Chandra Jaiswal, the father of 5-year-old Juli and the husband of Mina Devi. Jaiswal opened a small shop in his village where he sold cigarettes and betel leafs. However Jaiswal fell ill in 2006 and he had to sell his shop and borrow money for his treatment. This upset the family income to a stage where Jaiswal could not anymore find means to feed his family.
Juli is 5 years old and is malnourished. When the PVCHR came to know about the situation of the family and several of their neighbours the activists attached to the PVCHR took Juli to a pediatrician Dr. R. K. Singh at the local Primary Health Centre. The doctor diagnosed that Juli is suffering from malnourishment. Juli is only 7 kilogram in weight, while children of her age and height should ideally weigh around 18 kilogram. Juli is suffering from Grade IV malnourishment according to Dr. R. K. Singh of the Primary Health Centre and Dr. Lenin of the PVCHR.
Mina Devi said that her daughter is suffering from malnourishment for a year as the family could not afford to feed her. Mina Devi, though is working as a maid servant in a nearby house, she is given left over food as her wages, which often might be one or two roti . Juli is not attending any school since the family could not afford it. The family does not receive the benefits of any schemes by the government for distribution of free food grains. On inquiry it was revealed that village head is not interested in issuing certificates to the poor families in the village so that he could sell the food grains supplied by the government in black market. The local Anganwadi remains closed and have done nothing so far to conduct a study of the health condition of the children in the village. The Jaiswal family does not have any land other than their small hut. Jaiswal and other families have filed petitions with the district administration several times requesting for help and to include them as those who require assistance for food. However it is reported that owing to wide corruption at the district administration office the petitions were turned down or not attended to.
In addition to the Jaiswal family, Mr. Shri Ram Lakhan Kanauja also is living in similar conditions. He is 65 years old and does not have a job and is on the verge of death. Similar is the condition of Mr. Abdul Haq and his wife Sazida who are both blind. Haq is also 65 years old and unemployed. He and his wife are suffering from malnourishment and have received no help from the district administration thus far. It is reported that there are several such families suffering from similar or worse conditions, and in the absence of immediate help from the district administration many people may die from acute starvation or malnourishment induced by starvation.

Case Study 2
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2312/

Persons affected: Musahar community Location: At Dallipur-Fattepur village, Pindra Tehsil, Badagaon block in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh state, India
The Musahar community, in Varanasi district, is socially and economically one of the most marginalized communities in India. The Musahar community falls under the category of Scheduled Caste. Although the practice of untouchability is a crime in Indian law the Musahar community is not allowed to enjoy social life with the mainstream society and to share common amenities in the village.
People from the Musahar community are deprived of owning property, means of livelihood, and education. For their survival they work as laborers in the agricultural fields or do some other hard physical labour. The remuneration for such work is given in kind, mostly discarded food or grains. Due to this they do not have any savings that they could use during times of need. This forces them into starvation at times when they have no regular work.
Taking into account the plight of Musahar community, in 1998 the Sub Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Pindra allotted some land in favour of the Musahar community of Dallipur-Fattepur village, Pindra Tehsil, Badagaon block in Varanasi district so that the people belonging to Musahar community could construct their huts and to live with their families without any fear of displacement. But till the date they have no possession over the allotted lands. It is alleged that the upper caste people belonging to Patel community of Dallipur-Fattepur village, illegally, have taken possession over the land allotted in the favour of Musahar community.
On 19 February 2007, the members of the Musahar community of Dallipur-Fattepur village gathered at the district head quarters and complained to the district magistrate of Varanasi and made following demands: (1) to get possession of their lands (2) to open an Anganwadi centre [children's school in the community] in their community and (3) to ensure proper distribution of food grains through the PDS shops. But it is alleged that the district administration of Varanasi district has done nothing in the pursuance of the demands of the Musahar community of Dallipur-Fattepur village.
Meantime it is alleged that the Musahars were given less quantity of ration for the month of March as they should have been given according to their ration cards. It is also alleged that the PDS ration shop of Dallipur-Fattepur village is in the name of Surmati Devi and that the shop is actually managed by one Sunder Ram who is the brother of Surmati Devi's husband. Mr. Kariya Musahar, son of Narottam Musahar, Mr. Doctor Musahar, son of Rampatti Musahar, Ms. Hirawati Musahar, wife of Juggan Musahar, Mr. Bideshi Musahar, son of Mewa Musahar, Mr. Moti Musahar, son of Manik Musahar, Mr. Nanhey Musahar, son of Chhotai Musahar, Mr. Santhosh Musahar, son of Lalchand Musahar, Ms. Kebali Musahar, wife of Kanhai Musahar and Mr. Khelawan Musahar, son of Birey Musahar are a few from the Musahar community who have been deprived of food grains through the PDS shop. On 8 March 2007, Musahar of Dallipur-Fattepur village submitted an application to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Varanasi district regarding the break out of Measles in their community and requested for immediate help because mostly children were affected by Measles and they have been suffering from serious health problems.
Recently the PVCHR conducted a survey and found that most of the families of Musahar community have no work and are living under acute poverty and facing starvation. The PVCHR demands to include the Varanasi district under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) immediately. Here it should me remembered that Varanasi district has been left out of those areas which are included under the NREGA.

Case study 3:
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2320/

Persons affected: 18 Musahar familiesLocation: At Sarai village, Pindra block, Phulpur police station in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh state, India
The Musahar community, in Varanasi district, is socially and economically one of the most marginalized communities in India and they are poorest amongst poor. The Musahar community falls under the category of the Scheduled Caste. Although the practice of untouchability is a crime in Indian law the Musahar community is not allowed to enjoy ordinary social life with the mainstream society and to share common amenities in the village.
People from the Musahar community are deprived of owning property, means of livelihood, and education. For their survival they work as laborers in the agricultural fields or do some other hard physical labour. The remuneration for such work is given in kind, mostly discarded food or grains. Due to this they do not have any savings that they could use during times of need. This forces them into starvation at times when they have no regular work.
In such a situation Musahar community largely depends upon the Public Distribution System (PDS) to get food grains at subsidised rate for their survival. But due to corruption in the bureaucracy and due to an almost defunct judiciary, often weaker sections of society are denied of the food grains in the villages because the PDS licensee can easily escape from their criminal offences and malpractices. For further information please also see HA-003-2007.
According to the information received 18 Musahar families were not given ration cards until 2006. After a long, strenuous and continuous, struggle 15 Musahar families were given yellow cards which are issued to those families whose living conditions are identified as bellow the poverty line (BPL). BPL families are those who are identified in the rural area with an annual income of Rs. 12000 [272 USD] or less and urban families living in declared and undeclared slums with an annual income of Rs. 17000 [386 USD] or less. As far as the Musahar families are concerned they are qualified for Antyodaya Anna Yojana cards (red cards) which are issued to the poorest of the poor amongst the BPL families.
It has been alleged that 3 Musahar families of Indrajit Musahar, Gulab Musahar and Dinesh Musahar, are still deprived of even BPL (yellow) cards.
It is alleged that these families are living in Sarai village for generations. Even then the village head of Sarai village was initially not ready to accept that these Musahar families were the residents of Sarai village and thus he denied the right of livelihood of these Musahar families and forced, them including children, to die of hunger. Mithai Musahar, who is one of the BPL card holders (card no. 497457) is not able to buy the food grains on BPL card and his grandson Sanju, who is also suffering from measles, has reached on the verge of dying from starvation due to malnourishment caused from lack of food.
It is also alleged that the upper caste people, who are above the BPL, are enjoying the use of red cards which can be issued only in the favour of the poor amongst poorest. It is also alleged that Mr. Jagdeesh Patel the husband of village head of Sarai village Mrs. Urmila and Mr. Chandrashekhar Singh, who is Village Secretary of Sarai village have given the red cards to those people who belong to upper caste families and who are disqualified for holding red cards.