Living Close to Power Lines Power Lines Health Risks

There has been controversy over power line radiation and its effect on human health for at least 40 years. This is not because evidence is lacking.

Living by power lines has been known to increase the risk of leukemia and other cancers since 1979, when convincing evidence was first published by Werthimer and Leeper .

Since then, dozens of published papers have found links between living near power line electromagnetic radiation and a range of health woes including  brain cancer and leukemia (especially affecting children), breast cancer, birth defects and reproductive problems, decreased libido, fatigue, depression, blood diseases, hormonal imbalances, heart disease, sleeping disorders and many others.

See our articles page for several interesting studies concerning the health effects of living near power lines.

Back in the 1970's most scientists believed that low frequency electromagnetic radiation could not possibly have any bioliogical effects, damaging or otherwise, because it was thought that the long wavelength would prevent its interaction with a relatively small body such as a human being.

But as the economist Keynes said "When the facts change, I change my mind". Well the facts have changed. The evidence against power line radiation is overwhelming. So whose mind isn't changing?

"Power Line EMF is safe" - Says who?

Keeping the controversy alive are, on the one hand, bureaucrats and regulators, who do not want to admit that they have failed to protect the public (for at least three decades) - and on the other hand power company executives who will do anything to avoid admitting to the damage already done to the nation's health (and consequent liability for it).

In support of their arguments, they look for ways in which to criticise the many studies which have reported unfavorable health effects (they can always find something) - and for inconsistencies between study results (not all studies were able to confirm health effects reported in other studies).

But they persist in ignoring the growing weight of evidence that strong low-frequency electromagnetic fields, including power line radiation, are harmful to your health.

(See our many articles about power line radiation here).

Do we need more proof of Power line Dangers?

Their refrain that "More data is needed before a conclusion can be drawn" - first offered in the early 1980's and still given today - is growing ever harder to accept.

If we wait for irrefutable proof (could it ever be supplied), what damage will have been done and how many people will lose loved ones?

Fortunately, awareness is increasing. There is a now a growing swell of opinion (scientific, medical and public) that living close to power line radiation is dangerous to your health. This opinion is backed by sound argument and solid data.
The leading proponents of this view are competent professionals of undoubted integrity.

Living By Power Lines

Both high-voltage transmission lines and also neighbourhood power lines constitute a radiation hazard. The size of the power line is not the issue. The strength of the electromagnetic field (especially the magnetic component)where you live is what is important.

The configuration of power transmission lines greatly affects the EMF. As with house wiring, how it's done makes all the difference.

It is common for high-voltage, high-current-carrying power transmission lines to generate a magnetic field whose strength is well above normal household ambient levels, at distances up to 400 metres.

But it is also common for a neighbourhood power line (suspended on street poles) to create a similar EMF at a distance of 30 metres, and for the wiring inside the walls of your house to create a dangerous emf at 1.0 metres.

In each case, much depends on the configuration of the wires and the amount of current they carry.

Living next to Power Lines

Even if you can see no power lines in your area, there may be underground cables much closer than you imagine.

Normally underground cables produce little EMF, not because they are buried (the magnetic energy penetrates the soil) but because the electromagnetic forces are opposed by current flowing in the opposite direction in adjacent wires.

But that is not necessarily so in every case.

In fact, the only way to know for certain what EMF strength applies at a particular location is to measure it with  a suitable gauss meter.
Your power company may be willing to do this for you, if you have grounds for concern. But demand measurements, not reassurances.

Power line safety can be tested

If you live near power lines, you may want to measure the EMF at a time when current flow is highest (during the day in industrial and commercial areas and during the early evening for residential areas), as well as at other times.

For an indication of power line EMF strength and distance, see our EMF Table, but be aware that individual power lines may vary widely. (Better use a meter).

How close is too close? - wherever your meter reads more than 0,5 mG from power line radiation alone is a cause for concern.
I would prefer less than 0,3 mG. Remember, this will probably be a fairly constant background EMF, to which you must add whatever EMF's are produced inside you house or workplace, from wiring, appliances, computer equipment etc.
If you have no way of measuring the power line radiation, all but the strongest high voltage transmission lines produce less than 0.3 mG EMF at 400 metres.

How long does it take for power line EMF to cause cancer?

Most studies show that the association between health effects, such as cancer, and high EMF occurs over several years. But you would not want to be too relaxed about this.

Leukemia, cancer and heart disease are not conditions which suddenly arise without cause. There is a long process of gradually deteriorating conditions within the body, which finally culminates in a disease state.

Electromagnetic radiation starts doing damage soon after a person first becomes exposed. Then for a long while there may be no noticeable symptoms, but that does not mean that nothing is happening. The damage is accumulating.

Power Lines Health Damage takes years

If the exposure is stopped early enough, the body can recover completely and repair, or adapt to, the damage that has occurred.

No one can tell exactly how long it will take for power line radiation to cause a serious disease in any individual. For most people it may take decades and for others it will not occur in a lifetime.

But a small percentage of people who live close to power lines will become sick within 3 to 5 years. Children are most vulnerable, particularly to leukemia. See our page Who is at risk? for more information on this.

If you think you are living too close to power lines.

Not all power lines are equal, so obtain an A/C gaussmetersuitable for power line radiation detection.

Measure the strength of the electromagnetic field in the areas where your family spend most of their time, especially bedrooms, kitchens, living areas. 

Do this with your power switched off at the mains, then again with it turned on. That way you can determine how much of the EMF is coming from power line radiation and how much from your own house wiring and appliances.

Measure the field strength outdoors, where you sit, and where children play.

Take measurements at various times of the day.

If your EMF values (from power line radiation alone) are above 0.5 mG you may want to consider moving.

If you own your house, this may be an opportunity to sell it.

If the power lines are very close you may have to sell for less than you expect, as more people are becoming aware of power line dangers.

But if you leave it till later, you may have to take a bigger knock, because awareness of the problem is growing. And all the while you stay in the house you may be affecting your health.

If you are renting, then your decision should be a little less complicated.

Power Line EMF may NOT be your greatest danger

While you still remain in your house, try to minimise your electromagnetic exposure from all other sources.
Suppose that you are being exposed to a 1.0 mG EMF from living next to a power transmission line and that there is nothing you can do about it for the time being.

Its also possible that your exposure from the computer monitor you are now using could be 2.5 mG, and from your TV perhaps another 2.0 mG, and from your bedside clock-radio, another 1.0 mG

If you can't do anything about the power line EMF, you most certainly can reduce your exposure from most other EMF sources, which may be far more significant than the power line radiation.

Also you can help your body to repair the damage caused by living near power lines by improving your diet and lifestyle. (Start by eating less of processed foods, including sugar, and more fresh fruit and vegetables. But I had better not get started on this, or you'll be here all day!)

For information about how to assess your overall exposure from various EMF sources, go to our home pageElectromagnetic Radiation and Health.

Power line EMF - What could authorities do?

If we make it clear to our local, regional and national authorities that we expect them to take action - and if our voice is loud enough - then they will be forced to ACT.

For example, power companies could be penalized for polluting the environment. It could work this way:

After a period of grace, power transmission companies should be fined for allowing EM radiation above a certain level to spill over into public areas. This is not an impossible task for them; their engineers already know how to minimise EM radiation.

The fine must be sufficient to motivate them to achieve the level required.

Ideally that level should be set really low, say 0,1 mG to minimise all powerline health effects. But this might need to be done in stages, with gradually increasing financial penalties for failure.

The Cost of Power line Safety

Yes, there will be a cost. One way or another the cost of power must be higher if we demand lower EMFs, so there will be economic consequences.

That's a major part of the reason why this hasn't happened already. But the nation's health would improve substantially, so lower healthcare costs could offset the increase in power costs.

We need to quantify these costs so that we can make wise decisions. But better health for millions of people is worth pursuing, and not just for its economic benefits.

Write a letter to your friend telling him about the inspection and its preparation, days before

My dear Ravi

It is quite a long time since I wrote to you and this was because, I was busy with the examinations after our Puja holidays.

Now I am writing to you to describe the scene in our school for the last ten days. On the 21st of November, the Inspector of Schools visited our school. Oh! What a relief it is to see the school through that painful exercise. For the last ten days each class teacher and each child of the school was busy in a cleaning campaign, and updating our work. In this work we and the teachers have been ever so busy that, we do not know how and when time passed by. All the classes had to be given a new look to welcome the Inspector.

There in the office also, we could see all the clerks and other staff members busy making their records upto date. Even the Principal looked tired and upset all the time. We had to decorate the office, the classroom, the verandahs and all, for the visit. The umpteen numbers of charts and Projects made to be displayed on that day were just uncountable. It seems as though we were all on tenterhooks for the last full ten days. After a long wait and long hours of hard work, finally, the D-day came on the 21st November. Now we were all beautifully and neatly clad in our school uniforms, each one looking smarter than the other. The teachers and the children were all in time, and fhe Principal came to the Assembly and told us to be quiet in class, working in class and answering in class. She told us that, when the Inspector would come we should wish him all together, and answer the questions he asks without any hesitation. The child asked the question should be the only one to answer and the rest of the class should be quiet. With all these instructions we went to our respective classes. Now the time of the wait was tiring our nerves. This wait came to rest when we were told that, the Inspector would come to classes only after the break as, he will be busy in the office before that. Hearing this, our tense nerves were relaxed and now we waited for the break.

As expected, after the break, our class being the senior most, the Inspector came to our class first. He asked us many questions in all the subjects, and thanks our stars all went well, and we were able to answer all his questions without waiting or prompting. He appeared to be quite satisfied with our performance. After asking us several questions, he also asked our teacher a number of questions regarding the school and us, and then walked out of the class, to attend to the other classes. He went to all the classes in order of seniority. Oh! The day went off and we were all relieved after the ordeal. The next day, our Principal came to the Assembly to inform us that the Inspector had gone off very satisfied with us and so, she was also happy.

Ravi, the thing I have understood from this visit is that, no matter how honest and good our work may be, time and again there must be a sort of a check from some authority above. It gives a boost to the workers, no matter who they may be.

All else is fine at our end. Convey my regards to elders. Do write back.

With love

Yours affectionately

THE ALL INDIA RAIGAR MAHASABHA {REGD.}

THE ALL INDIA RAIGAR MAHASABHA {REGD.}

SHRI GANGAMAI MANDIR, GANGA NAGAR, NEAR KEVDAJI KI CHALI,
THAKKARBAPANAGAR AREA, AHMEDABAD. PIN- 382350. GUJRAT

September 20, 2009

To,

The Hon’ble Chief Minister,

Government of Gujarat,

Gandhinagar.

Dear Sir,

Sub: Representation to include Raigar/Jatia Caste as Schedule Caste
in Gujarat State under Article 341 of the Constitution of India

The All India Raigar Mahasabha forwards the present representation to your goodselves with a belief that the Raigar/Jatia community may be declared as Schedule Caste in the State of Gujarat in terms of Article 341 of the Constitution of India.

Brief History:

The Raigar, Raiger, Rehgar or Regar, spelt in various forms, is a community of leather tanners. They are also known as Jatia. The word “Raigar” is a corrupt form of Raingaya, i.e. those who engage themselves in leather tanning. The Raigar community embraces its origin in 7-8th century and since then marked their presence in Rajasthan. They migrated from the erstwhile State of Rajputana (now known as “Rajasthan”) to different parts of India in the drought poised to earn their livelihood way back in 19^th and 20^th century to various states including the State of Gujarat from Rajasthan. They converse among themselves in Marwari and use the Devanagari and Gujrati script for writing.

Subgroups/ Gotras:

There are three subgroups, namely Raigar and Jatia. Marriages take place among all the three. These subgroups are further divided into about 450 numbers of clans (gotras), such as Bandarwal, Dhuriya, Jajoria, Kankheria, Rachoiya, Mauria, Jaggarwal, Atolia, Jaluthria, Dotania, Devatwal, Sablania, Jatolia, Sunwasia, Balotia, Khatnavalia, Chorotia Bakolia, Fulwaria, Singhadia, Nogia, Kurdia, Khorwal, Bansiwal, Barolia, Dolia, Bora, Gusaiwal, Sonkaria, Tongaria, etc…

Occupation:

The traditional occupation of the Raigars is the tanning of hides and skins and the colouring of leather. Some of them have now started making shoes, chappals, pagarkhis/jutis. A tiny section of Raigars community has taken up other occupations, like service, tailoring, masonry, labour and jute bag repairing. The Raigars are a landless community.

Religion:

They are Hindus and worship Bhagwan Ravidas, Lord Shiva, Ramdevpir, Hanuman, Bhairo and Ganesha etc. Women take part in social, ritual and religious festivals and fairs like Holi, Diwali, Dussehra, Teej, Gangore, and Ramdeojee ka Mela. They profess Hinduism and worship Shankar, Lakshmi, Durga, Hanuman and Ganesh. Sacred specialists are from their own community. Their sacred centres are Hardwar, Gangaji, Lohagar, Triveni, Gaya, Siddhpur, Chanod etc.

Indian society historically had a rigid, occupation-based, hierarchical caste system in which the relative place of a caste in the social hierarchy was determined largely by its traditional occupation. In particular, those performing 'unclean' or supposedly 'polluting' tasks viz. Raigar came to be regarded not merely as 'low' castes but as untouchables which has resulted in great injustice to the members of the concerned castes because they were discriminated against in every respect, and denied ownership of productive assets like land, as well as basic rights like education and equality, which resulted in perpetuation of extreme socio-economic deprivation of members of Raigar community in addition to other depressed classes.

Social Status:

The Raigar community, since long, has been a “depressed community” and witnessing extreme social, educational and economic backwardness arising out of the traditional practice. Since their migration into the State of Gujarat and rendering their services in building the state of Gujarat, the social, educational and economic condition of an average/common Raigar is miserable. They are unable to send their children for education in higher classes.

STATISTICS:

Though the Survey reports and other statistics related to Raigar community must be available with the government, a general statistical data is produced hereunder just to throw light on the miserable position of this weaker section of the society.

Particulars	Statistical data
Population of Raigars in the State of Gujarat	35,000 (approx.)
Economic status – Per capital income of the members of this community	Rs. 1,000/- – Rs. 1,200/- per month
People below Poverty line (BPL)	Most of them
Educational status - Literacy Rate	10% approx. as against the average of Schedule Caste lying at around 67% as per the Annual Report for 2008-09 of Department of Social Welfare.
Representation of SC/ST in State Government service	Negligible – Maximum 10-15 persons out of 35,000
Social security	Not in good shape.

Status in various other states

:

This depressed community has been declared by the Union of India, State Government of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, Union Territory of Chandigarh and Delhi. Copies of the relevant notifications issued by the aforementioned Union of India and various States are enclosed herewith as annexure “A” and “B” for your kind perusal.

Status of earlier Representations made to State Government :

The Raigar Panchayat Samiti, Gujarat state, Ahmedabad made several representations to the Government of Gujarat to include the Raigar/Jatia caste in the Schedule Caste List. A copy of the said representation made to the Government of Gujarat is annexed herewith for your kind perusal and ready reference as annexure “C”. After considering the representations, the Department of Social Welfare, Govt. of Gujarat, vide Letter No. F. No. S.C.05/1098/M-28/H dated 28^thOctober 1998 directed to conduct the survey of the population and the status of Raigar(s) community residing in the state of Gujarat.

Pursuant to the aforementioned directions, the Research Officer of the Department of Social Welfare conducted a door-to-door survey at Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Deesa, Gandhidham, Jamnagar etc. A copy of the said Survey Report which is available with the Government shows that Raigar are living in pathetic condition in the State of Gujarat.

The statistics and the Survey Report of the Government would reveal clear picture regarding the socio-economic, educational backwardness, in-adequate representation and unequal status of this depressed, despicable and helpless fraction of the society.

Since the Raigars are not getting any benefit of the Government Schemes meant for economically and socially backward persons, as the community of Raigars are not incorporated in the Notification declaring them as member of Schedule Caste issued by the state of Gujarat despite the fact that the said community has been declared by the Union of India, State Government of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh Union Territory of Chandigarh and Delhi.

Since the community of Raigars has not been notified as Schedule Caste by the State of Gujarat, we are forwarding the present representation so that this depressed class may be declared as Schedule Caste in terms of Article 341 of the Constitution of India and be given the apposite support so that this weaker section may be able to fight with social and economic backwardness in which they are living.

The status of Scheduled Caste should be granted to the Raigar/ Jatia community to ensure the advancement of these socially and educationally backward citizens and providing them a fair opportunity to bring them at par with other segments of the community. The provision of Scheduled Caste status should be and must be adopted to advance the prospects of this weaker section of the society. Reservations should be granted to ensure the advancement of these socially and educationally backward citizens to make them equal with other segments of the community. Reservation should be and must be adopted to advance the prospects of the weaker sections of society.

Also, Dr. Ambedkar in the Constituent Assembly has regarding equality said that “… We must begin by acknowledging the facts that there is complete absence of two things in India society. One of these is equality. On the social plane, we have in India society based on the principle of graded inequality which means elevation for some and degradation for others. On the economic plane, we have a society in which there are some who have immense wealth as many who live in abject poverty”.

Further, Dr Rajendra Prasad at the concluding address of the Constituent Assembly stated that “… To all we give the assurance that it will be our Endeavour to end poverty and squalor, and its companions hunger and disease to abolish distinction and exploitation and to ensure decent conditions of living. We are embarking on a great task. We hope that in this we shall have the unstinted service and cooperation of all our people and the sympathy and support of all the Communities”.

The link between “caste” and its “occupation” is an unbreakable bondage to which the cast system has condemned the backward classes. Whether a backward caste man carries on his traditional occupation or not, he continues to be socially identified with the said occupation. The link between the caste and the occupation has not been served for thousands of years and it cannot be broken by arguments and theories. The ground reality is that every caste in every village is identified by its traditional occupation. It is pointed out, for example, that throughout the country in 6.5 lakh villages, it is a barber communities carry traditional occupation of hair cuttings and no other community has taken up the said occupation.

The Constitution never prohibits the practice of caste and castism. Every activity in Hindu society from cradle to grave is carried solely on the basis of one’s caste. Even after death, a Hindu is not allowed to cremate in the crematorium which is maintained for the exclusive use of the other caste or community. Dalits are not permitted to be buried in graves or cremated in crematoriums where upper caste people bury or cremate their dead. Christians have their own graveyards. Muslims are not allowed to be buried in the Hindu Crematoriums and vice-versa. Thus, caste rules the roost in the life of a Hindu and even after his death. In such circumstances, it is entirely fallacious to advance this argument on the ground that the Constitution has prohibited the use of caste.

The Constitution of India provides several special safeguards for the Scheduled Castes, so as to ensure that they are able to attain equality with the other social groups in the shortest possible time. These safeguards enable reservation in Government jobs, elections to the Lok Sabha and State Legislative Assemblies etc.

Moreover, another leading authority in the field of social class theory also identifies caste with hereditary status. He attempts to tie his interpretation with the situation in India a procedure not often followed by the other sociologists. He writes thus,

“Caste as unchangeable status:- the feudal order approximated to a caste system. When status is wholly predetermined so that men are born to their lot in life without hope of changing it then class takes the extreme form of caste. This is the situation in Hindu society.” Every Hindu necessarily belongs to the caste of his parents and in that caste he inevitably remains. No accumulation of wealth and no exercise of talents can alter his caste status and marriage outside his caste is prohibited or severely discouraged. Caste is a complete barrier to the mobility of class.”

Constitutional footing:

Article 341 of the Constitution of India, define as to who would be Schedule Castes & Scheduled Tribes with respect to any state or Union Territory. The relevant Constitutional articles are quoted below:-

“341 (1) The president may with respect to any State or Union Territory and where it is a State after consultation with the Governor thereof, by public notification specify the castes races or tribes or parts of or groups within castes races or tribes which shall for the purposes of his Constitution be deemed to be Scheduled Castes in relation to that State or Union Territory as the case may be.”

“341 (2) The President may with respect to any State or Union Territory and where it is a State after consultation with the Governor thereof by public notification specify the tribes or tribal communities or parts of or groups within tribes or tribal communities which shall for the purpose of this Constitution be deemed to be Schedule Tribes in relation to that State or Union Territory, as the case may be”.

The object to declare a particular caste as schedule caste under Article 341 of the Constitution of India is to provide additional protection to the members of the scheduled caste having regard to social and educational backwardness which they have suffered for considerable length of time. The determination of the caste would depend upon several factors, including customary law. As Raigar community is socially and educationally backward due to having their poor background and involved in traditional business.

The Supreme Court of India has also observed in Akhil Bhartiya Soshit Karmachari Sangh v/s. Union of India reported in AIR 1981 SC 298 that “there are sufficient indications in the Constitution that the Scheduled Castes are not mere castes. They may be something less or something more and the time badge is not the fact that the members belong to caste but the circumstances that they belong to an indescribably backward human group.”

The Preamble of the Constitution resolves to constitute the country into a secular democratic republic securing therein to all its citizens, in furtherance to justice, social economic and political liberty of thought, expression and belief, faith and worship; Equality of status and opportunity and to promote among all fraternity, assuring dignity of an individual. To achieve this ideal and objective, the Constitution, while guaranteeing the right to equality before law (Article 14), prohibiting discrimination (Article 15) and ensuring equality of opportunity in the matter of public employment (Article 16) as Fundamental Rights, also enjoins on the State to strive to promote the Welfare of the people by securing and protecting, as effectively as it may, a social order in which justice, social, economic and political, shall inform all the institutions of the national life [Article 38(1)], and “in particular strive to minimize the inequalities in income and endeavour to eliminate inequalities in Status, facilities and opportunities” [Article 38(2)].

Further, Article 46 states that “the State shall promote with special care, the educational and economic interests of the weaker sections of the people and in particular, of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, and shall protect them from social injustice and all forms of exploitation”. Thus, special status has been assigned and certain safeguards have been provided to them in the Constitution.

Thus, the object is not only noble and action bona fide keeping with the avowed policy of the State in striving for building up a socialistic pattern of society but also keeping with the directive principles laid down in the Constitution. There is a reasonable nexus between the classification and the object in view, that it is in the consonance with the directive principles of the Constitution without offending the Fundamental Rights enshrined under it.

The Supreme Court of India further observed in Akhil Bhartiya Shoshit Karmachari Sangh (supra) that “……the Constitution provides not merely for adequate representation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to services and posts under the Union and States, but also provides for reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the Legislatures. It is beyond any doubt that the founding fathers have assigned to them a special place and shown towards them special concern and charged the State with special mandates to redeem these handicapped human sectors from their grossly retarded situation. Indeed, they are not merely backward but are the backward most and cannot be equated with just any other caste in the Hindu fold.”

Equality clauses contained in Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Constitution of India may in certain situations have to be considered as the basic structure/features of the Constitution of India. The Constitution of India professes to bring the socially and educationally backward people to the forefront. Only for the purpose of invoking the equality clause, the makers of the Constitution thought of protective discrimination and affirmative action. Such recourse to protective discrimination and affirmative action had been thought of to do away with social disparities. So long as social disparities among groups of people are patent and one class of citizens in spite of best efforts cannot effectively avail equality of opportunity due to social and economic handicaps, the policy of affirmative action must receive the appropriate attention. Thus, affirmative action in essence and spirit involves classification of people as backward class of citizens and those who are not backward class of citizens.

The grant of this social status to the Raigar/ Jatia Community as Scheduled Caste by your goodselves would entitle them for a preferential treatment by the State and play a vital role in ensuring the implementation of Constitutional safeguards in the matters like entry into public services and public sector enterprises, award of scholarships, admission to educational institutions including technical and medical colleges, allotment of lands, contesting elections to State Vidhan Sabha, Municipal Corporations, Gram Panchayats etc. to this despicable and helpless community.

Sociological conditions of the Raigar/ Jatia community prevailing in the State of Gujarat, thus, demands leverage to be advanced to them by the State and a provision of preference to this class which is embedded in our constitutional scheme vide Art. 14, 15, 16, so that the members of this Community may be able to combat their degraded and subservient position, come to the forefront and join hands in the overall development of the State.

Sir, since most of the members of this depressed class are earning their livelihood with occupation in leather tanning and allied sector and since without any aid and facilitation from the Government of Gujarat, and further due to lack of education, the members of this down trodden class of society are confronting terrible and horrifying days, which is making it difficult for a member of this helpless community to sufficiently earn and manage bread and butter for two times a day; more so in the times when the whole State of Gujarat is rejoicing the golden period as “Vibrant Gujarat”.

This despicable and helpless community, thus, looks forward with high hopes towards your goodselves to provide an opportunity of overall upliftment by according it a status of Scheduled Caste, so that this weaker section may gain a respectable socio-educational-economic status in the society and be an active part of the dream coming true being Vibrant Gujarat in its true sense.

Jai Hind.

Yours Faithfully

On behalf of The All India Raigar Mahasabha

Laduram Gusaiwal Mishrilal Sunwasia

Udaram Baroliya Tarachand Fulwadia

Baluram Jajoria Bhanwarlal Singhadia

Jagannath Chordia Devendra kumar Kurdia

Gopilal Kurdia Bharatkumar Gusaiwal

Punamchand Sunwasiya Manoharlal Bakoliya

Ramchandra Gusaiwal Nandkishore Fulwaria

Jagadish Devatwal Dashrath Bhatt

Revatram Khorwal Shrinarayan Devatwal

Girdharilal Dolia Khemaram Balotia

Durgaram Singhadia Hariram Bansiwal

Girdharilal Changeriwal Asulal Kurdia

Copy to:- for similar necessary action -

1. The Hon’ble Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of Gujrat, Ghandhinagar.
2. The Hon’ble Chairman, National Commission of Scheduled Caste, New Delhi.
3. The Hon’ble Leader of Opposition, Legislative Assembly,Govt. of Gujrat, Gandhinagar.
4. The Hon’ble Chief Secretary, Govt. of Gujrat, Ghandhinagar.
5. The Hon’ble Minister, Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India, New Delhi.
6. Shri Lal Krishna Advani, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Gandhinagar.
7. Shri Harin Pathak, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Ahmedabad.

	Chorus : Vijay Prakash & The Mumbai Film Choir - Kadam Kadam .mp3
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Punia takes over as SC Commission Chairman

Former top Uttar Pradesh bureaucrat P L Punia today assumed charge as the Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), filling the post which had been lying vacant since Buta Singh's term ended five months ago.

The new Chairman, a retired IAS officer and now the Congress MP from Barabanki, told reporters the NCSC would evaluate and monitor the schemes and programmes being implemented for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes and give its suggestions and recommendations as and when required under Article 338 of the Constitution. He said the existing 12 regional offices of the Commission will be strengthened adequately to ensure that people can get their grievances resolved near to their place of residence. Mr Punia had served Mayawati thrice as her principal secretary and was one of her trusted officers. Relations between them turned sour during the investigation of the Taj Heritage Corridor case by the CBI.

He retired from the government in 2005.

Dr. P.L.Punia,
Chairman
Tel: 91-11-24632298 / 24620435 (O),
91-11-23795332 (Telefax) (R)
Fax: 91-11-24632298
Email: chairman-ncsc@nic.in and plpunia@gmail.com

Left out of nursery list, EWS parents cling to hope

Dharmendra Singh has one dream — to see his three-year-old daughter Lakshita attend an “English-medium school”. The recent pre-school admission result, however, has threatened to shatter it. He had applied for her admission under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category at five private unaided schools in his neighbourhood, Jwalapuri, but none of the final lists had his daughter’s name, leaving him thoroughly disappointed.

“I am a security guard. I am poor. My parents could not afford education for me but I want my daughter to speak English and become somebody in life,” he says. “I do not know what these schools do to select children but I am not happy with the method.”

Private unaided schools in the Capital conducted a draw of lots to select students for the 25 per cent seats reserved for the EWS category. Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, schools have to reserve at least 25 per cent of the total number of seats for the EWS. For the general category, schools went with the 100-point system adopted in earlier years. For the EWS seats, the schools resorted to random selection.

There are many like Singh. Options are few for them, since many schools say there is very little possibility of a second list of selected candidates for the EWS section being released. Principals maintain that “there is small chance of selected candidates in the EWS section dropping out”.

Some parents have even alleged foul play on the part of the schools. Raghubir Singh, also from the Jwalapuri JJ cluster, said, “Some schools did not even let us enter the school on the day of the draw of lots. I think the schools had already made up their minds about the children they wanted to admit.”

While parents in the general category, whose wards did not get through a school this year, can allow their child to continue in the playschool, EWS parents have no such options available. “All I can do is hope for another list,” said Amit Malhotra, another parent. “I will apply to a government school. What else can I do?”

Left out of nursery list, EWS parents cling to hope

Dharmendra Singh has one dream — to see his three-year-old daughter Lakshita attend an “English-medium school”. The recent pre-school admission result, however, has threatened to shatter it. He had applied for her admission under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category at five private unaided schools in his neighbourhood, Jwalapuri, but none of the final lists had his daughter’s name, leaving him thoroughly disappointed.

“I am a security guard. I am poor. My parents could not afford education for me but I want my daughter to speak English and become somebody in life,” he says. “I do not know what these schools do to select children but I am not happy with the method.”

Private unaided schools in the Capital conducted a draw of lots to select students for the 25 per cent seats reserved for the EWS category. Under the Right to Education (RTE) Act, schools have to reserve at least 25 per cent of the total number of seats for the EWS. For the general category, schools went with the 100-point system adopted in earlier years. For the EWS seats, the schools resorted to random selection.

There are many like Singh. Options are few for them, since many schools say there is very little possibility of a second list of selected candidates for the EWS section being released. Principals maintain that “there is small chance of selected candidates in the EWS section dropping out”.

Some parents have even alleged foul play on the part of the schools. Raghubir Singh, also from the Jwalapuri JJ cluster, said, “Some schools did not even let us enter the school on the day of the draw of lots. I think the schools had already made up their minds about the children they wanted to admit.”

While parents in the general category, whose wards did not get through a school this year, can allow their child to continue in the playschool, EWS parents have no such options available. “All I can do is hope for another list,” said Amit Malhotra, another parent. “I will apply to a government school. What else can I do?”

Students Protest for their Education

Students Protest for their Education

CHANDIGARH : A large numbers of students of Chandigarh schools, colleges and Panjab university including parents and some teachers gathered at Panjab University Students Centre for protest against the reluctance of management of private schools in Chandigarh to the implementation of Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act (RTE), 2009. As per the RTE Act Act 25% of the students from the poor families are are to be admitted in the private schools whose expenses of education would be borne by the govt. It is worth remembering that it took seven years to pass the act in 2009 and was suppoesed to be implimented from the last academic session. The management of private schools on one or the other pretext are not willing to implement the Act even from the forthcoming session in 2011. Seventy two private schiools in Chandigarh and if students from neighbourhood are not admitted this year it will amount to the violation of the basic premises of the Act. Educationb is not be reduced to profit making business. It is sad that some private schools instead of making ventures of making education as their mission and social service have reduced it to profit making ventures at the cost of helpless parents. Gathering reminded that nearly half of the children of poor people are still deprived of quality edication and they are eventally forced to end up working as child labour. The Act is the revelutionary provision and it is the duty of every parents and conscious citizen to see the act is implemented n the is letter and spirit.

ndtv_A father's battle for his daughter's education 25-01-2011 Time 11 ...