Report of second quarter

(April to June- 2007)

P.V.C.H.R./J.M.N.
S Place D Event/Acti Participants/ Alliance Conclusion/Remarks
l.N ate vities Beneficiary and support
o. group org.
1 Paradkar 9th of Weavers 400 Delegates PVCHR, For implementation of Dr.
Bhawan, Apri and their of weaver FRWA. Darin’s scheme Varanasi
Varanasi l livelihood community and weavers Trust, all leaders and
options their leaders. delegates agreed and they say
with common voice after this
scheme there must be change
in weaver’s life.
2 Gandhi 10th Rozgar haq 20 All partners One-week work program on
Addhya of abhiyan of Rozgar village level .Formation of
yan NREGA haq abhiyan Union/Association of
Apr
Peeth, NREGA’s workers.
Varanasi il A fortnightly meeting should
be organized of all job
cardholder at hamlet and
village level.
Application drive: registration
for job cards.

3 Varanasi 1st Internationa <1000 Labour’s Musahar nut In Varanasi the labour’s
, may l Labour of unorganized adhikar opinion that Varanasi should be
Ambedk manch,
200 Day sector considered to be NREGA
arnagar bunker District. For this they will
and 7 dastkar make joint appeal to the
Sonbhad adhikar Government and Planning
ra manch, Commission.
PVCHR and In Sonbhadra they celebrated
VOP. by going to the Martyr stone of
their starved children and
prayed for them and promised
that they will not let this
instance occur again. Labour
being their right, they will
struggle and work hard to
make this area to be hunger
free.
In Ambedkarnagar, Around
 4200 people collectively
decided that on 15th of May 07,
they will make a agitation at
the block office in order to get
their names entered in family
register (kutumb register)
simultaneously they will
demand for AAY ration cards,
which is a matter of their food
rights, they will also demand
for old age and widow pension
for the needy people.
4 Koraut 21st Campaign Victims of Khet Regarding Hi-Tech city
a may meeting High tech Bachao youths collected in a
Bazar, , city. Sangharsh
meeting on 21st May
Varana 200 Samiti,
si 7 S.B.S.Y.B. where it was decided that
and PVCHR. they would do everything
to save agriculture in the
area and on coming 24
they make motorcycle
rally for campaigning and
demonstration against
high-tech city.
5 Varanasi 24th Agitation Victims of Khet On 24th May a motorcycle
Ma and High tech Bachao procession was taken out
campaignin city. Sangharsh
y in which false statement
g. Samiti,
200 S.B.S.Y.B. repeatedly by the
7 and PVCHR. administrative authorities
has been resented by
various villages of this
area and made a pledge
and united to save
agriculture in the region.
6 Lohata, 30th Decensoring Weavers and PVCHR and A folk school was
Varanasi may of victims farmers. Bunkar organized in Lohta,
Dastkar
200 varanasi of victims of high
Adhikar
7. Manch. tech city and weaving
industry. In which they
decide that they shall fight
with joint hand against
high tech city and the
 problems of weavers.

7 Chanda There has been a protest at

uli DM’s office in Chandauli
by various people from
Belwani Village of
Sakaldeeha block
regarding basic rights on
issue of malpractices in
NREGA programme as SC
and ST were not issued
with job cards. There were
28 such cases.
Similarly at village pawra
demanded for Handpumps
for drinking water in the
village.

8 Ambed 30th Folk Weavers and Bunkar They discuss their

kar Jun school victims of -Dastkar problems in front of other
nagar e hunger. Adhikar victims and then they
200 Manch and start discussion for
7 PVCHR common solution,
because their problems
are common. They declare
with common voice that
we must organize in
formal way for struggle
against Hunger and
Poverty.
9 Kotwa, 16th Bunker Weavers’ 50- SBSYB, Weavers organized a
Varana june Panchayat delegates. Bunkar panchayat in which they
si 200 Dastkar discuss about their
7 Adhikar problems. And they take
Manch and pledge that they shall
PVCHR fight against these
problems jointly.
10 Oonch 14th Kisan Weavers and SBSYB, Weavers and farmers
Gaon, june Bunker Farmers. Bunkar jointly gathered on the
Varana 200 Panchayat Dastkar problems of farmers and
si 7 Adhikar weavers, there they
Manch and decide for struggle jointly.
PVCHR They make resolution that
 its not only the problems
of weavers and farmers,
we are going to be victim
of conspiracy of anti
people development.
11 Lohata, 7th Meeting Victims of SBSYB, Victims gathered for
Varana Jun High tech VOP, deciding the strategy for
si e city. Bunkar struggle against inhuman
200 Dastkar policy of government
7 Adhikar named high tech city.
Manch and They decided that we
PVCHR have to fight jointly
against high tech city and
SEZ. Because this is the
conspiracy of
multinationals and others
for taking possession on
domestic market and on
agriculture.

Folk School at Lohta,Varanasi:

Folk school at Lohata, Varanasi

 • In Ambedkarnagar 12 families are enrolled in kutumb register after
the agitation and complaint to the NHRC and District Administration.
A couple provided physically challenged certificate due to effort of
our activist at the age of <60. Our activist participated in the meeting
of PDS shopkeepers on invitation of DM,Ambedkarnagar.

• Subject: A weaver committed suicide in Benipur Village, on

last 12th of June 07.

There is socking news that a man who was a weaver have

committed suicide the name was Neeraj. The Breaking news has came
out. He has taken poison on last 12th June of taking dangerous herbs he
had renounced his life. There was weaving work always running at
their home, Everybody doing the work like weaving and it was story of
very close village Benipur, Navajakpura, very closed to Nageypur.
There was a lot of people who were doing the job like weaving and
many other works. Most probably they have seen. Weaving saries and
sending if to Lohata and most of the people. Leaving in the village side
area they started working in city.
There is a poor family of a weaver; there were three sons of
death. Weaver Neeraj & father the first son is Ramashankar and third
one was Neeraj. Neeraj was very youngest brother of the three Aliar is
the father of Neeraj who have been suffering from. Leprosy in his hand,
the can not do anything, earlier. Two brothers were doing that weaving
work but when the business was down, then they had been made the
separation from the family and they were leaving separate from the
family and they had taken the responsibilities of their family weaver.
Neeraj was only leaving his parents and other two sons had been
separated from the family. By the help of weaving they have been
surviving their life, Neeraj was a professionally. A weaver and he was
bachelor, when gradually weaving works going to be end. Then Neeraj
sxpanded sometime at his home and the sometime, they could not
afford the expanses of their family they had sold there. There was two
Bissa land for surviving their life, they wanted to improve their family
conditions but it could not be possible for him them after that they had
been become hopeless to taking family expenses as well apart from it
Neeraj had taken the burden of his family. Hence again on the 11th June.
He was searching job there but unfortunately he has not found the
work. Then he come towards the home and unfortunately he had survived
poisonous herbs in the way then he was become serious then he had
admitted in the Indian Hospital at Rajatalab. But yet when he has become
serious, then again he admitted by some people in the Banaras Hindu
University Hospital (B.H.U.) where Neeraj has renounce his life forever.
There was a very bad condition of that weaver and the condition
was as much as bad. When Neeraj has died there were no any mummy
clothes for his last ceremony or last presentation of the world.
People has collected the money from the others people and then
at last they burned his body at the crematorium.
The weavers family had, only three rooms. It is sad on the name
of family because Aliar is the owner of house and he has a white card.
But really they should have red card the death weaver of Neeraj’s
parents. His real age are 60 to 62 after that, apart from it they had been
getting their old pension to survive and they wanted to save their life
anyhow.
Now they still had not been received any kind of help from
district administration.
It is as said by local people of the village, that there was a lot of
saries production in Benipur. But when the business of saries has fall.
The man who has been doing the work of weaving they have been
facing the financial problem and thousands of weavers they are
escaping from that place now they are doing the jobs like breaking
stone and hills.
 •
www.newkerala.com

After 60 years of India's independence, UP tribals to

vote fearlessly for first time
--- ANI

• Five children died due to Diarrhea in

Lohata (Dhamariya)
In Lohata 5 children died due to diarrhea and more than dozens are
fighting for life and administration is doing hell. Our colleague who is
also a weaver reported us after survey that here in Lohata 5 children
died and many are still fighting for life. He called to a press reporter of
Daily newspaper named Hindustan for this. Hindustan publish this
news with photograph that in Lohata diarrhea is proving his devil face
he took the life of 5 children and peoples are leaving Lohata for saving
their souls. Severs are flowing on road water is contaminated and no
any medical aid is provided there by health and medical department.
When our activist contacts with local reporter of daily Hindi
newspaper then administration woke up and start acting. During this
action 5 corrupt employees are suspended and medical people
starts camping there for cure and trying to control the situation up to
the three weeks with the help of five doctors and other staffs. Water
board starts water supplying by tankers because pipelines have
leakage at many places. Water board started maintain of pipeline,
overhead tank cleaned by water board peoples now water supplying
start properly. CMO told to the peoples for not drinking pipeline water
drink only tankers water after adding the tablet of chlorine, if any one
has seen the symptom of diarrhea then immediate start drinking Oral
Rehydration Solution. After the struggle of one week situation turns
normal. After this sub center become activated. Earlier PVCHR and
Bunkar Dastakaar Adhikar Manch tried for activation by complaining
and agitation but administration didn’t take attention, they people
were waiting for causalities.
• Helma Richa of Indo-German Social society visited
to Raup Village(Ghasia Basti) of Sonbhadra
The President of Indo-German Social Society of Remscheid, Germany and
the member of Advisory board of IGSS Remscheid visited in Ghasia Tribal
Hamlet of village Raup. There they present flowers on martyr stone of 18
children with wet eyes. After this they distributed contribution to joint
families for buying goat with the help of Rajesh Chaubey of VOP and
Charkhu Mukhiya (community leader) contribution was provided by
Misereor- Germany. This contribution benefits total 23 joint families. Earlier
PVCHR with the help of Misereor helped as livelihood option by buying 4
rickshaws for the community people. Helma says that she feels that she is
standing beside grave of 18 children, she was lighten the candle on her
home’s window on 20th Jan. when the martyr stone was inaugurated, I am
with these peoples in struggle against hunger. The Care House Foundation
Sweden is also supporting their struggle by their efforts. The member of
State SC/ST Commission Dr. Bahadur Singh Yadav send letter to
District Magistrate of Sonbhadra for providing land by lease to the
people living in this hamlet.
 •

Sri Laxmi Chand Jaiswal died due to hunger on 13-4-07 his entire
family was suffering in Hunger since five day.

His wife Ms Meena Devi carried her five-year-old child Juli Suffering
malnutrition to primary health center Tanda.
She exposed that the matter of hunger was informed to the D.M. in writing
before the media. She was visited by Mrs. Vidyavati Rajbhar who agreed
that the entire family was at the verge of Hunger effect, and the death of her
husband was due to hunger for which the district administration is
responsible.
When this case was asked from the district authorities their reply was
that the death was due to deases.
The entire village is in hunger and two childrens are affected by
malnutrition.
In spite of the matter published in the newspapers, the administration has not
provided any Government relief. Finally july passes away because of
malnutrition. Then administrative people start acting and they makes new
AAY ration cards, BPL cards and distribute grains. In the above fact, the
D.M. has instructed Dr. R.K.Singh as not to write malnutrition in any case.
Now he has refused to write malnutrition for other cases
Frontline published the story on Hunger of Musahars and weavers:
 Washington Post and Reuter published story on weavers of Varanasi:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR200706
0502858_pf.html

An Ancient Indian Craft Left in Tatters

Sari Weavers Struggle Amid Economic Boom
By Emily Wax
Washington Post Foreign Service
Wednesday, June 6, 2007; A01
VARANASI, India -- Deep in a labyrinth of stucco buildings, in a dark, cavelike
warehouse, Mohamed Javen, 18, switched on a light bulb, sat before his rickety loom and
began working on what was once the prize possession of every Indian bride: the hand-
woven silk sari.
His feet operated the bamboo pedals, making a rhythmic clopping sound. He carefully
positioned hair-thin strands of gold thread into green silk, crafting a glittery lattice of
leaves, elephants and birds that unfolded like a painting.
This sari design, which has been in Javen's family for 100 years, can take up to two
months to weave. Patterns like these have been a source of Indian pride for more than
2,000 years, with India's version of haute couture adorning wealthy women of the
empires of Rome, Egypt and Persia. Until recently, weaving was India's second-most-
common occupation, behind farming.
But in this ancient city along the Ganges, Hinduism's holiest river, an estimated 1 million
sari weavers are facing almost certain ruin. Cheaper, machine-made saris -- many of
which are copied from Varanasi's famous patterns -- are being pumped out of China and
from newer factories in India's western Gujarat state. Adding to the weavers' woes,
changing fashions and global trade rules have opened the Indian market to foreign
competitors, leaving many once-prosperous sari weavers and their families in desperate
poverty.
"This loom will be in a museum," said Javen's despairing uncle, Nazir Ahmed, 30, whose
family was forced to shut down 12 of their 14 looms. "We would have never predicted
this. We were India's artists. Now we are living in poverty."
The new India is home to smooth highways and shiny high-rises, all the accouterments of
the developed world. But millions of craftsmen, manual laborers and rural workers are
being left out of the economic boom. Nearly 70 percent of India's population lives on less
than $2 a day, and with more than 40 percent of its young malnourished, India is worse
off than Africa in terms of children's health, according to the United Nations.
India also lacks a social security system, leaving weavers, farmers and others vulnerable
to market forces. It is a gaping hole in India's rush to become a developed country that
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has pledged to fix.
"This is the ugly, painful side of globalization. It's a real crisis. If India is booming, you
don't see it among weavers or farmers or other rural laborers, which is to say most of the
country," said Lenin Raghuvanshi, head of the People's Vigilance Committee for Human
Rights, an aid group here. "Helping those left behind is India's greatest challenge."
Few professions in South Asia were as esteemed as that of the sari weaver -- part artist,
part craftsman. Using simple foot-powered looms, weavers for generations have
fashioned elaborate patterns and scenes of weddings, mango groves and Mughal
processions, replete with elephants and horse-drawn carriages. Their canvases are
billowing sunflower and saffron silks, each six yards long.
The father of independent India, Mohandas Gandhi, clad in his homespun loincloth,
launched his nationalist movement to defy colonialism by encouraging Indians to stop
wearing cheap British machine-made cloth in favor of Indian-made fabrics, partly as a
gesture of self-reliance. The hand-loomed saris from Varanasi became a national symbol
for India's independence.
But today, the decline of the sari industry has had tragic consequences. In the eastern
villages and cities of Uttar Pradesh state, 175 weavers committed suicide last year,
despondent over their recent change in fortunes, according to the People's Vigilance
Committee. About 70 percent of weavers' children are malnourished, aid groups estimate.
The weavers also cannot afford basic medical care for their children, much less
themselves.
That's how Razia Khatoon, the wife of a once-prominent weaver, last year ended up a
stranded widow with nine children to feed.
In her village just outside Varanasi, Khatoon said customers stopped buying handmade
saris several years ago. She had to sell the gold she received at her wedding, the Indian
equivalent of hocking a diamond engagement ring. Soon after, she married off her two
oldest daughters "just so that they could be fed somewhere else," she said.
Her husband, Mohammad Ismail, 50, became more and more distressed as profits from
weaving continued to dwindle. He also had contracted tuberculosis and was unable to pay
for the medicines needed to treat the disease.
"The saris he wove were meant for queens and princesses," she said. "But everything
changed. He started to wish he taught his sons more useful skills."
Ismail died in July 2006, Khatoon said. Traumatized by her grief and her new financial
pressures, she sat with his body through the night, as her children hugged her.
"I was afraid of the future," whispered Khatoon, 45, red-eyed as she recalled Ismail's
death. "Then everything got worse."
Early this May, her pretty 20-year-old daughter, Ruksana, also died of tuberculosis. Now
the disease is set to claim her 16-year-old daughter, Salma, who rests limply on a straw
mat outside her family's shanty.
What makes the deaths of Ismail and his daughter so surprising is that the weaver's
family was always self-sufficient.
Likewise, Ramzam Ali, 32, is the first weaver in five generations to have trouble feeding
his family. "I rush every morning to find work as a rickshaw driver or as a day laborer,
but there are already so many people already doing those things," Ali said. "If I can't
manage to even feed my children, how will I mange to educate them in a different trade?"
Part of the problem is that Ali has a fifth-grade education and no other skills. His father
taught him how to weave intricate patterns of lotus flowers and animal motifs onto silk.
That's all he ever thought he would need. Now, he joins more than 370 million other
Indians in the informal jobs sector, many of them illiterate, unskilled and in dire need of
work, according to government studies.
Aid workers trying to help the weavers say the industry desperately needs a marketing
campaign. They are talking to Bollywood stars about showcasing handmade Varanasi
saris on film while also trying to market the handmade sari to the middle and upper
classes as the "little black dress of India" in fashion magazines.
But the campaign has been slow, partly because of greater interest in Western fashion.
In the new Indian metropolis, casual, machine-made cotton kurtas, or shirts, have become
the preferred attire of the young; long and colorful, the shirts can be worn over jeans. But
as India's markets open, India’s young middle class, eager to show the urbane hipness
that distinguishes them from their parents, is flooding Western fashion outlets like United
Colors of Benetton.
Despite the boom in many information technology hubs in southern Indian cities,
Varanasi's weaver quarters look like a ghetto, with men sleeping under broken-down
looms strung with cobwebs, rutted streets with trash fuming at every turn and donkeys
hauling in water for cooking and bathing, tugged along by barefoot urchins.
"I hardly care about booming India when I have no food or money," said Poochland
Dash, 60, a white-haired grandfather and a once-wealthy weaver who said through tears
that he is considering suicide. He is trying to sell the house he built during the golden
years of the sari-weaving industry, with his saris featuring embroidery of men atop
animals in rich indigos and reds.
"If a buyer insults me with a too-low price, I swear I will kill myself," Dash said.
Listening nearby, his wife started crying. "If he takes his life, I will take my life, too," she
said, staring at the ground.
Special correspondent Indrani Ghosh Nangia contributed to this report.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/06/05/AR2007060502858_pf.html

India's silk sari-weavers face bleak,

hungry future
Tue Jul 3, 2007 11:05PM EDT

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WAITING FOR HELP

http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDEL3721320070704?sp=true
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSDEL3721320070704

Reuter story published in many magazines and news letters in

world.Some linkage as follows:
http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=World_News&subsection=
India&month=July2007&file=World_News2007070583214.xml

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/07/04/business/sari.php

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-07-
04T065736Z_01_NOOTR_RTRMDNC_0_India-283074-2.xml

http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/todaysfeatures/2007/Jul
y/todaysfeatures_July4.xml&section=todaysfeatures&col=

http://www.taiwannews.com.tw/etn/news_content.php?id=479806&lang=eng_news&cate
_img=logo_world&cate_rss=WORLD_eng
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2007%5C07%5C05%5Cstory_5-7-
2007_pg4_21

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory?id=3343688

http://www.livemint.com/2007/07/05003250/Silk-sari-weavers-of-Varanasi.html
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=47c49b9c-4132-4a8f-a00b-
c42ccbee577b&k=15661

http://www.bruneitimes.com.bn/details.php?shape_ID=35739

http://www.gulf-
times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=159141&version=1&template_id=4
0&parent_id=22

http://www.dawn.com/2007/07/05/int15.htm

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-
dyn/content/article/2007/07/04/AR2007070400642.html

http://news.sulekha.com/newsitemdisplay.aspx?cid=778002&cat=

http://in.news.yahoo.com/070704/137/6ho7m.html

http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=243424

http://www.wunrn.com/news/2007/03_07/03_05_07/031107_india2.htm

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070704/lf_nm/india_weavers_dc

http://www.actionaidindia.org/ISF_Events_Calendar_Details.htm
 Urgent appeals by the Asian Human Right
Commission- Hong-Kong
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2
007/2368/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2
007/2340/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2
007/2338/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2
007/2320/
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2
007/2312/
Progress report- for the month of May-07 Hi-Tech City

In Kashi Vidyapeeth block and Araji Line agriculture intensive area 2200
acres of land is been snatched for Hi-Tech City is being planned, is being
objected since March 2007 and Government and Unitech Company is
negotiating in this regard to settle capitalist and make a separate city. The
directives of capitalist conspirators are destroying the culture of ancient
heritage Benaras.
On 1st May in Vidyapeeth block and village panchayat of Forwan on
May Day weavers and agriculturist collected together and marched a
procession. Labour has a important role to play in society, on the other hand
society and Government completely ignores them. Labour works day and
right still he is completely queued for achieving their rights they have to get
organized. On this day a big collection of labour mars was present. After this
Hi-Tech city affected villagers consisting of labours, agriculturist and
weavers made an arrangement of a meeting (panchayat) on 19th May at
shaheed udyaan. They were to go for agitation for asking the Government
appealed to wave of the Hi-Tech programme, so as to save agriculture of the
area.
On 21st May villages affected by Hi-tech city youths collected in
meeting where it was that they would do every thing to save agriculture. In
the name of Hi-Tech city fertile land of agriculturist is being conspired and
seized by the capitalist, due to this reason their agitation is not getting
successful.
On 24th May a motorcycle procession was taken out, in which again
and again false statement made by the administration has been objected.
This procession went through Hi-Tech city affected villages- Kurauta,
Daudpur, Unchgaon, Nakaipur, Maniaripur, Balirampu, Ghatampur,
Tulachak, Darekku Pilkhini. It was pledged that in the region of
development agriculturists would not be exploited. In case agriculture of this
area is disturbed the urban area will also get affected, as cost of agricultural
proceeds will also get affected, and simultaneously labours of this area will
get workless.
On 30the May a folk school was organized at village panchayat Lohta
in which victims these villages collected consisting weavers and agriculturist
population. This folk school derived that this Hi-Tech programme is anti
agriculturist and weavers, and people have organize themselves to object to
Hi-tech city programme.
The weavers of this area are in a bad shape and weavers are
compelled to committee suicide, and the Government has no solution to
make these weavers stand.

• Demand of new ICDS center in different hamlets

Sl. No. Name of Hamlet Block District
1 Gahani dalit basti Harahua Varanasi
2 Puwaari khurd Ditto Ditto
3 Lakhmipur Badagaon Ditto
4 Nindanpur dalit Ditto Ditto
basti
5 Nindanpur dalit Ditto Ditto
basti
6 Baghwanala Urban slum Ditto
slum
7 Hukulganj Urban slum Ditto
8 Doshipura
9 Bariban (Aura) Harahua Ditto
10 Lakhmipur chiria Badagaon Ditto
11 Atesua musahar Harahua Ditto
basti
12 Aurao musahar Pindra Ditto
basti
13 Sarai musahar Ditto Ditto
basti
14 Jagdishpur Ditto Ditto
Ahiraveer
musahar basti
15 Bachaura dalit Badagaon Ditto
basti
16 Bhathauli dalit Harahua Ditto
basti
17 Aura dalit basti Ditto Ditto
18 Bhatpurwa Ditto Ditto
musahar basti
19 Aayar musahar Ditto Ditto
basti
20 Kathar newada Badagaon Ditto
21 Barahi newada-1 Ditto Ditto
22 Maksoodanpatti Ditto Ditto
janakpatti
23 Baraai Nayepur Ditto Ditto
24 Dalit basti Ditto Ditto
fattepur-dallipur
25 Barahi kalaa Ditto Ditto
Musahar basti
26 Barahi newada-2 Ditto Ditto
27 Aswaari musahar Ditto Ditto
basti
28 Bhagwanpur Ditto Ditto
hameerapur
29 Kharka aswari Ditto Ditto
30 Sobarna kuwaar Ditto Ditto
31 Dallupur Ditto Ditto
musahar basti
32 Kharka badepur Ditto Ditto
belwa
 33 Thakurpur basin, Ditto Ditto
dalit basti
34 Barahi kalaan Ditto Ditto
35 Fattepur dallipur Ditto Ditto
musahar basti
36 Puwara Ditto Ditto
raghunathpur
37 Pindraai dalit Ditto Ditto
basti
http://www.hrsolidarity.net/
http://www.hrsolidarity.net/mainfile.php/2007vol17no0
3/2541/

India: Starving to Death in Uttar Pradesh

Monument erected in February 2007 in commemoration of 18 children who died of
starvation in Varanasi. Courtesy: Voice of People, People’s Vigilance Committee for
Human Rights (PVCHR) and the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC)

Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) & People's Vigilance Committee for Human
Rights (PVCHR), Varanasi, India

The state and central governments in India cannot justify the occurrence of deaths due to
starvation and malnourishment among its people because it is well known that the
country is rich in food grains and has a surplus food stock in its granaries.

To distribute its ample food stocks, the central government of India has a distribution
system where food grains are sent to the state governments in accordance with their
requirements. It is the responsibility of state governments to communicate their food
needs to the central government. The state governments in turn, have a a licensing
scheme to distribute food grains, particularly to the poor sections of society. But as
illustrated below, this system is totally inefficient and riddled with corruption so much so
that many Indian people continue to die of starvation.

PDS system
'Fair price' (Ration) shop where little is fair.
The Public Distribution System or PDS is the mechanism through which state
governments distribute rationed articles for subsidised prices to the poor. Towards this
end the governments issue licences to run PDS shops and allots quotas of food grains and
other rationed articles to these shops. The articles are delivered at the shops at
government expense with the explicit objective that these items are distributed—free, at
subsidised prices or through some other scheme such as the food for work programme—
to those in need.

To assess the scheme through which grains are to be distributed and also to decide those
eligible to receive food items free or at subsidised rates, the state governments authorise
various local administrations—including the district and block level administration—to
conduct periodical surveys and provide the government list of persons or families
requiring assistance. Those families thus identified as eligible to receive assistance, are
given ration cards or different colours depending on each family's financial status. These
marginalized families can then obtain their food allocation at the licensed 'ration shops'
which are located in almost every village in the country.

The ration shops are the distribution points for the food grains. The shops are licensed to
individuals or co-operatives under the Rationing Order, which is a law under the
Essential Commodities Act of 1955. The government by periodical declarations
designates select items as ‘essential commodities'. A wide variety of food grains are
included as essential commodities under this Act and any illegal dealing with items that
are to be distributed through the ration shops as essential commodities is an offence in
law punishable with imprisonment for a period of seven years and also fine.
Notwithstanding however, there is a wide network of deep-rooted corruption going on
within this distribution cycle ensuring that the poor and vulnerable continue in their
pitiful plight.

Consequently, many people who are assessed as eligible to receive food grains at
subsidised rates or free of charge never get their ration cards from the local
administration. Reliable information has been received that local administration officials
connive with corrupt licensees of ration shops, gather information regarding these
families and obtain the cards meant for them and get their quota of food grains and items
such as cooking oil, sugar and kerosene. They then sell these articles in the black market
or private hotels for huge profits. And this chain of corruption is said to be so widespread
and deep-rooted that it includes some senior government officers to ration shop licensees
in the villages.
Illegal dealing in rationed items is a crime. Therefore, any complaint regarding corruption
in the PDS system can be made to the local police who are duty bound to record and
investigate same. But due to the massive corruption that has eaten into the whole Indian
system, the police fail/neglect their duty and consequently, the rationed items never reach
the needy. The culprits never get booked or charged with a crime and are thus
emboldened to continue their nefarious activities in total impunity. Additionally, illiteracy
and social ostracism of select communities on the basis of caste and religion also deprive
the marginalised from benefiting from the government schemes. As a result, these
schemes exist only on paper while the poor starve to death.

The following are two stories depicting the agony of marginalised communities in India:

Story One: Misery of the Musahars

Lush paddy fields, but not for the Musahars

The Musahar community, in Varanasi district, is socially and economically one of the
most marginalized communities in India. The Musahar community comes under the
category of Scheduled Castes. Although the practice of untouchability is a crime under
Indian law, the Musahar community is treated as such and 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, maintain means
of livelihood, and accessing the education system. For their survival they work as
labourers in agricultural fields or engage in other kinds of hard manual labour. The
remuneration for such work is usually in kind—mostly discarded food or grains. They do
not have any savings to use in times of need. These families are thus forced into
starvation at times when they have no regular work.

Taking into account the plight of the 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 the Varanasi district so that
people belonging to this community could construct their huts and live with their families
without fear of displacement. But to date, they have not got possession of the allotted
lands. It is alleged that upper caste people belonging to the Patel community of Dallipur-
Fattepur village, have illegally taken possession of the said lands and are depriving the
Musahar community of their lawful rights.

On February 19, 2007, the members of the Musahar community of Dallipur-Fattepur

village gathered at the district headquarters and complained to the district magistrate of
Varanasi, regarding the following:(1) for possession of their lands (2) for 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 many of them allege that the
district administration of Varanasi has done little or nothing to fulfil the requests made by
the Musahar community of Dallipur-Fattepur village. On the contrary—probably in
revenge for complaining and to deter future agitations—the Musahars were in fact given
less rations that month (March), than what they were entitled according to their ration
cards.

According to information, the PDS ration shop of Dallipur-Fattepur village is in the name
of Surmati Devi but the shop is actually managed by Sunder Ram, the brother of Surmati
Devi's husband. Those deprived of their food grains include: Kariya Musahar,Doctor
Musahar, Hirawati Musahar, Bideshi Musahar, Moti Musahar, Nanhey Musahar,
Santhosh Musahar, Kebali Musahar, and Khelawan Musahar.

Meanwhile, on March 8, 2007, Musahars of Dallipur-Fattepur village submitted an

application to the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of the Varanasi district regarding the
breakout of Measles in their community. They requested urgent medical assistance as
most of the victims were children who were suffering serious health problem as a result.
Also in a recently conducted survey, PVCHR found that most of the families belonging
to the Musahar community had no work, were living in utter squalor and faced acute
starvation. The PVCHR demanded that the Varanasi district be included under the
National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) immediately.

It is worth noting here that the NREGA programme is a central government programme
that provides employment for the poor. The programme is intended to support rural
sectors of the population who otherwise find it near- impossible to find paid employment
and unable to feed their families end up in starvation. The scheme guarantees
employment for specific periods of time throughout the year so that a minimum number
of working days are ensured for the poor. However, this programme is implemented only
in areas that are declared fit for implementation of the programme.

But this requires a considered approach by the administration of the particular region,
first to identify the number of people suffering from poverty and then to recommend to
the government to include the region under the scope of the programme. However,
Musahar being an 'untouchable' community the administration is not really concerned
about its welfare.

It is further shocking to note that 18 Musahar families had not been given ration cards
until 2006. After a long and strenuous struggle 15 families were finally afforded yellow
cards which are issued to those families whose living conditions are identified as being
below the poverty line (BPL). But 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. However three Musahar families of Indrajit Musahar, Gulab Musahar and
Dinesh Musahar, continue to be deprived of even BPL (yellow) cards—despite of their
dire economic plight.

It is also alleged that these families have been living in Sarai village for generations.
However, it is alleged that the village head of Sarai village was reluctant to accept these
Musahar families as residents of the village. He has thus maliciously denied their rights
to a livelihood and to food and force them, including women and children, to die of
hunger and starvation. Mithai Musahar, who is one of the BPL card holders (card no.
497457) is unable to buy food grains on BPL card and his grandson Sanju, who is also
suffering from measles, has reached the verge of dying from starvation due to the lack of
food.

More shockingly, upper caste people, who are well-above the BPL, are alleged to be
enjoying the use of red cards—as earlier mentioned, issued only to the poorest of the
poor. It is also alleged that Jagdeesh Patel the husband of Sarai village head Mrs. Urmila
and Chandrashekhar Singh, who is the Village Secretary of Sarai village have given red
cards to those people who belong to upper caste families and who are disqualified for
holding red cards.

Story Two: Little Juli

According to information received, 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 private
entrepreneurs and lack of government support, the weaving industry in Uttar Pradesh
deteriorated. This deprived thousands of families of even a basic income—several of
these families are from the villages and Alhadapur is one such village.

Many people who found it extremely difficult to put even one meal a day on the table for
their families, resorted to various odd jobs. One such person was Laxmi Chandra Jaiswal,
the husband of Mina Devi and father of 5-year-old Juli. Mr. Jaiswal opened a small shop
in his village where he sold cigarettes and betel leafs. However in 2006, he fell ill and
had to sell his shop and borrow money for his treatment. This left him without an income
and in debt and his family in dire straits. As a result, 5-year-old Juli is severely
malnourished.

When PVCHR was informed of this family's plight, activists attached to PVCHR took
July to a paediatrician at the local Primary Health Centre. The doctor there immediately
diagnosed that the little girl was suffering from Grave IV malnourishment. Furthermore,
he was shocked to find that Juli weighted only 7 kg when other children of the same age
and height ideally weighed around 18 kg.

Many children like little Juli suffer from malnourishment due to the inefficiency, neglect
and rotten corruption of the system.
Mina Devi said that her daughter has been suffering from malnourishment for almost one
year as the family could not afford to feed her. And though, Mina Devi works as a maid
servant in a nearby house, she is only given left over food as her wages—and this too is
often limited to one or two roti a day. Inquiries also revealed that the family is also not
receiving the benefits of any government scheme enacted for the benefit of the poor.
Contrarily, the village head seemed far from interested in issuing free food grains to the
poor families in the village and more interested in selling the food grains, obtained on
their behalf, to the black market.

The local community children's school remains closed and pitiful little has been done so
far to conduct a study on the health condition of the village children. The Jaiswal family
does not have any land; they only have a small hut. Several families including Mr.
Jaiswal's, have filed petitions with the district administration for assistance as well as to
be included among those requiring food assistance. However owing to widespread
corruption, at the district administration office these petitions were rejected or ignored.

In addition to the Jaiswal family, Shri Ram Lakhan Kanauja and his family are also living
in similar conditions. He is 65 years old, does not have a job and is dying from starvation.
Then Abdul Haq and his wife Sazida are both blind. Mr. Haq is also 65 years old and
unemployed. His wife is suffering from severe malnourishment but has 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 will surely die from starvation or malnourishment
induced by starvation unless something is done really fast.

And, according to recent information, Mina Devi—the mother of Juli—was also

admitted to the local government hospital for illness brought about by malnourishment
Posted on 2007-06-20
Back to [Vol. 17 No. 03 May 2007]
 • PVCHR and AHRC highlighted the weavers issue of Varanasi with the
agenda of Sachchar committee
http://www.ahrchk.net/ua/mainfile.php/2007/2368/

CASE DETAILS:

Varanasi is one of the oldest cities in India, situated on the bank of holy river Ganges. City is
mostly inhabited by hindus and Muslims. Hindus are in majority but Muslim population is also
more than 1 million. Mulim population is highly concentrated in different areas of the city. Most of
the Muslim population is engaged in weaving work of famous Baranasi Sarees.

Bajardiha is one of the most densely populated areas in Varanasi city. The total population of
Bajardiha is more than 100,000 and most of them are weavers and living in appalling condition. In
the concerned weavers’ community of Bajardiha there is only one government Primary school for
children’s education, there is no hospital, no road, even there is no pavement in the locality. The
sewer system does not work there. Everywhere in the area, stagnant and dirty water of sewer can
be seen overflowing. The dump of rubbish is spread around the area which is not sanitary safe for
the residents. Due to acute poverty and unhygienic conditions many people of this community,
including children, are suffering from TB and Asthma. It is alleged that Varanasi Municipal
Corporation is also responsible for the plight situation of the residents of Bajardiha.

Due to breakdown of the economy in the market of Baranasi sarees, weavers' community of
Bajardiha have found difficulties to get job and the people are facing imminent problem of
starvation. Thousands of weavers have been migrated to other cities leaving their families behind
in search of livelihood; many others are involved in menial jobs to feed their families and
children.

In another community called Mirzamurad in Varanasi district named which is hardly 5 kilometers
away from Varanasi city. People of neighbouring villages of Mirzamurad have also been engaged
in weaving of sarees for last several years. Weavers of this area are also facing the same
problem of loss of jobs due to breakdown of market.

Most of the villagers in the area of Mirzamurad from different villages like Kardhana, Benipur,
Mehdiganj, Ganeshpur, Islampur, Amini, Admapur, Mominpur, Kallipur, Chateri, Manapur, Thatara,
etc are engaged in the weaving work. At the advent of summer season, weavers of this area were
expecting that the market of Baranasi Sarees will gain momentum and with the increase in the
sale of Baranasi Sarees they would be able to get job and their income will increase. But the
weavers' expectations proved to be mistaken and their hopes to get out of the crisis of acute
poverty even for a while seem to be broken.

Dozens of weavers have already been closed their looms due to fall of demand of Baranasi
Sarees and groping the dark in search of their livelihood. It is reported that in the State of Uttar
Pradesh election campaign is going on and the candidates from different political parties
contesting the election to get elected for State Legislative Assembly and their leaders are
spending millions of rupees to win the election by any means but the sufferings of poor workers
are not on the agenda of any political parties.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION:

Majority of the Muslim community in India is living in acute poverty. Muslims in India have
deliberately been deprived of education and jobs in government services. Muslim population in
India mostly resides in cities and has been involved in different economic activities to earn their
livelihood.
It is ironic to know that Muslim population in India has been facing the negligence and indifferent
attitude of Indian ruling authorities and local level administrations since independence of India. It
has been the root cause of all sorts of backwardness and poverty among Muslim community.
They have been subjected to acute exploitation and for this reason despite of hard labour majority
of Muslim population has always been deprived of their essential requirements.

Recently Justice Sachar Committee, which was established to improve economic conditions and
social welfare of Muslims and other minorities in India, stated that the conditions of Muslims in
India are even worse than that of Dalit. Sachar Committee has also recognized the fact that the
Muslim community is deprived of all basic amenities and living in horribly poor conditions.

Amidst assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh, it has been reported that the Prime Minister
Manmohan Singh was pledging to implement the Sachar Committee's recommendations for the
welfare of Muslims and other minorities. Addressing at the election meeting at Puranpur in
Pilibhit, Singh said central government would implement the recommendations made by the
Sachar Committee for socio-economic uplift of Muslims.

However, the situation of the Muslim weavers in Varanasi district is hopeless and they have
responded that it is only election stunt to attract the Muslim voters. They say that at the time of
elections leaders are used to make mere verbal promises and once when election is over no
leader turns back to take notice of them.

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.
3- 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/
4- 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.
5- 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.
6- 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.
7- 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.
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’s 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

Case Study

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 families

Location: 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.

May-07

• May Day was celebrated an Alhadpur, Tanda Akbarpur of Ambedkar

Nagar district by arranging a gathering of labours mainly weavers for
appreciating the values of labour.
While in varanasi earthen lamps were lighted by praising the virtues
of labour.
Further in Sonbhadra May day was celebrated by Ghasia tribe by
collecting down at martyr stone which ware made in honor of their starved
children by making an oath that in future such an incidence will not occur in
future by resisting that labour being their right an will struggle hard to take
complete care of their families and children.
• Mr Prashant represents JMN towards three days Parner’s meet at
Bhawali. The outcome of the meeting was:
1. That effort is to be made to attain women’s equality rights.
2. Social Audit are to be different than the Govt. Audits, considerations
are to be on the actual status of demographical status character.
3. Description of working status for disabled people should be collected.
4. Appraisal of NREGA programme in UP and Uttaranchal region was
discussed at a large.
5. Condition of weavers was discussed as 50 or more weavers have
committed suicide in the near past.
 6. Matters related to objections and demerits of SEZ in Varanasi were
considered by all the members.
• On 19th may a folk school was organized at village Belwa, in which
15 victims participated for their violation of Human rights.
• Dr. Bahadur Singh Yadav member of UP SC/ST commission was the
guest who assured to help this victim by taking stern action. He also
assured to be present in all future such programmes.
• On 30th a folk school was organized in Lohta, varanasi of
marginalized people and weavers, which mainly consisted people
from Hi-Tech zone like village Bhatti, Churamanpur, Dhannipur,
Korauta, Bharthara and so on.
• Dr. Lenin (Director) JMN has been appreciated worldwide an was
honored with Gwangjoo Human Rights Award from South Korea for
his out standing achievement in the area of Dalit Human Rights and
democracy, police torture, bonded labour and Hunger etc.
• By the effort of JMN team the authorities were provoked to do the
best for promoting ‘Right to Food’ campaign, further 300 job cards
were issued, 8 Antyodaya cards and 18 old age pension were issued to
deprived and marginalized communities in Chandauli district.
• There has been a protest at DM’s office in Chandauli by various
people from Belwani Village of Sakaldeeha block regarding basic
rights on issue of malpractices in NREGA programme as SC and ST
were not issued with job cards. There were 28 such cases.
• Regarding Hi-Tech city youths collected in a meeting on 21st May
where it was decided that they would do everything to save
agriculture in the area.
• On 24th May a motorcycle procession was taken out in which false
statement repeatedly by the administrative authorities has been
resented by various villages of this area and made a pledge and united
to save agriculture in the region.
Wed nesda y, 3 0 Ma y

* Folk school of vic tims a nd mar gi nal ize d in L oho ta

Par tic ipa nts: over 30 people who are living in high-tec Zone area, Bhatti,
Churamanpur, Lohata, Dhannipur, Korauta, Bharthara, Ghamaria and so on.
All the participants were on leave from work today to attend the folk school but they will
work over night someday.

Morning session: 11am-2pm

Lunch break: 2pm-2:30pm
Afternoon session: 2:30pm-8pm
Wonderful dinner: 10pm
Pra sha nt: The purpose of the folk school is to share and individual problem each others
and to try to find the common solution and strategy to the problem.
All participants including me introduced one after another.

Dis cussi on
Ghan shy am( nam e): I have worked for 25 years. Today the wage of labour is going
down, while the cost of raw material (silk) is going up. Sometimes warp is gone up but
sometimes the weft is not available, when our work is pended. The condition of those
who have more children is worse. Who can be responsible for this situation? Government
can be responsible? The gaddidar who is the owner of the Saree shop reduce the cost of
production too much which is not acceptable for Saree weavers. Due to this, weavers are
compelled to shift to construction work, Rickshaw pulling, or trolly pulling etc.
One brother weaves, while the other buys it. It is matter of availability of money and of
holding capacity. Further, you (people who are from NGO) have to find out the way, since
we are helpless.

Pra sha nt Q: How to revive this industry?

Ghan shy am : I have no way out. We have neither money nor relatives who can be of
assistant for this matter. I have no option. There is no option in the hand of capitalist.
After finishing one month work, the payment is not paid monthly, but paid by installment
which makes our life harder. There is no way to improve this industry. We cannot handle
it. I think the output should be fixed by the governmental policy, and both the payment
for us and our labour also should be fixed at some level by the government.

Toni : I have worked as a weaver last for 35 years. My income is not as much as the cost
involved in Saree. At the present, I am working as a building labourer and managing my
family. For starting any self business, I need some money. If cost of raw materials for a
Saree was 300 Indian Rs., we are paid 250 Indian Rs. by the retailer, which is even lower
than cost of production. For this condition is government responsible. The reason why is
that if government controls the price of warp and weft, the condition of market could be
controlled. The Saree retailer buys Saree for 200Rs. from us, sell it for 400 Rs. to the
consumers. When our business does not go well, we can not help working as a building
labourer to support our family. The number of family is increasing; on the contrary, the
wage is not improved. In case the government fixes the rate for Saree, we would sell our
Saree to retailers. We then can expect whether we could get a benefit of 50-60Rs. per a
Saree. Due to the money, weavers ' lives are getting worse.

Phool Chan d: I have worked as a weaver for 15 years. The duty hour per day regulated
by the government is 8 hours, but we, weavers are working for 12 hours a day. What can
we do after 60 years old? Who will take care of us? When we had money in our pocket,
everyone could be our friends, however once the circumstances surrounding us got
worse, all friends immediately fled away. At this extent, my brother has told me that no
one is on my side. Both the government officials and employees involved to corruption
are engaged in promoting the situation. I have gone in debt, and then people came to my
home and assaulted me.
Narmu : Weaving industry is going on wonder circumstances. A piece of cloth by
handloom can be done in 15 days. But these days it can be completed in 4 to 5 days by
power loom. The rate is going down since some weavers are involved in reducing the
price by commission.

Aft ab: Color is prepared on base but chemical coloring has given harmful effect on skin.
Synthetic Saree ranges from 200Rs to 250Rs, in which government is to be blamed
somewhere. Weavers are also to be blamed. Weavers ' community hides income tax, due
to which government gets no benefit. Inappropriate education for the weavers '
community also drags behind.

Sid diq ue Has sa n: In 1985, synthetic thread was focused, and at that time government
policy was visible. There was no association at that time. There was a condition of
scatteredness. There was no representative of weavers. This was not known to any
weaver. When the matter was discussed, the government said your people have done
that. Chinese silk market is open, under this conspiracy, we are being exploited. If we
don 't organize, we would get effects from that. It is our responsibility that weavers must
survive. Government has to solve the problems. The government doesn’t give ration
cards so that they save the money which they chew away.

Beshu Lal Ma ur ya : Who is the middle merchant, why he is silent? Instead of blaming,
he must work. If there would be no rationality, the man must have eaten man.

Ra y Bhar : High-tech pressure has been made on the agriculturalist, conspiracy is going
on where industrialist could be settled, the agriculturalists are compelled to commit
suicide.

Sri Ra j Nara inj i: Capitalist had an intention of ruling the entire society. As being made
about the high-tech city. It has already been warned by us that we should be aware. We
have to save ourselves from robber. Everyday the entire society is being ruled by the
capitalist. No one talks about poverty but everyone talks about religion. On the name of
religion, we come to fight. However, today poverty is spreading its wing on the entire
society with poverty to be the main.

Dhar am Raj Ma ur ya : The state has been designed to be welfare based. The leader of
society must carry the words of the public to right direction. Those who are starving,
how can they think? Because the weavers are facing poverty. On the issues of weaver
and agriculturist, the leaders must pressurize the state government and firm as well.
If the Haryana State is getting industrialized, some where the state government has to
play its role. Thinking should be based on the fundamental cause. All issues must be
based on common minimum programme. Consequently, the different problem can be
observed and struggled separately.

Pra sha nt: In the last election of legislative assembly, 206 members with criminal
background were elected and in the recent election, 125 mafias have been elected. When
there is 40% of voting, even then criminals are able to be elected. We have to work
under such environment. Wherever changes have taken place, people have desired and
have worked on it. The straggle consequently comes to be people’s struggle in which
everyone participates and leads altogether.
Students have not received scholarship, when I went to the teacher and talked about the
scholarship. He indicated to contact secretary. Weaving industry is passing through bad
phase. A Saree is made at 850 Rs., while is sold for 800Rs.

Narm ee Yada u: Land mafias are forcibly acquiring land. At Allauddinpur village, Kashi
vidyapeeth block, land is being terrorized our lives, and in many ways harassed. Please
help us against them, battle against land mafias.

Pra sha nt: S pecial Economic Zone

Raw Material converts into completed goods for export. In this area, the labour will work
and wages Act will not be implemented. 700 areas were selected for Economic Zone in
the country. 250 areas out of them were notified and Nadigram and Singur are involved in
Economic Zone. 25% land will be constructed by the government. For five years no tax
will be imposed. No licenses will be applicable. Probably one goes for ----of medicine.
Our domestic production area will be affected. When the government is involved in
getting production, then one can not stop it. In such Special Economic Zone (SEZ) area,
the government is equipping the land and supporting in all matters. Getting the new city
constructed in comparative to the new city. In the city, new capitalist being promoted and
caring their comforts, their vehicles plying on roads. Hi-tech city and SEZ was to be
pushed away and struggled.

Vi ja y Raj: Hi-tech city is a conspiracy to demolish agricultural developing and in

Varanasi, the 10 villages were chosen to Hi-tech city. Those areas are extensive
agricultural areas and the land is fertile. The life of agriculturalists fully depends on the
land. Kaurauho, Unch gaon, Darekhee, Naskripur, Ghartampur, Maniyasipur, Balirampur,
Pilkhani, Nakaipur, and so on, around 2200 Acre land is snatched. The agriculturalists of
these areas harvest million tons of fruits, flowers, vegetables, and then sell them to the
city. The income proceeds are listed for welfare of the city. The educated youth can be
employed in this area and they can support their family. If their land is snatched, then he
will be in a danger of unemployment. Once their land is squeezed, it will become difficult
to cycle for 60km for employment. Some people will have difficulty of separating from his
friends.

Gag an Pra ka sh : by getting 2200 acres of land is planned and those who have given
land is not known and even those people have sold the land as sandy non-agricultural
land. State government should not propagate to acquire agriculturalist land forcibly and
below the rates considering sandy and ditch land.
In the entire area those who have sold their land are mainly people who are not doing in
their profession. In the entire country wherever Hi-tech or SEZ plan works, people
should be organized against it.
Internal conflict of the village should be resolved with it, by sitting together and
organizing meetings as to how to make a voice against the abnormality of the
government. The population of these areas is 12,000 and only 40-50 peoples are visible
in this sphere. It is requested that we ought to go and tell our neighbors about this
situation and must go along with people who is willing to join us.

Ram Lakh an : In 1960, Jawahar Lall went to Russia, from where he --- this plan of
SEZ, which is a problem among the agriculturalist and weavers, for which public is to be
blamed. When we were struggling against Hi-tech city, the local MLA was not visible.
But when election comes, then the same MLA is elected again, and he comes to the
agriculturalist with good image. He works for the government and sits on the laps of
capitalist. The agriculturalist with 10 biswa land is deprived of red ration card. However,
he should be provided with red ration card.

Con clusi on:

Group 1

1. It should be planned in a democratic way considering the benefits of

agriculturalist and weavers, and accordingly the strategy will be adopted.
2. The organization should be strong for strategic struggle.
3. Agriculturalist and weavers are willing to face long struggle since when the
people can not survive, what can they do other than fighting?
4. Agriculturalist affected by Hi-tech policy should encourage the youth to join
the struggle with them.
5. To sustain weaver industry, any amount of labour is needed shall afford.
6. Supply for Electricity should be increased and agriculture also should be
improved.

Group 2

1. Village and Muhalla level committee should be formed.

2. District level committee should be formed by program.
3. The short meeting at the level of village and Muhalla should be made and the
strategy should be discussed.
4. Every village should have a meeting and maximum number of opinion should be
taken.
5. At the district level, the strategy should be well planned, and the action should
be followed accordingly.
6. In Lohta Kaurauta area, deprived people should be informed their rights and
what the organization has done. We should go to village each other. The regular
meeting should be formed. Follow-up action should be strong. The struggle
should be based on the legal rights.
7. Circulatory media should be strong. All kinds of problem including little ones of
the area should be known and be prepared for struggle. Movement should be told
to 5-10 members of the community.