NEWS BY THOSE WHO LIVE IT
Untouchability: Plastic cup for Dalits
“He gives us tea in a plastic cup, never in a glass cup. he doesn’t want to be polluted by us and says he won’t serve in a glass cup because we are from the dome caste… when we ask for water, they give it in our hands.” Article 17...
Babasaheb is Angry
Babasaheb is angry. As I look up at a large photo of his on the wall in front of me; his thick, black eyebrows are knitted together, eyes scowling through spectacles. I can almost feel the disappointment that fills the air. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar, the principal architect of the Indian...
One Billion Rising: Changing perspectives with a camera
February 5; Pune, Maharashtra Heena Sheikh had been a victim of domestic violence ever since she got married. Undocumented instances of domestic violence are still quite common in India. The societal norms, which revolve around a patriarchal system, make it difficult for women to raise their voices. That’s what happened...
Extending Rights
Community Correspondent Rekha Bhangre brings an inspiring story from Madhya Pradesh. Durga, who was recently elected Village head has overcome many barriers in her way. While increasingly women tend to hold prominent posts in their village, the empowerment seems to be a token one as they still have to depend...
Women discriminated against for not giving birth to boys
Savitri Devi gets beaten up by her husband very frequently for not having a son, reports Community Correspondent Mahesh Kumar from Ambai Bujuru of Kaushambhi district in Uttar Pradesh. Kaushambhi district celebrates a festival known as Sakat or Ganesh Chowk every year. In this festival, everyone can participate except the...
Safe Motherhood scheme not safegaurding the rights of pregnant women in Uttar Pradesh
Pregnant women pay bribes to avail free maternal health service in Uttar Pradesh The staff of a Community Health Centre of Mirjapur village in Uttar Pradesh, have been demanding cash from pregnant women before providing service of any kind. As a result, they are forced to buy medicine from outside...
Houses of Dalit families burnt by upper caste men
12 powerful men from the ‘upper caste’ burnt down the houses of 4 Dalit families, our Community Correspondent Reena Devi reports from Maha Dalit Tola area of Chitauria Village in Katihar, Bihar. The conflict arose because the attackers had been trying to forcefully evict the residents. A meeting date...
Failure of Total Sanitation Campaign in Bihar
As per Water Aid’s latest survey report, Bihar needs to build 6,900 toilets a day to keep promise of total sanitation. VV-PACS Community Correspondent Navita Devi from Katihar district, Bihar reports on the failure of the scheme in Gandhigram village. Toilets have been built but the villagers haven’t received any...