NAVSARJAN New Creation

Transcription

1 ANNUAL REPORT NAVSARJAN New Creation 1 ST APRIL 2007 TO 31 ST MARCH 2008 Navsarjan is a grassroots Dalit organization dedicated to ensuring justice for all Administrative office: C/O Dalit Shakti Kendra, Village Nani Devti, Sanand Bavla Road, Taluka Sanand, District Ahmedabad, Gujarat, (India) Phone: / Fax: navsarjan@aol.in Website:

2 Preface: Navsarjan has leaped in a new direction during the past year of , focusing on decentralization and delegation of responsibilities. With its approach towards making its base stronger and increasing people s participation, Navsarjan has initiated the process towards setting up and strengthening new initiatives, campaigns and grassroots mobilization. The Center for Dalit Human Rights has steered the pace of creating focused spaces within the organization, and ensuring effective use of legal framework. Certain issue-based campaigns, such as the Land Rights Campaign, are moving towards becoming membership-based organizations cutting across caste, gender and religion, and focusing towards empowerment of the poor masses. Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK) is pacing well and creating its own niche, where it s becoming a model that is motivating and inspiring other civil society organizations in Gujarat and across India. More than 20 vocational courses are now run in DSK. Research on untouchability practices in 3000 villages of Gujarat, which had continued for two and a half years, is finished. As the analysis begins, it will become the basis for the Navsarjan team to evolve strategies and develop new and better approaches to systematically address untouchability issues. Navsarjan s 3 formal schools are steadily moving ahead, facing the odds and the challenges laid in the state s educational system. The students in the schools are standing tall to question the human psyche that has established caste system and institutionalized it in its crude manner. The year is crucial for all who are associated with Navsarjan to march ahead in the direction which strengthens the non-cooperation movement against discrimination based on caste, gender and religion. I would like to keep in front one of Rabindranath Tagore s powerful poems: Where the mind is without fear WHERE the mind is without fear and the head is held high Where knowledge is free Where the world has not been broken up into fragments By narrow domestic walls Where words come out from the depth of truth Where tireless striving stretches its arms towards perfection Where the clear stream of reason has not lost its way Into the dreary desert sand of dead habit Where the mind is led forward by thee Into ever-widening thought and action Into that heaven of freedom, my Father, let my country awake In Solidarity, Manjula Pradeep Executive Director 2

3 Contents: Pg. 2 Pg. 3 Pg. 4 Pg. 7 Pg. 9 Pg. 11 Pg. 13 Pg. 15 Pg. 16 Pg. 18 Pg. 20 Pg. 21 Pg. 24 Pg. 25 Pg. 26 Pg. 27 Preface Mission Statement and Introduction Human Rights Value Education Women s Rights Manual Scavenging Eradication Land Rights Minimum Wage Implementation Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK) Community Video Unit (CVU) Center for Dalit Human Rights (CDHR) Digitization of Research and Documentation Additional Community Mobilization Annexure 1: Navsarjan Organizational Structure Annexure 2: Dalit Human Rights Violations data from CDHR Annexure 3: Navsarjan diversity charts and governing body Annexure 4: Navsarjan financial information OUR MISSION To eliminate discrimination based on untouchability practices To ensure equality of status and opportunities for all, regardless of caste, class, or gender To ensure the rule of law NAVSARJAN PROGRAMS Despite their varying nature, all of Navsarjan s programs have a common focus: strengthening the noncooperation movement with caste and gender discrimination, and assuring rule of the constitution and not of caste. It is Navsarjan s objective to empower the Dalit communities of Gujarat and lead them towards the path of non-cooperation and liberation. With this goal in mind, Navsarjan implemented and maintained the following 9 programs: Human Rights Value Education, Manual Scavenging Eradication, Land Rights, Minimum Wage Implementation, Women s Rights, Digitization of Research and Documentation, Dalit Shakti Kendra, the Community Video Unit, and the Center for Dalit Human Rights. Additional Community Mobilization that does not fit into these programs is given a separate section within this report. Following is a brief description of these programs and the activities involved therein during the past year. 3

4 1. Human Rights Value Education: Navsarjan believes that education is a human right. As an agent of social mobility, education can lead to the emancipation of the Dalit masses. Today, however, the education system perpetuates caste discrimination, reproducing discriminatory practices and effectively denying many Dalit children their basic right to education and with it, the chance to break out of the cycle of caste-based occupations and menial labor. Navsarjan s Human Rights Value Education strives to stop discrimination in village schools; achieve a zero dropout rate of Dalit children from primary schools; encourage personal growth; allow children to develop scientific skills and rational beliefs; empower through values of equality, both in terms of gender and otherwise; ensure that the most disadvantaged Dalit communities, such as the scavengers, receive prioritybased opportunities; focus on female students, and give them priority-based opportunities; and create a duplicable model of social empowerment. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. Primary Boarding Schools: Navsarjan Vidhyalay Navsarjan operates 3 primary boarding schools in rural areas of Gujarat: one near Katariya village, Limbdi taluka, Surendranagar district; the second near Rayka village, Dhandhuka taluka, Ahmedabad district; and the third near Sami village, Sami taluka, Patan district. In addition to emphasizing Dalit unity and total gender equality, the schools provide a quality education to children who would otherwise either be enrolled in poor-quality government schools, or have dropped out; many of the students come from schools in which they experienced discrimination for being Dalits. During the reporting period, a total of 214 students (including 38 girls) in 5 th, 6 th, and 7 th classes from all three schools completed the school year. Outdoor science labs were constructed at all three schools. A number of educational events were organized and successfully completed. B. Bhimshala and library program Bhimshalas ( Bhim from Bhimrao Ambedkar, and shala from the Gujarati word for school) are extra-curricular education centers, run by a Navsarjan-trained volunteer from the local community usually out of her or his home. In addition to receiving training in combating discrimination at village schools, Bhim-shala volunteers organize a variety of activities for the village children, including educational games, cultural activities, and exposure visits to public places. Most Bhimshalas function with A Navsarjan library being received by the community on June attached Navsarjan libraries. Navsarjan 8, 2007 (Motipura Village, Khambat Ta., Anand Dist.) libraries consist of about 100 carefully selected books at a variety of reading levels, and a bookshelf produced at Dalit Shakti Kendra. Navsarjan trains volunteers to operate the libraries out of their homes. 209 new Bhimshala and library volunteers (including 131 men and 78 women) from 16 talukas and 99 villages were given 1 to 2 day training in Navsarjan s taluka offices. 112 old Bhimshala and library volunteers received refresher training. 84 new Bhimshalas were established with libraries. 30 new Bhimshalas were established without libraries. 4

5 C. Children s Groups ( Bal Sangathan ) Bal Sangathans are children s groups designed to combat discrimination and increase children s confidence. Each group engages about 10 to 15 children, depending on the number of Dalit children in the village. The groups are organized either by a Navsarjan fieldworker, a Bhimshala or library volunteer, or by the children themselves. Generally, the groups meet on a monthly basis. Within the groups, children inform their Navsarjan fieldworker about discrimination in school, and the fieldworker teaches the children how to challenge that discrimination. The children also play games and run cultural activities. A few Bal Sangathans have established small savings groups and opened a bank account. In 73 villages of 17 talukas, 73 new Bal Sangathans were established. These Bal Sangathans are composed of 1,152 children (524 girls and 628 boys). D. Children s Camps Children s Camps are gatherings of about 40 to 50 children, organized by Navsarjan fieldworkers. The fieldworkers run a variety of activities, including a public speaking competition, cultural programs, educational activities, sports, an introduction to Dr. Ambedkar s philosophy, and gender rights education. These camps bring children together across sub-caste and caste lines, from several villages at a time. In 36 talukas, 266 Children s Camps were held. In these camps, 11,381 children attended, including 5,940 boys and 5,441 girls. A Children s Camp in the town of Jasdan, Rajkot district E. Educational Kit Distribution Navsarjan distributes Educational Kits, composed of several children s books, pencils, and crayons, to village children. For the vast majority of recipients, these are the first books they ve ever owned. Included in the kits are children s books written by Navsarjan founder Martin Macwan that challenge gender and caste discrimination: Me and My Mother, Me and My Village, What is appropriate and what is inappropriate?, and a book designed to teach the Gujarati alphabet. Educational kits were distributed in 130 villages of 25 talukas. 5,629 children (2,289 children in standards 1 to 3, and 3,340 children in standards 4 to 7) received kits appropriate for their level. F. Youth Awareness Training Programs Youth Awareness Training Programs, which are one day long, are run by Navsarjan fieldworkers in Navsarjan s taluka offices. Generally 15 to 30 youth participate in one program. The fieldworkers provide education on village government schemes, land laws, the Panchayat (village council) system, addictions (to combat alcohol and tobacco), and gender issues. 100 programs were held in 30 talukas. 2,524 youth, including 1,977 young men and 547 young women, attended the programs. G. Youth Forums Navsarjan sets up village Youth Forums, generally composed of at least 5 village youth, but sometimes 10 to 15, depending on the number of Dalit youth in the village. After receiving training 5

6 from Navsarjan fieldworkers, these forums meet once or twice a month to discuss local issues, such as village infrastructure, atrocities against Dalits, and how to solve their own issues. In 190 villages of 31 talukas, 190 Youth Forums were established. These groups are composed of 2,754 youth, including 2,112 young men and 642 young women. H. Educational Community Video Unit (ECVU) The ECVU, composed of video producers trained from the local community, creates and screens educational films relevant to the lives of Gujarat s children. The films, which incorporate original stories and feature original music and songs, are screened at village primary schools and at Bhimshalas in Patan, Mehsana, and Gandhinagar districts. They have received enthusiastic receptions from both children and teachers, who have asked that more ECVU films be produced and screened. 2 educational films were produced and screened. o Plants and Trees, the ECVU s first completed film, was screened 25 times, and these screenings were attended by 788 children. o Pollution was screened 17 times, and these screenings were attended by 491 children. I. Other Activities Science fairs were held at each of Navsarjan s 3 primary schools. These science fairs were attended by hundreds of students from the Bhimshala and Library program. A foot march for primary education continued, passing through 40 villages, taking contributions from villagers, and delivering Navsarjan s village libraries. IMPACT Through teamwork of the Bhim-shala volunteers and students, and the Navsarjan field staff, overt discrimination such as separate seating for Dalit children during mid-day mealtime, and exclusion of Dalit children from cultural programs has been removed at dozens of village schools. Sub-caste discrimination within the Dalit community has been reduced due to activities within this program that bring children together across sub-caste lines, and children and youth are speaking out against untouchability and gender discrimination. In many villages, non-dalit children also attend Bhim-shalas. In several villages, theft of scholarship money meant for Dalits by principals and other teachers has been exposed and stopped. In many villages, the youth forums are taking up and resolving issues of sub-caste discrimination. Many parents have been convinced to keep their daughters in school, instead of forcing them to drop out in order to do chores, and then marrying them off at an early age. About half of the male students at the Navsarjan primary schools were addicted to tobacco before coming to school (even at the age of 10), and now they have all eliminated this addiction. 120 notebooks and pens and a 5 th standard textbook set for 25 people were donated by local schoolteachers to Navsarjan s primary school at Katariya. More than Rs. 70,000 was donated by the community for Navsarjan s education programs. CHALLENGES There are certain sub-castes within the Dalits that are not ready to educate girls. In villages that are close to towns, upper caste students get private education in the towns. The teachers at village schools do not care to teach anymore, since most of the students left at school are Dalits or other poor. 6

7 Some Bhim-shala volunteers who are trained are unwilling or unable to hold regular classes because of financial difficulties, or because of getting married and changing villages. Migrant laborers often do not keep their children in school. At the Sami and Rayka Navsarjan Vidhyalay primary schools, monsoon season presents outdoor flooding challenges. About half of the students who come to Navsarjan s primary schools in 5 th standard cannot properly read or write when they first arrive, which presents a challenge to the teachers as there is a large difference in educational levels within one class. Some people believe that the schools are Christian missionary schools. 2. Women s Rights: Although women s empowerment has always been of major concern to Navsarjan, it became a core program in Conscious that Dalit women are positioned at the bottom of India s caste, class and gender hierarchies, Navsarjan strives to give them a voice, and ensures that they are equally and effectively represented in the organization as well as in the movement, at all levels. The objectives of this campaign are to empower women so that they can seek justice and dignity within their families and communities, and to dilute discriminatory patriarchal culture. Navsarjan ensures that all Navsarjan activists are trained in the specific laws pertaining to women s rights. It offers legal, social and emotional support/security to women applicants; raises awareness of women s rights in the villages through meetings and training programs; and encourages exposure visits to upgrade the knowledge of senior women staff concerning women s issues in other parts of India. Finally, the program also helps to identify key aspects for women s development that need to be addressed in other Navsarjan programs. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A Women s Awareness Training Program held at Navsarjan s Dakor taluka office, Kheda dist., September 29, 2007 A. Women s Awareness Training Programs Women s Awareness Training Programs, which are 1 to 2 days long, are run by Navsarjan fieldworkers in Navsarjan s taluka offices. Generally 30 to 40 women participate in one program. If it is the first awareness program in that area, the fieldworkers provide education on laws pertaining to women (such as the Domestic Violence Act), education about gender discrimination and equality, information on women's health, and leadership training. If it is a follow-up Awareness Training Program, local issues are taken up, including a group discussion on any issues the women are having in their lives, and the fieldworkers provide specific training on those issues. 87 Women s Awareness Training Programs were held in 34 talukas. These programs included 2,823 people (2,392 women and 431 men). B. Women s Commissions Village Women s Commissions, made up of about 13 women each, meet monthly to take up local issues, wresting some control from local governments and caste councils, both of which are 7

8 dominated by men. Some of the work that the Women s Commissions do includes monitoring local police to check if they are registering First Information Reports properly, and working on local issues, such as drinking water, infrastructure (roads, etc.), health, social disturbances, marital problems, and domestic violence cases. 304 Women s Commissions (one per village) were established in 36 talukas, with a total of 3,920 members. C. Other activities A felicitation of 9 Dalit women Sarpanches (village chiefs), 3 taluka Panchayat (village council) members, and 5 Panchayat members was held at Dalit Shakti Kendra to honor their commitment to the Dalit movement. Hundreds of other female Dalit Panchayat members attended the event. Several mass gatherings and rallies were held to protest the gangrape of a Dalit female student by her teachers at the all-women s primary teacher s college in Patan. These events were attended by thousands of people, including other NGOs involved in women s rights, and various memoranda were given to government representatives concerning the case. Survey work was conducted on Dalit women Sarpanches and Panchayat members. On March 11, 2008, programs were organized for Women s Day all across Navsarjan s work area. A rally held in Mehsana district to protest the Patan gangrape case IMPACT Many women are coming forward to join awareness and training programs, which in itself is a substantial achievement. Moreover, many of the committees have women across caste lines taking on common issues. Muslim women are also coming forward to join the women s training camps and meetings. Women s programs are mobilizing more women to join state-level programs, and to speak out concerning their issues. Navsarjan programs such as the event at DSK bringing together all Dalit women Sarpanches and hundreds of Dalit female panchayat members serve to provide women with positive models to emulate, and help them gain the courage to assert themselves to fight for women s and Dalit issues. The following is one case study: o 1 Dalit female Sarpanch from Rupawati village in Sanand taluka, after attending the DSK event for female Sarpanches and Panchayat members, started sitting on a chair during meetings at the Panchayat (whereas previously she had been forced to sit on the floor), and taking up Dalit issues. Because of this, other Dalit women in her community want to run for office in an election. Some members of the Women s Committees are starting to challenge the caste councils, and are demanding to be included in decision-making processes, especially those that affect women. CHALLENGES Many men are against the Domestic Violence Protection Act, and many women do not know about this act. 8

9 Police do not respond to rape cases or murder cases of women with any interest at all (this is a particular challenge in Kheda). Dalit men sometimes spread rumors about women who speak out for their rights. Many women hide behind their veils, and are not ready to speak out. 3. Manual Scavenging Eradication: Gujarat s own Mahatma Gandhi called for the end of manual scavenging more than 100 years ago, and yet caste-dictated, government-funded manual handling and transport of human excreta persists. The Valmikis (manual scavenger and sweeper caste) most often women who perform this work suffer from a variety of serious diseases and disorders at a much higher rate than the general population. They are treated by both society and government as social outcasts fit only for this degrading and dangerous work. Navsarjan has been working for the eradication of manual scavenging since Progress has been made, but manual scavenging is still present in Gujarat: estimates put the number of practicing manual scavengers at around 64,000 in Gujarat alone. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. Village Meetings and Training Programs Village meetings in the Valmiki communities are held, and training and awareness programs are done to provide legal and rehabilitation information, to gather information about how many people are engaging in manual scavenging, and to encourage young people to come to Dalit Shakti Kendra for vocational training. Also, motivation and assistance is given to help manual scavengers take advantage of existing government programs to change occupations. 484 meetings were held, and attended by 10,209 people (3,111 women, 4,597 men, and 2,176 children). A manhole worker cleaning a sewage obstruction by hand in Ahmedabad 18 training programs were held in 12 talukas of 5 districts. 487 people attended these programs, including 238 men, 132 women, and 123 children. B. Manual Scavenging Awareness Activities The Manual Scavenging Eradication Campaign team is constantly engaged in a fight to prevent manual scavenging from slipping out of the public consciousness, and to increase awareness about the issues and extent of the problem. In 16 villages of 2 districts, 16 manual scavenging film screenings were conducted, including the following films: Lesser Humans, Gandhi s Gujarat, and Sauchalay people joined the screening programs, including 1449 men, 923 women, and 1723 children. The Manual Scavenging Eradication Campaign team announced and organized events on 16 August for Anti Manual Scavenging Day, including a large public hearing in Ahmedabad which sent 25,000 post cards to the Prime Minister people took part in the hearing, including 861 men, 230 women, and 40 children. Other rallies were held in 2 districts, involving over 200 people. A 22-day rally, joined by 1,070 people, was held in coordination with the NGO Anhadh. The rally was a pre-election campaign to inform people about the government s failures and about 9

10 which candidates fight for the rights of Valmikis, and to spread awareness about additional manual scavenging issues. C. Financial assistance and rehabilitation for manual scavengers For those working in sewers many of whom have to dive into raw sewage nearly naked, with no protection at all death is part of the job. The government, however, rarely gives any sort of compensation to the families of sewage workers who die because of hazardous job conditions. Such compensation, or loans set aside for manual scavengers, can help manual scavenging families switch into a safer and more dignified occupation. Navsarjan is facilitating government insurance payments for the families of manual scavengers who died during the job in Rs. 100,000 will be given to each of 13 families. In 13 talukas of 6 districts, Navsarjan helped 234 practicing manual scavengers (110 women and 124 men) fill out forms for rehabilitation loans. 35 young people (8 women and 27 men) from the Valmiki community, many of whom had been engaged in manual scavenging, were sent to Dalit Shakti Kendra for vocational training. D. Other activities Information was taken concerning the Gujarat government s Vibrant Gujarat campaign. A central part of the campaign is to clean up villages and towns, and information regarding the funds allocated for sanitary workers was obtained. Information was collected on 118 village municipalities that employ manual scavengers. Photo and video documentation of manual scavenging in 7 districts of Gujarat was taken. Training was done with KSSM, an Ahmedabad-based NGO specializing in the rights of sewage workers. In 14 villages, information was collected on discrimination in school against Valmiki students who are forced to clean the school toilets and sit separately at mid-day mealtime. A report about this will be given to the District Development Officer. Survey work was done in Paliyad on an Ecological Sanitation (Ecosan) system designed to eliminate the need for manual scavenging. An MIT team led by Professor Bal Krishnan Rajgopal came for two weeks to continue work on their manual scavenging project, in promotion of the Ecosan system. In the Amreli District there is a dry latrine system requiring manual scavenging in 20 villages. The Manual Scavenging Eradication team conducted a survey and gave an application concerning the issue to the Amreli District Collector. Navsarjan has stopped its work organizing a union of sanitary workers. The purposes for starting the union had been to get information about how many people are actively practicing manual scavenging in Gujarat, to put pressure on the government to stop the practice, to help create a life insurance policy for manual scavengers, to assist in fighting cases in court, and to take up issues important to the workers, such as getting wage increases, and a place as a permanent employee instead of a daily wager, etc. However, it was determined that since Navsarjan s mission is the total eradication of manual scavenging and the rehabilitation of the scavengers, organizing the union was no longer in that interest. Also, a large amount of time was wasted in union-related bureaucratic work. Now, the Manual Scavenging Eradication team provides counseling for legal cases of the union members, but does not involve itself in any union activities. IMPACT In Paliyad, 6 Valmiki women were given Rs. 15,260 to help them gain a dignified occupation, such as tailoring. 10

11 Many young people from the Valmiki community are choosing vocational training instead of manual scavenging, including 35 sent to DSK. Issues of manual scavenging and sewage work have remained in the media regularly. Many practicing manual scavengers are now vocal about the fact that their work is manual scavenging, whereas in the past they never talked about it. They had been afraid to admit that it was manual scavenging, in fear of losing their government jobs. Many have now gained the confidence to speak about their work to the media, government officers, and in local government offices. CHALLENGES It is difficult to convince manual scavengers to leave their work, which many consider stable because they are government employees and receive a regular paycheck, however small it may be. Forcing the government to take action is a constant challenge, as it continuously drags its feet and evades responsibility. Government officers at all levels repeatedly claim that there is no manual scavenging in Gujarat, because recognizing that the process exists would mean that they have a responsibility to end it. Many non-valmiki Dalits are not willing to accept the manual scavenging problem as their own, and do not want to make manual scavenging a Dalit issue. Loans meant for the rehabilitation of practicing manual scavengers into dignified occupations are only given by government officers to people from the Valmiki community who have political connections, but are not involved in manual scavenging. That way, government officers can claim that they are helping Valmikis, when in reality they are doing nothing to help those engaged in manual scavenging. Valmikis who are actually engaged in manual scavenging need a certificate certifying as such from the government, but the government officials refuse to grant such certificates. They provide no support, and often do not give any response at all. As a result, practicing manual scavengers are unable to get the loans they need to change occupations. The 234 above-mentioned practicing manual scavengers, for example, who submitted applications for loans had their applications denied because they were not able to get an official manual scavenging certificate. Some manual scavengers who do get loans do not spend the money on finding a new occupation or starting a business, but spend it however they like. Valmikis who open up a tea stall or some other small shop often face untouchability both from non- Valmiki Dalits and from non-dalits, and they cannot get enough customers to make any money. 4. Land Rights: Lack of land is a central reason for Dalit impoverishment, and the Land Rights Campaign therefore forms part of the backbone of Navsarjan s work. Though many Dalits are entitled to land under a variety of government programs, actually gaining control of the land is a difficult endeavor. The following are some of the obstacles standing in the way the rightful possession of land by Dalits: land encroachment by upper caste neighbors, intimidation, political interference, lack of money to legally challenge the authorities, and insufficient knowledge of applicable government programs. Since its establishment, Navsarjan has been taking legal action to combat unlawful land encroachment, and to make sure land is given to those who are entitled to it. This emphasis is still present, but Navsarjan has also been empowering the community itself to take more responsibility through the creation of grassroots community groups dedicated to working on land issues. 11

12 MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. Jamin Adhikar Sena ( Land Rights Army ) The Land Rights Army is a community organization of landless or nearly landless laborers (mostly, but not entirely Dalit) with the purpose of gaining land through applicable government programs. Member families pay a fee of Rs. 100 each, helping offset the costs of the campaign. The members themselves are trained to take leadership roles, and the organization conducts rallies, mass gatherings, A meeting of the Land Rights Army members and marches to keep the land issue in the public eye. 441 member families from 45 villages joined the Land Rights Army and paid their dues of Rs. 100 each. 497 day meetings and 232 night meetings were held for members and non-members. 28 training programs on relevant laws, land application processes, and leadership building were conducted. 10 mass gatherings were held, involving 2,029 people (996 men, 813 women, and 220 children). 3 foot marches were held, involving 258 people (116 men, 117 women, and 25 children). New applications for landless poor were completed by 108 families from 64 villages. B. Land survey work Accurate land surveys are crucial in determining exactly how much land the landless are entitled to, and to accurately represent that fact to the government in order to make sure the land is awarded and actual possession over it is gained. Surveys were taken on 2,306 acres of land in 105 villages, to which 770 people are legally entitled. In 99 of those villages the land was for crops, and for 6 it was burial land. A writ petition in the High Court was filed for 1,476 acres of that land, which the government had previously said should be awarded to landless Dalits, but was not actually delivered. Surveys on 547 acres of land were taken in order to arrange financial help for poor farmers owning small plots of land. C. Other activities Work was done on legal cases relating to land for 234 people from 89 villages. In 188 villages, 714 men and women were given guidance and information on land rights applications. In 35 villages, information on 6,112 acres of government wasteland available for redistribution to landless poor was obtained. Information on 1,100 acres of Padtar (unused) land was obtained. In 10 talukas, information was gathered on land allocation from 2000 to Economic aid awareness programs for poor owners of small land plots were held in Ratanpur and Dhandhuka. People from 11 villages attended these programs. A program was held in Surendranagar on 25 th October, 2007, to address a national campaign on land rights, Aketa Parishad Delhi. At the end of this program, a memorandum was submitted to the Collector. Members of the Land Rights team traveled to an Uttar Pradesh NGO (Ghar Chetra Majdoor Morcha Union, Saharandpur) for an exposure visit on land issues. 12

13 IMPACT In 25 villages, 206 formerly landless families were given possession of acres of land (including acres for 22 Valmiki families). 48 housing plots in Serendi (Dholka) were awarded in women s names. In Kadasar village, Chotila taluka, 95 Dalit families have been provided with housing plots by the government. As a result of survey work, Rs. 138,814 has been arranged as financial assistance from another NGO for poor farmers, to help them purchase fertilizer and seeds. Women are coming out of their houses to speak out in public about land rights. After joining the Land Rights Army, people urge other people to join and also help the campaign. CHALLENGES Government departments are uninterested in taking action, and there are problems of corruption and an extremely slow pace of work. Politics plays a role in the government s decisions on to whom land should be awarded; they are interested in selling land to the rich but not in giving land to the poor. Dalits and other poor face constant battles with powerful and well-connected dominant caste members, who often damage the crops of Dalits or encroach upon their land, and threaten violence if the victim complains. Caste and sub-caste discrimination presents a barrier preventing some people from fighting for their common land rights. There is sub-caste discrimination resulting in injustice within Dalit agricultural cooperative societies. Tools (tractors, plows, etc.) for improving land are not available for those with low economic status. 5. Minimum Wage Implementation: Though Gujarat s minimum wage for agricultural laborers stands at Rs. 53 (about $1.30 USD, one of the lowest minimum wages in India), daily laborers often receive significantly less than that. When they try to stand up for their wage rights, the landlords often simply stop hiring them, and employ another poor laborer desperate for whatever money he or she can make. Many organizations have tried to organize rural laborers, but one big hurdle always stands in the way: caste. In Gujarat, agricultural daily laborers are generally composed of Dalits, Tribals, and OBCs (Other Backward Castes). Typically, OBCs do not feel much loyalty to Dalits, as they consider themselves higher up on the caste ladder. Within the Navsarjan Minimum Wage Implementation team, there are Dalits, one Tribal, and one OBC. This was a conscious decision, as the makeup of the team reflects the makeup of the laborers. More than a decade of work has been done on the ground in Baroda, Anand, and Mehsana Districts, including thousands of day and night meetings to educate people as to their rights. Navsarjan and its Minimum Wage Implementation team have worked hard to gain the laborers confidence and trust. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. Gujarat Kamdar Ekta Sagathan ( Gujarat Laborer Unity Group ) Gujarat Kamdar Ekta Sangathan is a laborers union that has been organized to assert minimum wage rights. Within the union, there is diverse membership that reflects the makeup of the laborers in the targeted areas. Union membership cuts across caste and religion: 25% are Dalits, 50% are Tribals, and 25% are OBC. There are also some Muslims. As of April, 2008, Union membership stood at 950 men and women. Union members pay Rs. 125 to join. Navsarjan has also organized a 13

14 life insurance plan for the Union members, and trained union leaders. The goal is for the union to be independent and self-sutainable. 445 new members joined the Union, including 210 women and 235 men. 45 day meetings were held, involving 1,370 people (297 women, 619 men, and 454 children). 43 night meetings were held, involving 795 people (278 women, 474 men, and 177 children). 4 training programs were conducted on legal issues and leadership skills. 95 people attended the programs, including 11 women, 75 men, and 9 children. 2 mass gatherings were held on land A meeting of the Gujarat Laborer Unity Group rights, involving 800 people. B. Other activities There are 36 cases currently under labor litigation being handled by Navsarjan. IMPACT Within the union, Navsarjan has been successful in maintaining diverse membership that reflects the makeup of the laborers in the targeted areas, and Union membership cuts across caste, gender and religion. Because of this diversity, Dalits and non-dalits are becoming closer; they sit together and drink tea together, and fight for their minimum wages together. This fact has the added benefit of decreasing untouchability practices in the targeted areas. Often, Navsarjan organizes in one village, and then the union spreads through self-organization of the laborers to other neighboring villages. The laborers see how organizing themselves and working together can benefit them all. Dalit and tribal women laborers are becoming more vocal, but OBC women are still remaining silent; this is primarily because of Navsarjan s sustained work with Dalits and Tribals, while Navsarjan has not worked extensively with the OBC community. Other social issues have come up through the union to Navsarjan for legal support, not necessarily related to labor issues. Right now, a particularly important struggle is in Diver village, where the fight for minimum wages began two years ago. Due to persistent efforts, the laborers now get minimum wage there, and laborers in neighboring villages are also getting minimum wages. This has been going on for about a year. In Diver village, the entire Panchayat body is now made of agricultural laborers, after the latest election; the voters (primarily laborers, many of whom are Union members) voted their own into the local government. 3 Union members died a natural death, and the families of each received Rs. 30,000 under the life insurance plan. In the case of one murdered 42 year-old female union member, Navsarjan was able to arrange insurance compensation of Rs. 195,000. Landlords have started to fear the Union. The government is now debating to increase the minimum wage for agricultural laborers to Rs. 80. As a result, landlords are getting scared, and are more willing to pay Rs. 50 if the Union members demand it. Many chakar and panihari women (a kind of bonded laborer woman who takes care of the livestock of a dominant caste family) are leaving their work in areas in which the union is active. 14

15 Two families have received Rs. 80,000 from the government as a loan to start businesses. CHALLENGES Convincing laborers across caste and gender lines to join the union. Successfully implementing strikes for minimum wages. Heavy resistance from the dominant caste landlords, often taking the form of violence. 6. Dalit Shakti Kendra (DSK): Dalit Shakti Kendra (literally Dalit Power Center ) is located in Village Nani Devti, 25 kilometers from Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India. It is primarily a vocational education center serving economically and socially marginalized youth, though it also provides personality development, leadership skills, social and political education, and a space for self-reflection and growth. A central part of DSK s philosophy is a redefinition of the word Dalit, thereby including Dalits from various economic, social and religious backgrounds. Each course at DSK is 45 days long. Most of DSK s students are landless, and have dropped out of school to work in the labor sector. Typically, their parents are farmers. Their dependence on caste-based occupations diminishes their sense of self. DSK mobilizes such youth for economic and social empowerment, helping them leave the cycle of agricultural labor and caste-based occupations, and simultaneously fosters better grassroots leadership. 810 students completed their vocational training at DSK, including 475 boys and 335 girls. Additional Activities Courses at DSK were changed from being 3 months long to 45 days long in order to increase the number of students. A Secretarial Training course was added, and students in other courses (computers, videography, mobile repairing), along with DSK staff, received English training. Students receive political, legal, sex, and other educational information through training programs featuring guest lecturers. Students participate in public speaking contests, sports games, and other opportunities for personal growth. The DSK campus functions as a major center for the Dalit movement, hosting trainees, Indian and international graduate students and professors, and major events. IMPACT Students take DSK s message of equality back to their homes and communities. More and more students are coming to DSK, because they see the success of their friends who have come to DSK. o It has reached the point that students for some courses have to be turned away because there is not enough space for Students in DSK s basic computer course them, even though capacity has been increased (for example, from 15 students to 45 in the computer course). More female students are attending DSK: the 50% mark has been achieved, and a reduction in gender bias can therefore be seen. 15

16 o More parents are now pushing for their daughters to come, because they are seeing positive changes in their daughters. They are less afraid to send their daughters because they see that they come back with more maturity. Students come from more sectors of society, including Muslims, OBCs, and Tribals. About twice a month, visitors from other organizations who want to emulate DSK and use it as a successful model visit the campus. Industries of the private sector who want affirmative action instead of reservation have been approaching DSK to help absorb students as employees (TATA, Ambuja Cement, etc.). Employability of students: about 50% plus of students find employment immediately after training. It is difficult for DSK to find new teachers from the pool past students, because many are employed and do not want to leave their jobs. Many youth who had been unemployed in their villages have now become income earners for their families. CHALLENGES Developing plans to set up additional satellite centers to reduce the reliance on DSK presents logistical and other issues. Finding resources to fund DSK is difficult; the students cannot afford to pay the total cost required. Finding new vocational courses to keep pace with changing market demands is a constant challenge. Most students who come to DSK are school dropouts, so finding a balance in competitiveness is difficult. o The correlation between primary education and vocational education is close, so tailoring primary education initiatives to positively affect the vocational training initiative is a challenge. The disparity between boys and girls in both urban and rural societies provides a constant challenge. o Many women lag behind educationally. It is difficult to maintain technical expertise while not leaving behind girls and boys with low education levels. 7. Community Video Unit (CVU): The CVU was established in collaboration with Drishti Media and Video Volunteers. It is a tool for grassroots change, awareness, mobilization, information and advocacy. It promotes participation, dialogue and community responsibility in order to stimulate behavioral change and encourage a community call to action. CVU producers come from the communities in which they work. A. Aapna Malak Ma The CVU produces video news magazines called Aapna Malak Ma (In Our Community), screening them in village centers. These videos focus on issues relevant to the residents of 35 villages of Limdi and Sayla Talukas, Surendranagar District. Two new video magazines were completed: Sanitation (42 screenings, total audience CVU producers shooting for Aapna Malak Ma 11,035), and Addictions (3 screenings, total audience 951), and additional screenings were done of the Self-employment video, which was completed just before the reporting period (29 screenings, total audience 7,591). 16

17 Lesser Humans, a documentary on manual scavenging by director Stalin K. of Drishti Media, was screened 16 times with a total audience of 4,838. IMPACT Dalit issues o Because the screenings are held in the village center and are such big events, many people across caste lines attend. This increases the connection and relationship between Dalits and non-dalits. o In many of the villages in which the films are screened, Dalits never speak out. But the films give voice to issues that face them, and after the screenings they have a chance to address the mixed-caste audience with a microphone. This gives them a feeling of empowerment. o Non-Dalits who have come to the CVU screenings have begun taking part in other Navsarjan programs, such as foot marches, water meetings, training camps, rallies, and women s groups. Women s issues o Women across castes get together to talk about their common problems. For example, alcohol addiction among men is a common problem, so through the Addictions film, women across caste lines can talk about it. o Female CVU members were instrumental in the creation of 4 women s rights groups in 4 different villages. o Villagers and authorities are surprised and impressed that within the CVU, the women hold the cameras and have leadership positions. Power and politics o Local government and the police have grown to fear the CVU because even they (i.e., government and police) do not know the law well, and the CVU members do know the law well. The CVU members sometimes even explain laws to the police. o After the screenings, people accuse the village leaders of corruption and not doing anything, and demand action. o After seeing the Health film, Panchayats organized the cleaning of the village and school, and the villagers took part. o During filming on the Sanitation film, there were many incidents of people being frightened by the video camera and taking action on their own. At a TB hospital in Limdi, garbage was removed immediately and the hospital was cleaned. In Boyka, where the government did not spend money on sanitation, they immediately made public toilets. Sewage from one restaurant was going into the drinking water, so the village women broke those toilets, and then the owner made a new, cleaner toilet system spending his own money. Several village Panchayats organized mass-cleanings of the entire village, designating a space for garbage disposal. CHALLENGES During screenings, some non-dalit children throw stones at the screen and the CVU members because they are Dalits. In one village, the Sarpanch didn t come to the screening because Dalits were present. Sometimes Dalit women do not come to screenings because they are afraid of non-dalits. Darbars do not want Darbar women to go out and see the films (because of the purdah system, in which women are supposed to stay in the home). Some men who came to the screenings were drunk. 17

18 There are problems because the screenings are held outdoors in rural areas (power problems, rain problems, short circuits, etc.). For the Sanitation film, people were uncomfortable during some of the dirty shots of excreta, etc. Challenges with the Addiction film o Some temples associate alcohol with religious practice, and people can therefore be sensitive about condemnations of alcohol. o Men do no like to be filmed when they are drinking, because it is illegal in Gujarat. o The police take bribes because of the alcohol trade, so they are nervous about the video documentation. o Both men and women did not want to give interviews related to this film. 8. Center for Dalit Human Rights (CDHR): The Center for Dalit Human Rights (CDHR), based in Ahmedabad, is the semi-autonomous legal wing of Navsarjan, working to register and prosecute atrocity cases and cases of violence against both Dalits and non-dalits. Though The Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act provides substantial protection to Dalits, the Act remains largely un-enforced due to both ignorance and active obstruction on the part of Gujarat s law enforcement, judiciary and executive agencies. The CDHR organizes mass gatherings of victims of atrocities at the district level in order to help individual victims circumvent obstacles inhibiting their cases from moving forward and determine larger patterns of un-enforcement of Dalit-protective legislation. Similarly, the CDHR has organized Public Hearings for victims of atrocities to voice their grievances. These events serve to help Dalits (and non-dalit activists and journalists) understand the types of hurdles they face in registering atrocity cases, particularly as a result of police apathy or active antagonism, refusal of the government to provide a legally-mandated special Public Prosecutor in atrocities cases, and overall government inaction, among other reasons. The CDHR does not limit its legal advocacy to the state level. If a case is particularly grievous, and the government is obstructing the victim s access to justice, the CDHR will represent that case to the National Human Rights Commission, along with other national human rights mechanisms. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. Advocacy and Publicity Because the government does not enforce its own legislation, the CDHR must continuously work to keep issues relating to atrocities against Dalits in the media, to understand how atrocity cases are being prevented from moving forward, and to push for their progress in the courts. 12 meetings one per district were held with victims of atrocities in order to figure out what the victims needed, what was holding up their cases, if they had received compensation or not, etc., so that they could be helped better. 273 victims attended the meetings. A Public Hearing was held on 31 st March in Ahmedabad. 12 victims of atrocities from all over Gujarat described their stories to a jury composed of former members of the Indian Public Service, journalists, advocates, a committee member on the National Commission for Women, and Dalit activists. 1,300 people from around Gujarat attended the Public Hearing, which garnered press coverage, as well. A Citizen Audit Group (CAG) was established with the purpose of conducting fact-finding missions concerning atrocity cases, and 31 such missions were conducted. Details of 4 cases were sent to the National Human Rights Commission. The commission asked the Gujarat Government to respond to one of them (murder of a Dalit over a land 18

19 dispute, resulting in the mass migration of Dalits from that village, many of whom are now camping in front of the Collector s office as Internally Displaced Persons). B. Data Collection In order to both get a larger sense of relevant issues, and to accurately represent those issues to the public and the government, the CDHR gathers large amounts of a variety of data, including: Implementation of The Scheduled Castes and The Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, from 1990 to 2008 Cases of domestic violence registered with the police from 2006 to 2007 Cases of violence against women registered with the police from 1995 to 2007 Deaths in police custody from 1997 to 2007 Deaths of manhole workers from 1997 to 2007 Total number of sanitary workers in Gujarat Maternal mortality from 2006 to 2007 C. Additional Activities Legal camps were held at DSK for students, concerning information and training about constitutional rights. 36 schools and 16 boarding schools were monitored for State Coordinator and District Human Rights Defenders (EC EIDHR Project) with atrocities victims visiting the District Collector s office in Palanpur, Bhavnagar district discrimination against Dalit students, and incidents of discrimination were recorded Five CDHR members went to Delhi for a national consultation organized by National Human Rights Commission and National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights concerning implementation of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. CDHR members attended meetings in Delhi on violations of factory labor rights and on discrimination in primary education. A 3-day conditioning camp on the Right to Information Act and Domestic Violence Act was held at DSK, attended by all CDHR staff members. The camp concerned information on how to file complaints and use the acts effectively. Legal workshops for other NGOs In Rajasthan, the CDHR performed 2 legal workshops for about 13 NGOs dealing with legal and atrocity issues. In Madhya Pradesh, the CDHR performed 1 legal workshop for Garima Abhiyan ( Movement for Dignity ), an NGO dealing with legal and atrocity issues. IMPACT Judgments obtained during the reporting period: o Sessions Court in Patan convicted a dominant caste man and sentenced him to 10 years imprisonment for raping a minor Dalit girl. o Sessions Court in Nadiad convicted a dominant caste person and sentenced him to 4 years imprisonment for the murder of a Dalit woman. o Sessions Court in Anand convicted 2 dominant caste persons and sentenced them to 2 years imprisonment for causing serious injury to a Dalit. 19

20 o Sessions Court in Rajkot convicted 4 dominant caste persons and sentenced one of them to 4 years imprisonment and three of them to 2.5 years imprisonment, for the murder of a Dalit. o Sessions Court in Anand convicted a dominant caste man and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a non-dalit girl. o Sessions Court in Anand convicted a dominant caste man and sentenced him to 7 years for the rape of a Dalit girl. o Sessions Court in Anand convicted a dominant caste man and sentenced him to life imprisonment for the rape and murder of a minor Dalit girl. o Sessions Court in Nadiad convicted a dominant caste man and sentenced him to 2 years imprisonment for caste-based abuse and violent attack on a Valmiki. o Sessions Court in Surendranagar convicted 3 accused of property destruction of Dalit property, sentencing them 3 years imprisonment and a Rs. 5,000 fine. o Sessions Court in Patan convicted a dominant caste man for the beating of a Dalit following a dispute relating to water, sentencing him to 6 months imprisonment. o Sessions Court in Anand convicted four Bharvad (shepherd caste) men of beating a Dalit man after the Dalit man irrigated his farm, in their minds polluting the water. One perpetrator was given 1 year imprisonment, while the others were given 6 months each. In Viramgam, for the first time a manual scavenger s death was registered under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities) Act Sec. 3(2)(v) or 3(1)(vi) against a Chief Officer and Sanitary Inspector. Also, compensation of approximately Rs. 4.5 lakh (450,000) was provided to the victim s family by the government. The state level monitoring committees were not meeting at all, and now, due to pressure from a variety of sources (First Information Act, asking them if they had been meeting, complaining to government officials, etc.), they have started meeting. The number of interventions in cases has increased due to the Citizen Audit Group, CDHR, and others, assuring that more cases are followed through, police protection is given, etc. Because of these interventions, many cases are actually registered under the Atrocity Act. The media has become more sensitive towards Dalit issues, and good relations with the media are maintained. There has been some degree of government sensitization on issues facing Dalits and relating to the Atrocity Act. More People are becoming aware of legal and rights issues through meetings in villages, and then registering complaints on their own without help. Sometimes the DYSP (Deputy Superintendent of Police) calls CDHR to ask which section under the Atrocity Act to register a case. Village paralegals are registering cases and combating untouchability on their own. CHALLENGES In the Surendranagar case of police custodial death of a Valmiki on 1 st March 2008, it took 44 hours to lodge the case despite constant pressure, because the police are the accused. Convictions are happening, but the sentences are far lower than they ought to be as per sentencing guidelines. Registering the First Information Report (FIR, which is absolutely crucial for the creation of a case) generally takes far too long, if it happens at all, because of the following reasons: o Police officers seldom care about atrocity cases, o Police officers think that Dalits are registering false cases, o Police officers do not know about the Atrocities Act, so sometimes they do not even realize what is illegal. Sometimes, police officers only take the victim s report, and do not register the actual FIR that the CDHR submits in writing (this issue was taken up in the Public Hearing). 20

21 Few police officers or relevant officials came to the Public Hearing because they do not care to learn about the issues. There should be a special public prosecutor for atrocity cases according to the Atrocity Act, but there is none. Judges and the prosecutor himself pressure for a compromise instead of for justice. The accused often file cross-complaints against the accusers, complicating the case and slowing it down considerably. 9. Digitization of Research and Documentation: In collaboration with the RFK Center for Human Rights and the University of Maryland, Navsarjan is now conducting the first of a series of surveys for the Digitization of Research and Documentation program, on untouchability practices around Gujarat. This survey will provide an unprecedented view of the extent to which untouchability is actively practiced in Gujarat today. Two surveys are now being completed: a household survey, and a community survey. Within the household survey, there are three stratifications: gender-wise, age-wise, and general. Within the community survey, there are four stratifications: gender-wise, age-wise, sub-caste-wise, and general. As of 1 April, 2008, Household surveys were completed in 251 villages, and Community surveys were completed in 1,455 villages. IMPACT Because the analysis has not started, there has not yet been any impact. CHALLENGES Because there was a problem with the printing of the forms, all the forms have to be edited after scanning, which requires an enormous amount of time and effort. Some families are not able to spend the necessary time for the enumerators to give them the survey. Some people are afraid to answer honestly, especially if people from different castes are present. The forms are very long, and some people do not have patience to answer the whole survey. 10. Additional Community Mobilization: A Valmiki (scavenger) woman receiving water in a broken cup, poured from above by a dominant caste woman, as dictated by untouchability practices Though community mobilization is a part of everything Navsarjan does, there are some additional activities that do not fall under the above program headings. MAJOR ACTIVITIES A. General Day and Night Meetings General Day and Night Meetings are done in the villages, usually in the Dalit locality, for about 2 to 3 hours depending on the discussion topics, sometimes going late into the night. Fieldworkers provide information about local issues and relevant government schemes that could benefit the 21