. . . . . . "Dalit Solidarity News" is an information project run by the International Dalit Solidarity Network. News stories are extracts from online newsservices. Link to the full story is found at the end of each blog. Visit the International Dalit Solidarity Network at www.idsn.org   Archives << current   Formed in 2000, the IDSN is a network of international organisations, national solidarity networks and affected country groups, campaigning against caste-based discrimination throughout the world, from the dalits of South Asia to the Osu of Nigeria and the Burakumin of Japan. Visit our website International Dalit Solidarity Network for more information. SUBMIT DALIT NEWS HERE

DALIT SOLIDARITY NEWS   Friday, January 09, 2004   Telegraph - Calcutta, India Case to abolish scavenging New Delhi, Jan. 8: The Supreme Court today ordered the Centre, states and Union territories to reply on a petition seeking to declare the practice of manual scavenging and the operation of dry latrines as “violative of equality before law and right to life with dignity”. A division bench of Justices S.. Variava and H.K. Sema issued notices to the Centre, states and Union territories to show cause as to why the practice should not be done away with. The petition, jointly filed by 14 petitioners, including the Safai Karamchari Andolan (from Andhra Pradesh), Jana Sahas (Madhya Pradesh), Adhar Shila (Lucknow), Young Women’s Christian Association (Chennai), Kamgar Parivartan Sangh (Mumbai), Dalit Research Institute (Uttar Pradesh) and the National Campaign on Dalit Human Rights (Hyderabad), sought a direction from the apex court to declare that the practice “is inhuman and violative of human and fundamental rights”. The petitioners said the Centre, states and Union territories should take action to implement the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040109/asp/nation/story_2765820.asp 8:15 AM Monday, January 05, 2004   GULF - Dalily News Five killed in Indian caste war 4 January 2004 Gunmen stormed a village and fatally shot five so-called "untouchables" yesterday, in what police said was apparently a revenge attack in eastern India's notorious caste wars. Several residents of Bariari - a village of low-caste people, often called Dalits or untouchables - were also wounded in the pre-dawn attack, Inspector General of Police A C Verma said. The village is about 50km east of Patna, capital of Bihar state. Verma blamed the attack on Ranvir Sena, a private militia working for upper caste Bihar landlords. No other details were immediately available. Dalits face discrimination in many parts of India. Violence sometimes breaks out when they attempt to claim their rights to vote, own land, send their children to school, seek political office or refuse to do menial tasks without being paid - a role to which they've been traditionally consigned. Political analysts say the caste conflict is largely about scarce resources in an impoverished, underdeveloped environment rife with government corruption. http://www.gulf-daily-news.com/arc_Articles.asp?Article=70750&Sn=WORL&IssueID=26290 11:25 AM