Dear friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received disturbing information from Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh regarding local goons threatening to kill its activists. The organisation, working in Java block of the district, has been in the forefront of the struggle against malnutrition and the widespread corruption in welfare schemes that defeats all attempts of snatching the children away from the death trap of absolute poverty induced malnutrition. The organisation has earned the ire of the local goons because of its complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) that led to an enquiry and consequent dismissal of those responsible for irregularities. The relatives of those dismissed are now harassing and threatening the activists with dire consequences.
CASE NARRATIVE:
Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch has been working in 20 villages of Java block of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh and has been in the forefront of the struggles to end malnutrition from the area. Distressed with the recurrent deaths of children from malnutrition, the organisation has submitted a written complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Taking cognisance of the complaint, Ms. Vandana Prasad, a member of the commission, visited the area on 29-30 January together with the senior district and state level officers. She found large-scale irregularities in the functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services, the flagship scheme to counter malnutrition among children. The most recurrent of them was that many Anganwadi workers lived in district headquarters instead of the village and were, thus, not running the centres properly. Finding the complaints to be true, Women and Child Development department, responsible for implementing the scheme, suspended 8 workers while recommending their termination in a swift action. Miss Savita Sharma, posted at Ramgadhwa Anganwadi centre was one of them.
As soon as he got information about the suspensions, Rajnish Sharma who is Ms. Sharma’s husband and a locally dominant person, immediately threatened Shri Chhote Lal, an activist of the organisation, of dire consequences on his phone. Chhote Lal switched on the speakerphone of his mobile enabling the officials listening to the threat. Taking the open threat in presence of officials seriously, Ms. Prasad directed the then programme director Shri Ramanand Dviwedi (now suspended) to immediately lodge a First Information Report against Rajnish Sharma. Mr Dviwedi talked to Rajnish Sharma and assured Ms. Prasad that the administration would ensure action in the case.
Ms. Prasad also intimated Shri S. N. Rupla, the district magistrate of Rewa, and asked him to expedite the process of registering the F.I.R. The DM assured Ms. Prasad of taking swift action but nothing has happened in the case so far. Ms. Prasad also informed officials including the secretary of women and child development department Shri B. R. Naydu. Unfortunately, no action has been initiated against the perpetrator till now.
Acting on the recommendation of Ms. Prasad, 8 Anganwadi workers were terminated in the first week of March and Rajnish Sharma is harassing the activists of the organisation ever since. The threats comprised of breaking their hands and legs and even killing them.
Carrying out the threat, Rajnish Sharma together with his friends assaulted Shri Premchand Kol, an activist of the organisation working in Dhakhra village of Atrela Panchayat. He also threatened Premchand to tell Shri Ramnaresh, Chhote Lal, and Siyadulari not to come to the area or he would break their legs. When Premchand tried to tell the assailants led by Rajnish Sharma that the government had terminated the workers and not the organisation, he repeated his threats. After reciving the information from Premchand, organisation intimated the women and child department through Ms. Pratibha Dviwedi, in-charge of its Java office.
When the activists of the organisation were going to the same Dhakhra village for a follow up survey on 7 March, 2013; they were advised by the villagers for not coming as Rajnish Sharma was sitting there with his goons to assault them.
The continuing harassment and such brazen attacks on the activists of the organisation despite administration being aware of the threats are not merely indicative of the criminal negligence but also its complicity with the accused. The fact that the organisation has been fighting for saving the children merely aggravates the seriousness of the inactions and culpability of those responsible for the dereliction of duty.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write to the authorities mentioned below demanding a judicial inquiry in this case. The AHRC is writing separately to the UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights defenders as well as UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food calling for an intervention in the case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ______,
INDIA: Ensure safety of Human Rights Defenders and punish those threatening them
Name of victims:
1. Mr. Chhotelal
2. Mr. Ram Naresh Yadav
3. Ms. Siyadulari Kol
4. Mr. Prem Chand Kol
5. Members of Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch
Alleged perpetrators:
1. Mr. Rajnish Sharma
2. Police officers attached to Dabhaura Police Station
Date of incident: 7 March 2013
Place of incident: Dabhaura, Rewa district, Madhya Pradesh
I am writing to you with grave concern regarding the continuing harassment and threats to the lives of the members of Samaj Chetna Adhikar Manch. The organisation has been working in 20 villages of Java block of Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh and has been in the forefront of the struggles to end malnutrition from the area. Distressed with the recurrent deaths of children from malnutrition, the organisation has submitted a written complaint to the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Taking cognisance of the complaint, Ms. Vandana Prasad, a member of the commission, visited the area on 29-30 January together with the senior district and state level officers. She found large-scale irregularities in the functioning of the Integrated Child Development Services, the flagship scheme to counter malnutrition among children. The most recurrent of them was that many Anganwadi workers lived in district headquarters instead of the village and were, thus, not running the centres properly. Finding the complaints to be true, Women and Child Development department, responsible for implementing the scheme, suspended 8 workers while recommending their termination in a swift action. Miss Savita Sharma, posted at Ramgadhwa Anganwadi centre was one of them.
As soon as he got information about the suspensions, Rajnish Sharma who is Ms. Sharma’s husband and a locally dominant person, immediately threatened Shri Chhote Lal, an activist of the organisation, of dire consequences on his phone. Chhote Lal switched on the speakerphone of his mobile enabling the officials listening to the threat. Taking the open threat in presence of officials seriously, Ms. Prasad directed the then programme director Shri Ramanand Dviwedi (now suspended) to immediately lodge a First Information Report against Rajnish Sharma. Mr Dviwedi talked to Rajnish Sharma and assured Ms. Prasad that the administration would ensure action in the case.
Ms. Prasad also intimated Shri S. N. Rupla, the district magistrate of Rewa, and asked him to expedite the process of registering the F.I.R. The DM assured Ms. Prasad of taking swift action but nothing has happened in the case so far. Ms. Prasad also informed officials including the secretary of women and child development department Shri B. R. Naydu. Unfortunately, no action has been initiated against the perpetrator till now.
Acting on the recommendation of Ms. Prasad, 8 Anganwadi workers were terminated in the first week of March and Rajnish Sharma is harassing the activists of the organisation ever since. The threats comprised of breaking their hands and legs and even killing them. Most of the activists threatened come from marginalised sections of the society. For example, Siyadulari and Premchand belong to Kol community listed under scheduled tribes.
Carryigng out the threat, Rajnish Sharma together with his friends assaulted Shri Premchand Kol, an activist of the organisation working in Dhakhra village of Atrela Panchayat. He also threatened Premchand to tell Shri Ramnaresh, Chhote Lal, and Siyadulari not to come to the area or he would break their legs. When Premchand tried to tell the assailants led by Rajnish Sharma that the government had terminated the workers and not the organisation, he repeated his threats. After reciving the information from Premchand, organisation intimated the women and child department through Ms. Pratibha Dviwedi, in-charge of its Java office.
When the activists of the organisation were going to the same Dhakhra village for a follow up survey on 7 March, 2013; they were advised by the villagers for not coming as Rajnish Sharma was sitting there with his goons to assault them.
The continuing harassment and such brazen attacks on the activists of the organisation despite administration being aware of the threats are not merely indicative of the criminal negligence but also its complicity with the accused. The fact that the organisation has been fighting for saving the children merely aggravates the seriousness of the inactions and culpability of those responsible for the dereliction of duty.
I, therefore, urge you to
1. Immediately provide security to Chhote Lal, Ramnaresh , Siya Dulari and other members of the organisation,
2. Lodge an FIR against Rajnish Sharma and prosecute him, including under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989
3. Investigate the reasons behind delay in lodging of the FIR against the accused despite instructions from the senior authorities and prosecute those responsible,
4. Ensure that the welfare schemes are corruption free and attempts to siphon off funds from them are thwarted,
5. Ensure that malnutrition is eradicated from the area.
Sincerely,
—————————————
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Dr. Manmohan Singh
Prime Minster
Government of India
Room No. 148 B, South block
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 230116857; 23015603
Email: manmohan@sansad.nic.in
2. Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Faridkot House, Copernicus Marg
New Delhi 110001
INDIA
Fax: + 91 11 2338 4863
E-mail: chairnhrc@nic.in
3. Dr. Rameshwar Oraon
Chairperson
National Commission for Scheduled Tribes
6th Floor, ‘B’ Wing, Loknayak Bhawan, Khan Market
New Delhi -110003
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2462462
Email: chairperson@ncst.nic.in
4. Mr. V. Kishore Chandra Deo
Union Minister of Tribal Affairs
Sansad Bhwan, Room number 105-A
New Delhi
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2307 0577
Email: jk.popli@nic.in
5. Mr. Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Chief Minister
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Fax: + 91 755 2441781; 2540501
Email: cm@mp.nic.in
6. Mr Arvind Kumar Chugh
Secretary, Government of India
Ministry of Tribal affairs
Shastri Bhawan, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Road
New Delhi- 110001
INDIA
Fax: +91 11 2307 3160
7. Shri B. R. Naidu
District Magistrate
Rewa, Madhya Pradesh
INDIA
Tel: +917290224001
Email: dmrewa@mp.gov.in
8. Dr. Vandana Prasad
Member
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
5th Floor, Chanderlok Building
36, Janpath
New Delhi – 110 001
INDIA
FAX: +91 11 23731584
Email: Prasad.vandana@nic.in
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Programme
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
