PLEA GET SE TOU IN CH!
for human rights – against caste system
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“You have a problem in hand. Own it to solve it.” – page 33
P V C H R
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Our Vision “We establish a true, vibrant and fully entrenched democratic society. There shall be no violation of civil rights granted to a citizen by the state – We are the Voice of Voiceless!”
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The Team Collective decision and individual accountability
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REPRESENTATIVE ASSEMBLY (RA) 17 MEMBERS FROM • partner communities • partner organizations • PVCHR membership
• Jan Mitra Nyas • nominated by ED
BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT) 2-7 MEMBERS • meeting at least once a year ELECT BY DRAWING CONTROL EACH OTHER
APPOINT
OFFICE OF EXECUIVE DIRECTOR (ED) / SECRETARY GENERAL
GOVERNING BOARD (GB) 7-11 MEMBERS
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
• at least 2 female members • composed of each component of the RA
• signes all contracts of projects • he/she can nominate project holders
DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE
APPROVAL
SUGGESTION
HEAD OF
MANAGEMENT COMMITEE • prescribes duties of all workers and staff • resonsible for the daily scheduling in office • meeting at least once in 3 month • implements the stratetic plan
FINANCE COMMITEE
Comprehensive Program (CP) for Model Villages and Blocks
CP for Survivors of Torture and Organized Violence
PROGRAM COMMITEE
CP for Sectors of Women and Children
ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITEE
CP for National Lobby, Campaign and Advocacy
CP for International, Solidarity, Partnership and Networking
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Indian Childhood How to grow up without perspective?
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About PVCHR PVCHR – People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights – was started in 1996 as a membership based human rights movement in Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh), one of the most traditional, conservative and segregated regions in India. PVCHR works to ensure basic rights for marginalized groups in the Indian society – e.g. children, women, Dalits, tribes – and to create a human rights culture based on democratic values. PVCHR ideology is inspired by the father of the Dalit movment, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who struggled against Brahmanism and the caste hierarchical system prevailing in India. In 1999, PVCHR formed the public charitable trust Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) to monitor and evaluate activities, to operate the bank account and to enable the organisation to have official clearance for receiving foreign grants. The office of the PVCHR was inaugurated by Justice M. N. Venkatachalia Ex-Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission and Former Chief Justice Supreme Court of India.
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Our Vision To establish a true, vibrant and fully entrenched democratic society through Jan Mitra (Peoples’ Friendly) concept where there shall be no violation of civil rights granted to a citizen by the state.
Our Mission To provide basic rights to all, to eliminate situations, which give rise to exploitation of vulnerable and marginalized groups and to start a movement for a people friendly society (Jan Mitra Samaj ) through an inter-institutional approach.
Patron Justice Z. M. Yacoob, Sitting Judge Constitution Court of South Africa & Chancellor of University of Durban, South Africa.
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Playing Children PVCHR established school, Baghwanala
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D a l i t s
Inhuman Dalits are over 160 million people in India, who are considered “Untouchable� – people tainted by their birth into a caste system that deems them impure, less than human. Dalits are relegated to the lowest jobs and live in constant fear of being publicly humiliated, paraded naked, beaten, and raped with impunity by upper-caste Hindus seeking to keep them in their place. Merely walking through an upper-caste neighbourhood is a life-threatening offence.
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Despite the fact that untouchability was officially banned when India adopted its constitution in 1950, discrimination against Dalits remained so pervasive that in 1989 the government passed legislation known as The Prevention of Atrocities Act. The act specifically made it illegal to parade people naked through the streets, force them to eat faeces, take away their land, foul their water, interfere with their right to vote, and burn down their homes. Since then, the violence has escalated, largely as a result of the emergence of a grassroots human rights movement among Dalits to demand their rights and resist the dictates of untouchability.
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Claiming Do not let the dreams of hope to die.
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When the national rate of literacy touches 67%, among the Dalits it is a mere 32%. And if at all you are a woman from that community, it is still less at 23%. Only 6% of the Dalits own land, most of them labour in someone else’ field or migrate to the cities. Their standards of living force their children to work as child labourer even in hazardous industries. The severest human rights violations in India, as the widespread use of custodial torture, are closely linked to caste based discrimination. In the context of crime investigation suspects are tortured to enforce confessions. Due to the absence of an independent agency to investigate cases, complaints are often not properly proofed and perpetrators are notprosecuted and punished. The discrimination of women and gender based violence which includes domestic violence, dowry linked violence, sexual assault, sexual harassment and sex-selective abortion is one of the most relevant human rights issues in India.
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E D U C A T I O N
Education – the most important! For an independent society, education is primary requirement. Therefore PVCHR creates space for free thoughts – Folk school, schools and kindergartens teach basics from the grassroots level.
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How We Work Indian society, especially in the rural areas, is still influenced by feudalism and the caste system which continues to determine the political, social, and economic life of the country. Caste based discrimination is practiced in the educational system, in places of work, villages and towns and even in courts of justice. The most heinous impacts of caste based discriminations are starvation and malnutrition. Acute poverty and cases of starvation occur especially in marginalized groups in the Indian society like minority communities, tribes and Dalits.
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Source of Hope Nothing can change without knowledge
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The Pupils Inquisitive, curious and willing to learn
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W e a v e r s
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Quality – for which price? World known, beautiful fabrics are woven by weavers without voice or choice. Unpleasant working conditions and living at the subsistence level.
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Our Working Approach We are highlighting the voice of weavers at national and international level. We are also helping to bring group empowerment, so that they speak out and bring forth their issues and challenges. Accurate investigation and documentation of human rights violations connected with advocacy, publication and networking on a local, national and international level. Creating models of non violent and democratic communities (People friendly villages, torture-free villages) building up local institutions and supporting them with active human rights networks. Creating a democratic structure for the ‘voiceless’ to enable them access to the constitutional guarantees of modern India empowering marginalized communities by trainings and access to information promoting a human rights culture linking local and international human rights together linking grassroots activities and international human rights networks and institutions together. Providing psychological support through testimonial therapy.
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C o n t a c t
People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights SA 4/2 A, Daulatpur, Varanasi – 221002 Uttar Pradesh, India Phone
+91 99 35 599333
pvchr.india@gmail.com
Net www.pvchr.net www.pvchr.org www.pvchr.com Bank detail Name of bank
UCO bank
Address of bank
Pandeypur, Varanasi, U.P. India – 221002
Bank account number (Foreign contribution)
20110100001170
Bank account name/ Beneficiary
Jan Mitra Nyas
SWIFT No: IFSC No.
UCBAINBB106
(mention transfer to account no.: 20110100001170 UCO Bank Pandeypur, Varanasi)
UCBA0002011
Idea, design and photographs Sarah Busching and Elias-Kilian Schmidt
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Anticipation The children proudly holding the utensil in which food will be cooked for them in the school – creating possibilities.
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Left Behind Introspect to realise what went wrong, only then you find new approaches to engage with the various problems of India. To get in touch with the many problems, still existing in Indian society, the Piece of Silk should be a Symbol to “feel” and don’t forget, what’s still worth to fighting for – the beauty and variety of India and its people. Don’t leave them behind! You have a problem in hand. Own it to solve it.
Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi – CEO PVCHR Gwangju Human Rights Award – 2007 Association of Cultural Harmony in Asia (ACHA) Star Peace Award – 2008 Director of ACHA – since 2009 President of ACHA – 2010 International Human Rights Award of Weimar (Germany) – 2010
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© Copyright 2011 by Sarah Busching and Elias-Kilian Schmidt – All Rights Reserved. This brochure or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher. “This brochure is the beautiful ending of a meaningful cooperation between PVCHR and two german travellers. We thank all of you for the Love we received. We hope you’ll enjoy this present.” – E.S. & S.B.
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