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#1HUNGER WATCH: SC Directive To U. P. Government AHRC, September 30, 2004, Thursday, HU-01-2004 INDIA: Supreme Court instructs Uttar Pradesh government to look into severe malnutrition and starvation deaths Further to two earlier Hunger Alerts (HA-01-2004 and HA-03-2004) on starvation in Uttar Pradesh state, India, the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information that the Supreme Court has instructed the government of Uttar Pradesh to take steps to guarantee the right to food of the affected persons. In a letter to the Chief Secretary of the state government of September 22, the Commissioners of the Supreme Court, Dr N C Saxena and Mr S R Sankaran, have requested the government to take immediate steps to protect persons at risk of hunger in Raup village, Sonebhadra district (HA-01-2004). The directive has come in response to the complaint received from the Social Development Foundation, Delhi. The commissioners have also urged the government to start programmes to ensure that the right to food of the affected villagers is protected. The commissioners also referred to the case of two severely malnourished children in Uttar Pradesh brought to them by the People??™s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (HA-03-2004). They have requested the government to provide relief for the two children, and also enquire into how the children came to be so severely malnourished. The Supreme Court has sought a reply from the government by October 31 on what actions are being taken to these ends, and on what is being done to hold the negligent officials accountable. The AHRC urges you to write further appeal letters to the relevant authorities in support of the letter by the commissioners, urging the government of Uttar Pradesh to intervene without delay to address widespread malnutrition, hunger and denial of services to the affected persons. Please see the suggested letters and contact details in the earlier appeals. Please also stress in the letters that in the long term, the securing of the right to food depends upon the securing of entitlements to land and other resources to ensure a sustainable and productive livelihood. Urgent Appeals Desk--Hunger Alert Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) 19/F, Go-Up Commercial Building, 998 Canton Road, Kowloon, Hongkong S.A.R. Tel: +(852) - 2698-6339 Fax: +(852) - 2698-6367 --------------------------------------------------------------------- #2 Row Over 'Mantra' Before Hostel Meals The Pioneer, September 30, 2004, Thursday Row over Rajasthan Govt's move to start mantra recitation before hostel meals Lokpal Sethi/ Jaipur The decision by the social welfare department of the Rajasthan Government to introduce the recitation of a mantra before meals in hostels run by it has kicked off a controversy. Syed Shahbuddin, former MP and president of the All India Muslim Mujlis-e-Mushwrat, has sent a strongly worded letter to Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje on this issue. In his letter, the former MP has said that introducing the recitation of a mantra before taking meals was nothing but an effort by the BJP Government to promote a particular religion in the 527 Government-run hostels with over 20,000 residents. According to official sources, the decision to introduce this practice in Government-run hostels was taken at the behest of Social Welfare Minister Madan Dilwar, considered close to the RSS and who was once a Bajrang Dal activist. As per an age-old RSS tradition, members recite a mantra in Sanskrit before every meal. Mr Shahbuddin, in his letter, has questioned the Government's move and said it was not fair on the part of the Government to patronise any particular religion. The letter, which has been sent to the concerned department for its comments, has generated considerable action in RSS quarters. It is learnt that the RSS had extended its full support to Mr Dilwar's decision. On his part, Mr Dilawar finds nothing wrong in his decision. He says the recitation of Vande Matram is an ongoing practice in these hostels for the past many years and no one has so far opposed it. The Minister wonders why anybody should object to a mantra which is nothing but a thanks-giving message to God for making food available to mankind. Mr Dilwar is of the view that the issue should not be seen in a religious context with a Hindu-Muslim angle. http://www.dailypioneer.com/archives2/default12.asp?main_variable=STATES&file_name=state4%2Etxt&counter_img=4&phy_path_it=F%3A%5Cdailypioneer%5Carchives2%5Csep3004 ----------------------------------------------------------------- Confederation of Human Rights Organizations |
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| << October01, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net] CHRO updates (1) |
October03, 2004 - [India Thinkers Net]RE: [India Thinkers Net] CHRO updates (1) >> |
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