Press conference was organised condemning the attack on Prof Sujatha
DSS and SC, ST officers Forum strongly condemns the organized attack on a dalit professor of Satavahana University, Karimnagar. They organised press meet on 3/1/2018 in Press Club, Somajiguda, Hyderabad. On December 25th, 2017 the dalit and other progressive students of Satavahana University symbolically burnt a hand-written copy of ‘Manu smriti’ as part of their protest against the doctrines of caste oppression and women oppression.It was DrB.R. Ambedkar who first burnt ‘Manusmriti’, long ago, as it contains the philosophical and ideological roots of caste and women oppression.Burning of Manu smriti is done by various
progressive forces often.But this time when it was done at Satavahana University, the BJP backed Hindutva forces like ABVP mobilized anti-social forces and attacked the dalit students and indulged in acts of hooliganism.The police intervened and arrested a few of them.After this incident, these forces targeted Prof. Surepally Sujatha as she is a dalit and supports progressive thinkers.The Hindutva forces fabricated false story that the students were instigated by Prof. Surepally Sujatha and that on December 25th they burnt the image of
Bharath Mata and that they are against the unity and integrity of India. This deliberate misinformation was created and posted in Facebook and other social media targeting Prof Surepally Sujathavulgarly. There were hundreds of posts against her describing her as traitor, using filthy language against her, humiliating and threatening her. Some people even threatened to kill her. Despite such vulgar, abusive and threatening posts in social media, the police didn’t take steps to book cases under appropriate provisions of cyber law though the victim has approached them. This concerted propaganda, spreading misinformation against Prof Surepally Sujatha is part of the strategy of Hindutva forces to suppress Dalits and progressive forces in academic institutions. DSS and SC, ST Officers Forum detailed the facts to the media and strongly condemned this attack and demanded that the government should take all appropriate legal measures and arrest the culprits who posted vulgar abusive and threating posts on Prof Surepally Sujatha.
J Eshwari Bai Memorial Awards
Language and Cultural department of Telangana and Eswari Bai Trust have jointly organized Eswaribai Centenary Birth Anniversary Celebrations on 24th February 2018 at Ravendra Bharathi, Hyderabad. On this occasion the Government of Telangana as awarded the Eswari Bai memorial award to Jhansi Geddam, National Convener of Dalit Sthree Sakthi. Sri A Chandulal, Minister for Tourism and Culture has presented the award and felicitated Sri Jhansi Geddam. Former Minister and daughter of Eswaribai Sri J Geetha Reddy, Sri K V Ramana Chari IAS, advisor to the government and Sri M Hari Krishna, Director of Cultural Department were also present in the award ceremony.
Bharat Bandh
The Supreme Court has given a judgement against SC, ST (PoA) Act on 20th March 2018 and has issued various guidelines in the implementation of the Act. After having gone through the judgement all the dalit organizations across the country have come to a conclusion that the Supreme Court judgement is one sided in support of the dominant communities. Therefore, it has been decided at national level to file review petition, bring pressure on the union government to bring an ordinance on the SC, ST PoA Act and to campaign against the Manuvadis in a big way. In view of this a national call was given by the dalit organizations to organize Bharat Bandh on 2nd April.
Dalit Sthree Sakthi along with network partners have organized protest on 2nd April 2018 at
Ambedkar Statue, Tank bund, Hyderabad. All the activists gave slogans in a big way attracting the audience, public and the media. Later Jhansi Geddam, Maheswar Raj, G Shankar, Prof G Vinod Kumar and others have addressed the gathering. Jhansi Geddam have detailed about the ground realities on the implementation of the SC, ST PoA Act and has said that the Act is not being implemented even 10%, whereas the Supreme Court taking into consideration the acquittals has said that the Act is being misused and is affecting non dalit communities.
SC, ST Officers Forum Meeting
The state forum of SC, ST IAS, IPS and Group I officers meet held on 6th April 2018 at Ambedkar Bhavan, Hyderabad has discussed on the Supreme Court judgement. The meeting
was chaired by Sri Kaki Madhava Rao, IAS. Jhansi Geddam has detailed in depth on the violations in the judgement, the hurdles faced day to day in the implementation of the Act, the reluctance of the concerned duty bearers including the judiciary in accessing justice to the victims. Therefore, she requested the forum to play a main role in anchoring the movement for protecting the Act.
Discussions on the Supreme Court judgement in Sneha TV
Sneha TV an electronic channel focussing on dalit issues has live telecasted a discussion on Supreme Court judgement by inviting Jhansi Geddam of DSS and the leading political analyst Venu Gopal and Anjaiah from RPI on 7th April 2018 at their studio in Hyderabad. DSS has utilized this opportunity to the optimum level by clearly explaining all the facts the impact of the judgement and succeeded in reaching thousands of viewers of the channel.
Press meet condemning the Supreme Court judgement
Dalit Sthree Sakthi along with Power of SC Unity a dalit youth organisation has organized the
press meet on 9th April 2018 at Ambedkar, Phule Bhavan, Malkipuram, East Godavari district and detailed to the media on the Supreme Court judgement, its impact on the SCs and STs and the future course of action in protest against the Supreme Court judgement. The press meet was addressed by Jhansi and Prakash from DSS, Mahesh, Nethala Nani, Madhu from Youth organization.
Bahujana Samskruthika Chaitanya Utsavalu
Telangana State Cultural Department and Abhudaya Arts Academy have combinedly organized Bahujana Samskruthika Chaitanya Utsavalu for 3 days from 11th to 13th April 2018 at Ravindra Bharathi, Hyderabad to promote the Telangana culture, equality among all and communal harmony. On the first day i.e., on 11th April the play onMahatma Jyothi Rao Phule, on 12th the play on Yogi Vemana and on the 3rd day i.e., on 13th April the play on Sangham Saranam Gachami about Dr B R Ambedkar were displayed.
DSS team attended the events for 2 days on 11th and 13th. Jhansi Geddam was one of the dignitaries in these two days along with others like Kaki Madhava Rao IAS, Vinod IFS, Prasada Rao IPS, Murali IAS and Dr Siddoji Rao. All the dignitaries highly appreciated the artists and team work. They have felt that the plays are very informatic, catchy and definitely will impact the community.
Run for Caste Free Society
Prabuddha Bharat and Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI) has organized a Run for caste free society on 14th April 2018 from 6am to 8am on the eve of 126th birth anniversary celebrations of Dr. B.R Ambedkar at Peoples Plaza, Neckless Road, Hyderabad.
The public meeting was presided over by Sri Syam from DICCI. Sri Ghanta Chakrapani, Chairperson, TSPSC attended as a chief guest and the other dignitaries on the dais were Narra Ravi Kumar South Indian President of DICCI, Jhansi Geddam National Convener of DSS, Jayaprakash Narayana of Loksatta, team members of DICCI and Prabuddha Bharat. All the dignitaries have applauded for organizing this programme continuously every year and have felt that there is every need to build a caste free society. Therefore, we all need to take forward this movement. All have pledged to build a caste free society.
Later the run was flagged off by Sri GhantaChakrapani. Youth have participated in hundreds in the run which continued until Ambedkar statue, Tank Bund.
Round Table Conference on Women & Child Security and Justice
All India Dalit Rights Forum organized a Round Table Conference on Women & Child Security and Justice for Asifa along with other organizations on 22nd April 2018 at Conference Hall, Prabuddha Bharat, Hyderabad. GDV Prakash Program Manager of DSS participated in this RTC expressed his views on the Supreme Court judgement, the ground realities on the implementation of the Act, the increasing spree of ongoing violence on women and girl children, the failure of government machinery in curtailing all sorts of violence and the need of the collective efforts of the dalit organizations in protecting ourselves.
Chaitanya Sadassu
Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board SC & ST Employees Welfare Association along with other employee associations has organised a conference on 26th April 2018 at Basava Punnaiah VignanaKendram, Vijayawada. The objective of the conference was to chalk out the future course of action in view of the ongoing conditions in the society and role of the employee associations towards pay back to the society. The dignitaries on the dais were Sri Kaki Madhava Rao IAS, Sravan Kumar MLA, AV Kiran & Siva Prasad - Employees Association General Secretary & President, Jhansi Geddam, National Convener, Dalit Sthree Sakthi. Elaborate discussions were made on Indian Constitution & its implementation, implementation of reservations, Supreme Court judgement on SC, ST PoA Act, need of reforms and the role of employees in pay back to the society.
National Resistance Day
On 1st May 2018 National Resistance Day was organized all over the country by all the dalit organizations. Dalit Sthree Sakthi in response to the National call has organized protests along with the network partners in the districts of Visakhapatnam, West Godavari, Krishna, Guntur and Hyderabad. Protest were organized near the Ambedkar statues. Hundreds have participated in the protests, slogans were given touching the skies and the gathering was addressed by the leaders in the respective areas. As part of protest, rallies were organized, human chains were formed and later memorandums were submitted to the Governor at Hyderabad and other officials in the districts.
Round Table Conference on Supreme Court Judgement
Various Dalit, Girijan organisations have formed as a joint action committee to campaign against the Supreme Court judgement on the implementation of SC, ST PoA Act. The JAC has organized an RTC on 23rd May 2018 at Hotel Central Court, Hyderabad.
All the dignitaries have unanimously condemned the judgement and have decided to launch a continuous agitation to build pressure on the state and central governments as well as the
Supreme Court to reconsider the judgement. The representative from DSS as detailed about the challenges being faced in the day to day implementation of the Act and non - implementation of various sections of the amended Act and asked the participants to fight against these violations. Similarly, he also pointed out various lapses in the judgement wherein the failures of the police and the judiciary has been interpreted as false cases.
Awakening Symposium
SC, ST Employees Welfare Association of Andhra Pradesh State Electricity Board have organized a conference on “Awakening Symposium” at Kurnool on 2nd October 2018. The governing body members of the association and the employees across the state of Andhra
Pradesh have participated in the conference. Jhansi Geddam National Convener of Dalit Sthree Sakthi was one of the honourable guests. The dignitaries on the dais discussed on the present scenario, the recent Supreme Court judgement on reservations and Jhansi Geddam explained about the SC, ST PoA Act, the recent Supreme Court judgement followed by the agitations across the country and the government bowing down to the agitation by the dalits and again bringing a legislation against the Supreme Court judgement. Later she clarified the doubts raised from the participants. She also detailed about the so-called honour killings and the interventions made in the brutal murder of Pranay. In recognition to the services of DSS to the community, Jhansi Geddam was felicitated by the organizers.
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