Social Awareness Society for Youths
(SASY) E-News No.003 Date: October to December 2020
Summary:
Introduction:
Social Awareness Society for Youths (SASY) had significantly
intervened to empower the most affected Dalit and Adivasi
communities to better access to justice with equality and dignity.
Caste based discrimination, inequality are a greatest challenge, but
SASY has played a lead and critical role to pave way to fight
against injustice and to achieve better access to Justice to the most
oppressed and marginalized Dalit and Adivasi communities. The
human rights interventions of SASY enormously contributed to
bring significant changes at the district and state for the larger
benefit of the Dalit and Adivasi communities.
1. Human Rights Monitoring & High
Court Interventions
2. Monitoring Atrocities committed
against Dalit and Adivasi
Panchayat Presidents
3. Emergency Relief Response –
Cyclone Burevi 2020
4. Cultural Training for CRC
Children & Women Federation
5. Election Manifesto 2021
6. SASY Annual General Body and
Executive Committee Meeting
7.
Dalit Human Rights
Monitoring
October 2020 – December
2020
No. of Fact Findings 19
No. of FIR registered 18
No. of Complaints sent to
concern authorities
15
No. of Accused persons
Arrested
32
Applications Submitted
under Rule 4 (5) for
Gaining SPPs
2
Gained SPP under Rule 4
(5)
2
Amount of Compensation
Received by Survivors
INR 22,62,500/-
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020
News - 3
The vice-president Mr. Mohanraj is belonged to
the most backward castes (MBC – Vanniyar
caste) and he had influenced the other non-Dalits
and was discriminating the two Dalit women
Rajeswari and Sukanya.
These non-Dalits did not allow the panchayat
president to execute the powers and to perform
her duties. The vice-president had also threatened
the president and the 2 Dalit women were forced
to sit on the floor during the two gram sabha and
two panchayat meeting. They were subjected to
derogatory forms of verbal abuse and
discriminatory practices. Also during the
Independence Day the panchayat president
Rajeswari was denied to hoist the national flag
and the vice-president Mohanraj’s father hoisted
the flag.
SASY had immediately undertaken fact finding
into the brutal atrocity and the case was registered
at Bhuvanagiri PS with the crime no: 1103 u/s sec
3(1) (m), 3(1) (r) SC/ST PoA Act on 10.10.2020.
Monitoring Atrocities committed against Dalit and
Adivasi Panchayat Presidents:
Case No: 1
Ms. Rajeswari of Bhuvanagiri, Cuddalore District has
won in the last panchayat election held in December
2019 and belonged to the Scheduled Castes (SC). She
has won in the Therkku Thittai Panchayat and presently
holding the position of panchayat president. Totally
there are 6 panchayat members in Therkku Thittai
panchayat and out of six; four of them are non-Dalits.
The remaining 2 are Ms. Rajeswari and Ms. Sukanya
respectively.
Human Rights Monitoring & High Court Interventions:
SASY is meticulously following the caste based atrocities
committed against Dalit and Adivasi communities by
following each stage of the atrocity cases and providing
legal support to the survivors of caste atrocities along with
the Special Public Prosecutors who were gained under rule
4 (5) of the SC/ST PoA Act.
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020
News - 3
The secretary Sindhujah and 6th
ward member Mr. Sugumar have been arrested by the Bhuvanagiri
police. SASY complaints have been sent to the District Collector, Superintendent of Police, National
Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC, Chennai) and Chief Minister Cell. On 19.10.2020 the petition
was filed at the SC/ST Court – Cuddalore in cancelling the bail petition of the accused persons under
section 15 A of SC/ST PoA Act.
Case No:2
Rajesh @ Raj kumar (28) of Arani Block of Tiruvannamalao District fell in love and married a
Scheduled Tribe (Sub Caste: Irular) women named Ganga (Name Changed) in the year 2010. He left
Ganga in her mother’s home and was working as an electrician in Chennai. Mean while, Ganga was
conceived and her husband Rajesh had a bought pill for abortion and the fetus was aborted.
In the year 2014, he had taken a house for rent and they both were staying in that house located at
Tiruverkadu, Chennai. Once find day, he had told that his father was sick and left Ganga and he didn’t
return home at all, Meantime, he had married another woman Kalpana (Name Changed) By hiding his
first marriage with Ganga. Ganga cme to know about Rajesh’s second marriage and she had lodged a
complaint at the all women police station (AWPS), Tindivanam.
SASY had undertaken fact finding into the said incident and legally followed up the case. The case was
pending in Villupuram – Special Court and by the intervention of SASY, the case gained Special Public
Prosecutor under rule 4 (5) of SC/ST PoA Act with the choice of victim and Adv. Senthil Kumar @
Seralathan was the Special Public Prosecutor and the case came for final hearing and received judgement
on 30.01.2020 where the accused Rajesh was convicted with life imprisonment and a penalty of Rs.
1000/-. The court had also announced Rs. 2 lakh relief for the survivor
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020
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Emergency Relief Response – Cyclone Burevi 2020:
Background and the Impact of Cyclone Burevi in
Cuddalore District:
After 26th
December 2004-Tidal wave (Tsunami), the
usual monsoon situation happened every year in Costal
district of Cuddalore and Nagapattinam District. The
same situation has been occurred under the influence of
Cyclone Burevi, several parts of the central region of the
State, particularly Cuddalore and Nagapattinam heavy
rainfall due to the north-east monsoon.
This is the continuation to the Cyclone NIVAR which
occurred in the last week of November (24-28, 2020)
2020 and following this, the Cyclone Burevi caused
heavy rainfall and massive floods across the Cuddalore
District.
The majority of the Dalit and Adivasis communities are
living in the flood affected areas including the river and
coastal sides are very poor. They have been frequently
experiencing the heavy rain in their hamlets parts. They
often became homeless due to the frequent flood and
cyclone hit and their huts always washed away by the
cyclone and flood. In these backgrounds the humanitarian
assistance is very much needed and the affected families
need to be provided immediate relief assistance including
Food, Shelter, Warm Clothes, WASH and essential
Medicines to prevent communicable diseases in this
Cyclone Burevi as well as in the COVID 19 Pandemic
Situation.
Since the situation is worsening SASY is immediately
focusing on providing relief assistance to the worst
affected families. And later will engage in advocacy,
lobbying with the government departments for permanent
housing to the affected families and restoration in long
term.
Rapid Damage Assessment & Relief Assistance:
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020
New - 3
The total scheduled caste population of 5780
families are living in 43 villages of 5 Blocks in
Cuddalore District and is residing in thatched and
hut with mud houses inundated due to heavy rains
causes and influence of Cyclone Burevi. The
affected families are living in watery floors and are
not able to sleep since 3rdDecember 2020 and have
lost their belongings such as household utensils,
Clothes, books, dry rations and groceries items.
Moreover, the people already are not able to go to
work and earn regular income due to COVI19
pandemic lock down (since March 2020) and
presently the Cyclone Burevi (Since March 2020 –
December 2020 = 10 months) have also led to loss
of livelihood. These families are suffering without
food, clothes and almost all their belongings were
washed out.
Around 5780 families were worst affected in the
Cyclone Burevi and in the villages like Ambedkar
Nagar and Vadugathirumedu in Kavarapattu
Panchayat in Parangipettai Block have been
struggling to stay along with children ,elders,
Pregnant women and Physical Challenged since 3rd
of December 2020 due to their houses inundated
with heavy rain and flood water. Few of the families
are presently staying in their relatives which are near
by the village.
MISEREOR and Christian Aid as supporting
agency and SASY as implementing agency
responded quickly through distributing
immediate relief packages on 27.12.2020 to
30.12.2020 to more than 1600 worst affected
Dalit and Adivasi families from the villages of
Cuddalore District. The relief packages
included 25 kgs of rice, two kg dhal, two kg
Sugar, one kg salt, two litres of cooking oil,
Masala items for cooking, Bed Sheets, Plastic
Mats, Milk Powder, Dettol, Kabasura
Kudineer, Biscuits, Phenol,
Sanitary
Napkins and Tarpaulin Sheet.
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020 News - 3
Cultural Training for CRC Children:
The Children groups from the child resource centers have explored heir inclination towards art and culture. Many children
hae earned accolades in cultural performances in different forums on the issues of child rights. The ultimate aim of the
cultural training is the cultural teal will perform on thematic issues of Dalit and Adivasis children to generate awareness in
the community. The cultural team will perform on themes of discrimination, disaster preparedness, and children rights
under UNCRC.
In Cuddalore District, the Dalit communities in SASY’s working villages have access their rights and
entitlements through SASY initiatives and its solidarity organization initiatives in terms of Access to Justice and
entitlements as well as Education and Disaster Response and rehabilitation. In continuation of this journey,
SASY has provided cultural training in November 2020 by the expert cultural Team where 20 CRC Children, 5
Facilitators, 5 Volunteers participated and adept in local Dalit and Adivasi music and instruments. This cultural
group will promote Dalit culture and also generate awareness on Rights of Dalit and Adivasi children through
cultural expression by addressing caste discrimination, exclusion in schools, disaster response, right to adequate
housing etc.
The Children Resource Centre (CRC) is functioning effectively in Cuddalore District. The children at the
centre are having regular classes during evening from 4 to 6 p.m. With the facilitation of the CRC facilitators
the children are able to learn their academics; extracurricular activities, social skills whereby the children have
creatively made their ideas, skills and made “Craft Arts from Wastes” in these COVID lock down days.
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020 News - 3
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Inaithakaigal Women Federation:
The women federation leaders are having
their regular meeting in 21st of every month
and the last month meeting they had
discussion on the right to housing for the
Dalit families in the working villages.
Following this, the federation leaders had
submitted collective petition to the District
Collector, Cuddalore seeking 367
permanent housing under the government
schemes in 9 villages of Cuddalore District.
Election Manifesto 2021:
The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes comprise about 16.6% and 8.6%, respectively, of India's
population. Dalits and Adivasis communities have become the focal point of all the political parties for rising
to political power at their cost and the concerns of Dalit & Adivasi women and children rights have not been
given priority. The constitutional rights and entitlements of Dalits and Adivasis were neglected over the years.
As SASY, we present this Manifesto to all the political parties to include and incorporate our demands and
concerns in your political party manifesto for the upcoming 16th
Assembly Elections 2021. This would
thereby bridge the increasingly gaps between the Tamil Nadu Government and the Dalit and Adivasi
communities. Hence we would demand the political parties to adhere to the constitutional rights of SCs and
STs. The demands are as follows:
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020 News - 3
1. Strengthening Democratic Republic & Federal Government:
To protect the powers of the State Government and the political parties to offer special focus on the
powers, rights, ownership of the state government.
2. Challenges Faced and Demands of Dalit, Adivasis:
To ensure land entitlements, housing to the Dalit and Adivasi people
Special focus on housing schemes and moving towards villages without huts.
3. Prevention of Atrocities and Claiming Justice:
Full Implementation of SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act
Amend Article 17 of the Indian Constitution.
Ensure legal protection to the Inter Caste Married Couple & Prevent caste cruelty murders.
4. Rights to Dalit and Adivasi people in Education and Employment Spheres:
Ensure reservation in fair manner at the time of admission of students in 11th
standard.
Provide scholarships for Higher Education.
Ensure State Legislation on Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub Plan (SCP TSP).
5. Approaching Dalit & Tribal Villages with Social Perspective:
Take action against the persons under SC/ST PoA Act who are against the local representatives
To revoke section 205 of Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act
Ensure Gram Sabha Meetings and Participations.
Weapon License to Dalit and Adivasi Panchayat Presidents who are facing threats.
6. Special Focus on Dalit and Adivasis – Relief, Rehabilitation, Addressing Caste Based
Discriminations during Disasters
7. Challenges Faced by Adivasis:
Housing Rights – Land Entitlement
Caste Certificates
Membership in Tribal Welfare Board
Special Legislation for Tribal Sub Plan
Conduct census and obtain population data of Scheduled
8. Dalit, Adivasi Children & Women:
Right to Life, Nutritious Food
Drinking Water, Sanitation, Education
Protection from Atrocities Sexual Offences, Child Marriage & Exploitation
9. Affecting all Marginalised / Vulnerable Communities: (To repeal the following given below)
NEET Entrance Exam for Medical Education
National Education Policy
Citizenship Act
Agricultural Laws
Environmental Impact Assessment Notification
10. Rights and Participation of Civil Society Organisations:
Protect the rights of civil society organisations
Ensure the rights of victims and witnesses
Duties of the State in protecting the rights of Women/Human Rights Defenders.
Social Audits
Right to receive funds for Civil Society Organisations
Human Rights is a principle
Amendments were brought in The Registration Act 2010 and the term “Human Rights” was
considered to be misused and it was banned that civil society organisation should not use/hold the
term “Human Rights”. Human Rights is a principle; banning the term Human Rights is against the
Indian Constitution, the United Nation International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights-ICCPR-
1966) and (The United Nation Declaration on Human Rights Defenders-1998). Therefore the
amendments brought in The Registration Act 2010 should be repealed.
SASY Annual General Body and Executive Committee Meeting:
SASY’s Annual General Body and the
Executive Committee Meeting were
scheduled on 11th
December 2020. SASY
General Body, Executive Committee
Members, SASY staff team had participated
in the meeting. Dr. V.A. Ramesh Nathan,
Director – SASY welcomed the board
members and the crew who were present at
the meeting and the president of the Board
welcomed the members once again and
presided over the meeting. The meeting was
held with the mandates and SOP of the
Government with the safety and preventive
measures to COVID Pandemic.
There were overall presentation of one year
activity of SASY’s programmes, projects,
achievements and reports of the organisation.
The thematic focus of SASY’s work is based
on the districts namely Villupuram,
Cuddalore, Erode and Tirupur, Tanjore,
Nagapattinam, Pudukottai respectively.
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020 News - 3
The post lunch session was focused on SASY policies and management systems including the Finance
Management Policy – Manual, Safeguarding Policy and Formation of Sexual Harassment Committee.
There was brief presentation and detailed discussion on the SASY policies
Safeguarding Policy: Mr. Durai Pandi – Child Rights Coordinator and Ms. Annie Rachel –
Documentation Officer had attended 5 training sessions on Safeguarding Policy which was organized by
Christian Aid (CA). The same was also presented during the executive committee meeting and there was a
detailed discussion with the general body, executive committee, special invitees, advisor and staff team.
The context and need for safeguarding policy was discussed and it was unanimously resolved to form a
sexual harassment committee.
Formation of Sexual Harassment Committee: The safeguarding policy was presented before the
Executive Committee members. The policy manual was unanimously accepted and passed by the general
body members. It was also ensured that the policies are monitored and implemented in all the work of
SASY from the top level to field level. The focal points with their role profiles were also discussed. It was
also unanimously resolved by the executive committee members to form sexual harassment committee at
SASY, with the members including Ms. Mercy Clara – President of the Committee, Ms. Nageswari –
Legal Advisor, Ms. Stegana Jency – Child Rights Counsellor.
Oct’2020 – Dec’2020 News - 3
Social Awareness Society for Youths (SASY) No.33A, 2
nd Cross West, Anna Nagar, 4
th Street, Marakanam Road, Tindivanam – 604001, Villupuram District, Tamil Nadu – India
Ph: +91 4147 – 250349; Email: [email protected] ; www.sasy.net.in