Friday, August 29, 2014

regarding direction for the implementation of Landmark decision given by Hon'ble Bombay High Court in all police stations of India




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Pvchr
Date: Tue, Aug 26, 2014 at 10:52 AM
Subject: regarding direction for the implementation of Landmark decision given by Hon'ble Bombay High Court in all police stations of India.
To: covdnhrc@nic.in, jrlawnhrc@hub.nic.in
Cc: Lenin Raghuvanshi


To,
The Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi

Sub: regarding direction for the implementation of Landmark decision given by Hon'ble Bombay High Court in all police stations of India.

Dear Sir,

I want to bring in your kind attention towards the landmark decision of Hon'ble  High Court of Bombay for installation of CC TV in all police station of Maharastra http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/HC-orders-CCTV-cams-at-police-stations/articleshow/40206039.cms

HC orders CCTV cams at police stations
Shibu Thomas | Aug 13, 2014, 11.43PM IST

MUMBAI: Observing that the rising number of custodial deaths in Maharashtra was "alarming", the Bombay high court has directed the state government to install CCTV cameras at police stations and ensure that FIRs are registered if accused die in custody. The cameras are to be installed in such a way that areas like corridors and lock-ups at a police station are covered 24x7.

"The number of custodial deaths in Maharashtra is alarming. Unfortunately, we do not know why the higher echelons of the police force are oblivious to the problem of custodial torture and death. May be they want to protect their officers," said a division bench of Justices V M Kanade and P D Kode on Wednesday. As per the bench, the "responsibility of the safety, health and wellbeing of a person who is arrested will be that of the officer who arrested him, the investigation officer and the station-in-charge".

The court said CCTV data would be preserved for a year and the senior inspector of a police station would be responsible for ensuring that the cameras are operational. In Mumbai alone, there are 93 police stations. Legal experts believe that the installation of CCTV cameras will ensure that the police are more careful about illegally detaining an accused or torturing him to force a confession. The direction to register an FIR assumes significance as in most cases the state orders a magisterial inquiry, but no case is registered unless the court intervenes.


Advocate Yug Chaudhry, who was appointed as amicus curiae (friend of the court), pointed to data by the National Crime Records Bureau, which revealed that between 1999 and 2013, there were 333 custodial deaths in Maharashtra—over 23% of all custodial deaths in India occurred in the state. There were 45 FIRs; only 19 charge-sheets were filed and nobody was convicted. Chaudhry said that despite the Supreme Court's orders about norms to be followed while arresting a person, the police were in violation.

The high court's guidelines include the taking of photographs if an accused is injured in custody and taking him to the nearest hospital, monitoring of investigations by a magistrate and making efforts to arrest the officers involved.

The court has directed the state to file a compliance report within four weeks. It was hearing petitions filed by families of persons who had died in custody, including the April 2014 deaths of Agnello Valdaris in the Wadala railway police station and Akash Kharade in the Samata Nagar police lock-up.

Therefore sir, it is a kind request to direct for implementation of this landmark decision not only in Maharastra but in all police station of India to prevent the custodial death and torture in police station with implementation of Hon' ble  D.K Basu guideline.


Thanking you
Sincerely yours

Lenin Raghuvanshi
Secretary General
PVCHR

BANARAS CONVENTION {PART - 2}

Thursday, August 28, 2014

BANARAS CONVENTION {PART - 1}

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Too early to wed




“I studying in Government primary school after class – VIII all my classmates dropped out from school except three [two belongs from upper caste and one from other backward caste (OBC)]. I grownup in the place near to this area and found that the children of the 99% of the families are not going to the school.  We selected this slum and working here for last 14 years and now young generation are leading their own campaign and ITE(Integrated Technology Education) are integrating in the process. This is the model of the hope based on the resilience against the culture of silence for India in particular and South Asia in general”, Says, Lenin Raghuvanshi, founder and CEO, PVCHR.

 

The three young girls Chanda, Jyoti and Pooja of Munshi Prem with the support of other children of Chandra Bal Panchayat, Baghwanala, Varanasi flagged a campaign ‘Will not do kitchen, I want to get educate” campaign against child marriage in 2010. They are the first generation among their family.

The inspirations of these girls were the activists of child right centric model villages and teachers of the non – formal education center (NFE) initiated by Jan Mitra Nyas/PVCHR with the support of the Child Rights and You (CRY), support from Ashoka fellowship through Lenin Raghuvanshi and later by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). The NFE centre was inaugurated by PVCHR patron Justice Z.M Yacoob, Sitting Judge Constitution Court of South Africa & Chancellor of University of Durban, South Africa. Process of child theatre against child marriage for right of girls made them to understand the consequence of the child marriage. These three sit together and discussed Mere sath hota toh mai kya jarti (If these things happened with me than what I will do) they know that it is not only the girl child who bears the consequences of early marriage but it equally impacts the lives of those around them.

They lit the campaign from opposing their own children marriage but also prevent other to do so. They are creating awareness in their area through meeting of Bal Panchayat, street march, open letter, signature campaign, slogan, distributing promotional materials and showcasing their theatre play Sindhoor nahi Sikha, which shows the demerits of the child marriage.

They vigil in there are and after getting information of Manisha child marriage they immediately called joint meeting of Munshi Premchandra Bal Panchayat and Kishori Baithak and called Manisha parents. After having long discussion Manisha’s parents agreed to send Manisha to her in-laws house after she attains the age of 18. But next day Manisha husband forcefully took her to his house.

When these girls came to know about this incident, they went to Manisha’s in-laws house and argued them sent back Manisha to her parent house. After a long discussion they agree to bring Manisha back after she attains the age of 18. After this no child marriage is happening in Baghwanala

The journey was not easy for them they faced several problems to break this deep routed evil which have become a part of Indian society for several centuries. They faced challenges and resistance from their own relatives, community and parents of their friends. Mere phupha bole ki yeh dusro ke mamle mein bol rahi hai isliye ham log iski shadi class 10 ke bad kar denge. (My uncle said she is speaking in the matter of others so, we will do her marry after class 10). The parents of my friends were not allowing to send them because they think there child will also “Yeh log bahut bolti hai aur man ki badhi hai tum logo ke sath rahkar hamari ladki kharab ho jayegi” (These girls speak a lot and are open minded. my daughter will ruin after coming along with you). The people from there area torn the poster and washed the slogan written on the wall “Bal vivah band karo) stopped child marriage but few people in the community supported by signing the petition.

The Manish’s father came to Chanda’s mother shop and threatens her “Apni ladki to samjha dijiye nahi toh ham usko uthwa lenge” (Make your child understand otherwise we will kidnap her.

These hurdles were not sufficient to stop the mission of these three girls without any fear they continued their struggle. They performed the street play not only in Baghwanala but also in many different places showing high rate of child marriage.

In personal life these girls are running pillar to post for their survival and working hard to complete their vision to be on the responsible post for eradicating social evil, says Jyoti. Pooja wants to become teacher for giving valuable education to the next generation. Now they are studying in B.A – II year from Uday Pratap College, Varanasi with the scholarship awarded from Raj Dulari Foundation, Sweden and Ms. Parul Sharma.

Their daring initiative was honoured with Savitri Bai Phule Memorial Award, Marwadi Youth Committee also honored them in the presence of Sri D. K. Thakur, Deputy Inspector General of Police of Varanasi Zone, famous industrialist Sri Jhunjhunwala was present at the occasion. Ms. Chanda honoured with HT Judges Choice Award and her profile published in India today. The Hindustan daily Hindi newspaper honoured initiative by inviting them as one day editor guest.

Now they are receiving well support from the community, parents of their friends. Their mission worked as many parents stopped doing child marriage and providing opportunity to their girls for further study and provide space for their right to expression. Now not only three but other 19 children joined in their mission. It is extraordinary inculcating process to curb down the concept of masculinity, which is decreasing the violence in families and community too. Now with the support from SDTT ITE initiative started and Smart phone for education concept of Henrik, Germany are in process for next milestone of empowerment.  The children learned video documentation from their own voice of India.

Shruti says, ‘when we initiated the school first teacher gave resign and then we appointed a women teacher who faced domestic violence in her life. We initiated adult literacy, campaign against police torture and the illegal activities by the criminal in that area. Whole process in the grass – root are mostly implemented by the women activist and responsible men for women rights so, a gender perspective is very strong in process against the existing concept of masculinity.’

Now in Baghwanala three centres built with support from German Ministry NRW via GIZ GmbH, Indo – German Society of Remscheid, Germany, dalit team, Remschied, Germany and Jan Mitra Nyas

  • Women centre for women was built after the donation of land by Ms. Urmila Singh (mother of Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi)  
  • Community center and office for the weaver the land was donated by the community
  • Raja Suhail Dev Jan Mitra Sikshan Kendra was donated by the community.

Their success story got published in India Today, Times of India, Hindustan Times, Amar Ujala, Sanskar Magazine, Beyond Headline, Inqualab urdu newspaper etc.

Story is written by Shrirn shabana Khan, Program Director, PVCHR with input by Shruti Nagvanshi, Puja and Jyoti

Few Links:

















 

 

Friday, August 15, 2014

Plea to BMC to evict centre for mentally challenged

MUMBAI: An activist from Varanasi has taken up the cause of mentally challenged inmates of a workshop in Bandra. He has written to the National Human Rights Commission and CM Prithviraj Chavan seeking intervention. The managing committee of Ben Mar Society near Mehboob Studio had written to the BMC seeking the closure of the Happy Hours workshop located in the compound. 

The centre imparts vocational training to around 50 adults with varying mental disabilities. Residents complain that the inmates' cars speed into the compound and one of them broke the windscreen of a new car. The centre denies most allegations. A social worker who lives in Ben Mar brought the matter to the attention of Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi of the Varanasi-based NGO People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights. Raghuvanshi is a member of the NGOs Core Committee of the NHRC. "Lenin has visited our building and is aware of the issue," said the social worker. 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/NHRC-Chavan-must-stop-eviction-Activist/articleshow/40311639.cms



---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Chief Minister office
Date: Thu, Aug 14, 2014 at 12:13 PM
Subject: FW: Plea to BMC to evict centre for mentally challenged
To: Shrikant Singh
Cc: PVCHR Communication cfr.pvchr@gmail.com


Respected Sir/Madam,

Forwarding this email for neccessary action.

Registry Section,
Chief Minister's Office,
Mantralaya, Mumbai.
Email: cm@maharashtra.gov.in



From: PVCHR Communication [cfr.pvchr@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 14, 2014 11:58 AM
To: Chief Minister office
Cc: Lenin Raghuvanshi
Subject: Plea to BMC to evict centre for mentally challenged

To,
The Chief Minister
Government of Maharashtra
Mumbai
 
Dear Sir,

I want to bring in your kind attention towards the news published in the
daily
English newspaper "The Times of India"
on 9th August, 2014
regarding  
Plea to BMC to evict centre for mentally challenged
 
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Plea-to-BMC-to-evict-centre-for-mentally-challenged/articleshow/39961470.cms 


Plea to BMC to evict centre for mentally challenged

MUMBAI: Residents of a housing society in Bandra say they are facing multiple problems due to a workshop for mentally challenged adults that is being run on the ground floor. The managing committee of Ben Mar building near Mehboob Studio has written to the BMC to evict the Happy Hours centre whose lease, according to the residents, has expired.

The workshop provides vocational training to mentally disabled people. Some are afflicted with cerebral palsy, others are "retarded and deaf". All are adults aged 18-60.

The society has barred entry through the front entrance and is urging the school to use the rear gate which gives direct access to the centre. "The students' cars speed through the front gate and we are afraid for our senior citizens and children. They also use our parking space. Recently, a 30-year-old female inmate smashed the windscreen of a brand new car with a stone. Another threatened to beat up my neighbour's kids. We are sympathetic to mentally challenged people because they do not know what they are doing, but for how long must we live in fear in our own homes?" says Sushila Fletcher, secretary of the society.
Ground floor residents complain of inmates peeping into their bathrooms. "Even the caretakers who drop them here can't control them. They throw temper tantrums, scream and shout. Our children are scared of going out to play until the workshop closes,"says another.

Moreover, two houses were burgled in broad daylight, including that of Father Nigel Barrett, a senior official of the Catholic Church. "Father Nigel's old father lives alone, he could have come to harm. Unknown people, including bikers, claim they are visiting the centre, only to use our gates as a shortcut to the next lane. How can we risk opening both gates all day?" says Fletcher.

The NGO says disabled people are being victimized. Spokeswoman Manjusha Singh says, "We are running the centre smoothly since decades. The inmates are not responsible for the robberies, and the building has a watchman and CCTVs for security. The one time our student damaged a resident's car, her father paid full compensation." But the car owner denies "being paid a penny".

Singh alleged that residents dump garbage near the centre.

Fr Nigel says the solution is for the centre to utilize the rear gate, which is barely 3m away. "We had no problems with the inmates during my growing years. But then most residents were young couples, now they are senior citizens," he says.




 
Therefore it is kind request
 
please take appropriate action at earliest.


 
 
Thanking You,
 
Sincerely Yours,
 
Lenin Raghuvanshi
Secretary General
Peoples' Vigilance Committee on Human Rights
Sa 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi - 221002Mobile No: +91-9935599333