Animal existence
Bagepalli (Karnataka): Lambanis of Ootagondi tanda in this taluk live and die like so many fleas. No roads, no water, no job, no food, no clothes, no house. Neither the people’e representatives nor other organisations have time for the Lambanis. And so, they continue to live in the shadows – deprived of practically every single thing they are entitled to as humans.
Crime against Dalits every 20 minutes
New Delhi: Every 20 minutes, a Dalit faces atrocities in India, reveals the crime clock of the National Crime Records Bureau. Atrocities of diverse magnitudes, starting from untouchability, criminal offences like murder and rape, and other offences like burning of houses, land grab etc. are on the rise in various states where basic provisions of either the PCR Act 1955 or SCs/STs (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989 are not being implemented. This was revealed in the first national consultation of the National Commission on Scheduled Castes held here on Feb.2, 2007. Fakir Bhai Vaghela, vice-chairman of the Commission, said even after 57 years, untouchability, which was “abolished” under Article 17 of the Constitution, “we are even unable to implement successfully the basic provisions of our social laws”.
TN weavers’ plight
Madras: At least 500 poor weavers in the textile belt of Kumarapalayam and Pallipalayam in Namakkal district of West Tamil Nadu have sold their kidneys over the last six years to repay loans and meet other financial commitments.
India among poorest nations
New Delhi: With nearly 46% of its children being either malnourished or underweight, India has found itself in the same league as some of the poorest nations in the world, such as Burkina Faso. And this is true, despite the UPA Govt.’s contention that it has affected an 81% increase in the Health Plan outlay since 2003- 04.
In China, the country which India so often compares itself with, only 8% of children are underweight. Even Sudan has better records in child nutrition.
