The Hindu : The plight of Dalits and the news media

Date:25/10/2010 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2010/10/25/stories/2010102556541300.htm The plight of Dalits and the news media S. Viswanathan The new chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), P.J. Punia, has begun his tenure by making a spirited appeal to the Central government to provide job reservation for Dalits in the private sector. He did not agree that reservation in private sector was a “misnomer.” He argued that the “private sector depends on the government, nationalised banks and state-owned financial institutions for its survival and thus cannot insulate itself from reservation.” Besides, he contended during a recent meeting with journalists in Hyderabad that the private sector also had a “social responsibility” to uplift the weaker sections of the people. The next item on the NCSC chief's agenda is to streamline the implementation of the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (earlier known as the “Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes”) in respect of budget allocations and put an end to the diversion of funds allotted to the plan. The Commission has prioritised its tasks: ensuring reservation for Dalits in the private sector and maximising the benefits of sub plans to Dalits. Major concern It is not surprising that in a country in which a substantial section of the people, accounting for one-fifth of the population and segregated for centuries, remain poor, ill-treated, humiliated, and discriminated against, state intervention is the only antidote even after six decades of democratic governance under a republican Constitution. A major concern for the state is how to address the alarmingly rising unemployment among this section of society. The Constitution provided for reservation in education and government employment for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes in proportion to their share in the population. This provision was made as part of the social strategy of affirmative action (or positive discrimination) to offset extreme historical discrimination and social oppression. If reservation, despite its existence for over 60 years, has failed to improve the lot of Dalits, the fault is to be seen not in the reservation system, but in the tardy way it has been implemented by the state. Disturbingly, there has been no concerted effort to take quality education to this section of the people. The state's failure in this respect along with a flawed reservation system restricted to the entry point only helped ‘ caste-Hindu' bureaucrats to fill most of the higher posts on the ground that “qualified, eligible and fit” persons were not available among the Dalit claimants. Yet, if the establishment claims that Dalits have been appointed in government service in greater proportion than their share in population, it is because vacancies at the lowest levels are filled with Dalits, because, perhaps, no one else might be willing to offer himself for such jobs. It is surely a scandal that despite developments in technology, and in violation of a Supreme Court order, the central and State governments have failed to bring to an end the practice of manual scavenging and to rehabilitate those engaged in it in decent alternative employment. While reservation has benefitted Dalits in general, it has not done much to elevate the majority of them to any higher position in society, mostly because of the state's failure on other fronts such as education and public health. And it must be remembered that a considerable number of these people remain outside this safety net. Over 70 per cent of Dalits live in villages and are dependant on agricultural activities. Government policies have put severe pressure on employment in scores of public sector undertakings. Disinvestment, dismantling of public sector units and steadily falling state investment in employment-generating industries are posing serious challenges to the system developed after Independence. The policy trend of stopping or delaying recruitments has made matters worse. The policies of the governments welcoming foreign corporate bodies, very often on the investors' terms, have also contributed to the diminishing of job opportunities. Time for another initiative It is in this context the NCSC Chairman's decision to press for extending reservation for Dalits to the private sector needs to be viewed. A few years ago, when a demand to that effect was raised, there was a positive response from at least some industrialists, but the global economic slowdown put an end to that. Now that the position has improved in many industrial and service sectors, it is time for another initiative by the government. It needs to remind private entrepreneurs, domestic and foreign, that they have a historic responsibility to help the state implement its social commitments. The question raised by the NCSC chairman is relevant: “When the deprived sections are taken care of, even in developed countries like the United States, why can't we have the same provisions here?” The second item on the agenda of the NCSC is to get the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan, which provides for each Ministry to allot special funds from its annual budget allocation for the benefit of Dalists, in proportion to their share in the population. The scheme, introduced in the early 1980s, has not been properly implemented for three decades. The Ministries are often charged with diverting funds under this head to other purposes. The news media, which have recently been giving serious coverage to major Dalit problems and related issues in a complex situation, can make a real difference by bringing a new focus on the issues of reservation and the Sub-Plan. In addition to exposing atrocities against Dalits, the press, television, and radio should investigate systemic oppression, exploitation, and discrimination in greater depth. readerseditor@thehindu.co.in

Michael Pollan on Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

Michael Pollan on Food Rules: An Eater's Manual

Is This Tropical Fruit Better Than Creatine?

In this article, I want to tell you about an old-time bodybuilding power food that can boost your recovery, improve digestion AND even ease joint pain.

And you might even find this old-time bodybuilding food to be better than creatine!

Here is the deal:

In the early 1900s, old-time boxers would actually eat large amounts of pineapple before their fights.

Why?

Boxers discovered when they ate pineapple before a fight, they had less bruising and faster recovery after the fight.

Turns out there is an ingredient in pineapple called bromelein. Bromelein is proven to speed muscle recovery. But it also improves digestion.

Do not take my word for it.

Leroy Colbert - the first man to build 19 inch arms - has told how he and others witnessed Marvin Eder bringing pineapple to the gym.

You see, back then the common way to gain muscle and size was to drink a gallon of milk per day. Unfortunately, this can cause digestion problems.

But Marvin figured out that if he ate pineapple, he could consume gallons of milk and plenty of meat without any digestion problems. And this is part of the reason why he was able to build such an incredible physique before steroids were even invented!

So if you want to MAXIMIZE your digestion and speed your recovery between workouts, try eating some pineapple every day. You will be amazed at how this all-natural food can help you build muscle and gain strength.

If Marvin Eder was able to build superhuman strength and muscle with nothing more than hard work, milk and pineapple - then it's certainly worth a shot.

Matt Marshall is the author of the Tried and True Fitness blog - a site that reveals time-tested methods for building muscle, burning fat and achieving optimum health.

2nd chance for Anjum’s New Indian giveaway | Justcook NYC

2nd chance for Anjum’s New Indian giveaway | Justcook NYC

← Anjum’s amazing shrimp curry and a giveaway

missing San Francisco →

2nd chance for Anjum’s New Indian giveaway

Posted on November 11, 2010 by justcooknyc

Note: This drawing is now closed — the winner is Mina from Fresh Brioche. Congrats! If my last post about the shrimp curry from Anjum’s New Indian (named by Epicurious as one of the six best cookbooks of 2010) wasn’t enough to convince you to enter the drawing for a free copy (U.S. residents please), then here’s another chance. First up, this amazing Bengali Squash with Chickpeas. It’s made with butternut squash, and besides needing to cook it for a little longer than the recipe specified, it was pretty awesome. I won’t recount making the entire recipe, but here are a few snapshots.

A lot of interesting ingredients — toasted spices, chiles, bay leaves, mustard and more. But now you’re thinking, “Wait, what else did you make, because that looks like shrimp in the pan above?”

Yes, I made another shrimp curry from the book by Cooking Channel star Anjum Anand. (Three homemade curries in one day is a very good day.) This one was called Coconut and Mustard Shrimp, and I’d describe it as more of a dry curry, with a very thick coating of a coconut-y sauce. It had a sort of floral quality to it, and I’d say this one is for bold eaters and coconut-lovers. It was quite a day of cooking, and I have the smell of Indian spices in my apartment three days later to prove it. And remember, add a comment on the other post, or heck, just post a comment here, and I’ll enter you into the drawing for a free copy of Anjum’s New Indian.

Jumping Rope: Not Just for Kids Anymore

Remember the song, “Not last night but the night before, twenty-four robbers came knockin’ on my door?” Those were the days when playing hopscotch, jumping rope and hanging on the monkey bars were our primary occupations.

While hopscotch and swinging from the jungle gym may no longer be a part of your leisure time, jumping rope could be. Not only is it a great cardiovascular alternative to your usual aerobic workout, jumping rope can increase body awareness and develop better hand and foot coordination.

Roping Essentials

One of the greatest things about jumping rope is how little it takes to get started. All you really need are some comfortable shoes and a good rope. The best shoes for jumping rope are either aerobic shoes or cross-trainers. Be sure your shoes have a reinforced toe and provide a lot of cushioning for the balls of the feet.

Jump ropes have come a long way since most of us were skipping around the playground. Today, they are made from a variety of materials and feature various grip styles.

Some ropes are weighted or have heavy handles. These ropes are usually too cumbersome and are not recommended. Instead, choose a light-weight rope with foam grips so it won’t slip away from you even if your palms get sweaty.

Here’s how to choose the right length rope for you: Step one foot on the center of the rope and bring both handles up to the chest. The handles should reach about chest high.

Learning the Basics

Here is a breakdown of the do’s and don’ts of jumping rope:

• Lightly grip the handles near the end closest to the rope.
• Keep your shoulders relaxed and your elbows close to your body.
• Your knees should be bent slightly.
• Turn the rope from the wrist and aim to keep a smooth arc in the rope as it passes over your head.
• Never hunch over. Keep your back straight and your head up.
• Jump low to keep the impact on your knees and ankles to a minimum.

Jumping Rope—A Refresher Course

If it’s been a while since you’ve swung a rope, you can rest easy—the essentials are still the same. And the essentials are all you really need to know to get a good workout. But if you want to create a fun and exciting workout, you’ll have to add an extra element—a little pizzazz.

The easiest way to do this is to turn on some upbeat music to get you motivated. Fun, exciting music is the best way to keep your energy up during your workout.

Once you have mastered basic jumping, try getting a little creative. Jump backward or vary your foot patterns. Try bringing your knees up or scissoring your legs. If you find yourself needing a break but you don’t want to stop completely, twirl the rope from side to side.

The point is to stick with it. You’re sure to notice a marked improvement in your endurance level, which will help any other sports or activities you may do. And who knows? Jumping rope might even make you feel like a kid again.

Additional Resources

American Heart Association—Jumping Rope May Be an Ideal Brain Exercise: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3014813
American Heart Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance—Jump Rope for Heart: www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=2360

Orange-Jicama Salad - Dr. Weil's Healthy Kitchen

Orange-Jicama Salad - Dr. Weil's Healthy Kitchen