Some Gold facts

Kolar, Hutti, Ramgir are the main gold mines in India.

Hutti gold mine company is India's only producer of gold

The entire production of KOlar mines is sold to the RBI










Sme imp Links:

http://memoriesofkgf.blogspot.in/2015/02/kolar-gold-fields-down-memory-lane.html?spref=fb

Dark Matter : http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/was-dark-matter-observed-in-kolar-gold-field-experiments/article5835847.ece

BGML workers issues
http://www.bannedthought.net/India/PeoplesMarch/PM1999-2006/archives/2000/july2k/kgf.htm

Census data on Marital Status of ST population released

Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has published the 2011 Census data on the Marital Status of Scheduled Tribes persons for all States and Union Territories by age and sex, number of women, ever married women by present age, parity and total children ever born by sex, number of surviving children and total surviving children by sex, number of births last year by sex and birth order etc.

Special Tables viz. ST-7, ST-1 1 on Scheduled Tribes reflect marital status by age and sex, ever married women by present age, Parity and total children ever born by sex etc. The ST-12 table contains number of women and ever married women by present age, number of surviving children and total surviving children by sex. Table number-13 shows number of Women and currently married Women by present age, number of births by sex and birth order.

The data released shows that among STs 4,67,00,848 people are married out of 10,45,45,716. The married persons constitute 44.7% of the total STs population. Percentage of widowed is 4.6% and separated is 0.4%. The percentage of divorced constitute 0.2%. In comparison to 2001 Census, the percentage of widowed, divorced, separated has increased in most of the age groups. More than half of the marriages have taken place in the age group of 20-24. The percentage of marriage taken place in the above age group is 57.2%. The data also shows that for 72% of the STs female, the marriage age is above 18 years.

Total numbers of ever married Women has increased among all the ages. It increased remarkably in the states of Kerala, Karnataka, Goa, West Bengal and Assam. Total children ever born in all the ages have decreased in all the States / UTs. Total number of surviving children has increased in almost all the States /UTs in comparison to the corresponding figures of 2001 Census.

Constitutional conversations on Adivasi rights

A little used provision in the Constitution may hold the key to protecting the interests of Scheduled Tribes as they fight to hold on to their traditional lands

Even 67 years after Independence, the problems of Adivasi communities are about access to basic needs. These include, but are not restricted to, elementary education, community healthcare, sustainable livelihood support, the public distribution system, food security, drinking water and sanitation, debt, and infrastructure. For them, equality of opportunity remains largely unfulfilled. In this context, it is important to stress that the values of tribal culture are transmitted in a manner that protects the right of the bearers of knowledge to determine the terms of the transmission without exploitation or commodification. Nor can the Adivasis’ unhindered access to land and forests, including full access to the commons, especially in scheduled areas, be understated. Tribal communities have, over the decades, witnessed the fragmentation of their habitats and homelands and the disruption of their cultures through predatory tourism. All this has left them shattered and impoverished. Entire communities across States have been dispossessed systematically through state action, and have been reduced from owners of resources and well-knit, largely self-sufficient communities to wage earners in agriculture and urban agglomerates with uncertain futures. Yet, we can scarcely forget that the rights of tribal communities in India are protected by the Constitution and special legislations.

Rights enumerated

While most of these protections are available to groups named in The Constitution (Schedule Tribes) Order 1950, there are some tribal communities that fall within the categories of Scheduled Castes (SC) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) and some that don’t fall into any of these categories. Within the category of Scheduled Tribes (ST), there are over 500 groups listed of whom roughly 70 are part of the sub-classification Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups, a small cluster of groups that include the Jarawas of the Andaman Islands, the Chenchus of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, and the Baigas of Chhattisgarh. These groups face an acute crisis of survival, evident in their rapidly dwindling numbers. Therefore, they are in need of special protection even within the larger ST category, protections in relation to non-tribal communities as well as in relation to other tribal communities. Notwithstanding these complex intersections and overlaps (and exclusions in some instances), tribal communities, especially the STs, are the subject of special constitutional attention.

The right of tribal peoples to development through pathways that affirm their autonomy and dignity, as set out in Article 21 and under Schedules V and VI of the Indian Constitution, is often seen as the core of Adivasi rights. And indeed, they are. The oft-quoted Samata judgment of 1997, rich in its defence of the rights of Adivasi communities to their homelands, posits an inter-reading of Articles 14 (equality), 15 (non-discrimination), 16 (equality of opportunity), 17 (abolition of untouchability), 21 (life and liberty), 23 (right against exploitation) from the Fundamental Rights chapter of the Constitution and Articles 38 (securing a just social order), 39 (guiding principles of policy) and 46 (promotion of educational and economic interests of SCs, STs, and other weaker sections) from the Directive Principles of State Policy.

The constitutional arguments in the High Court of Andhra Pradesh resisting the Polavaram dam centred on whether the state could alter (diminish) the boundaries of a scheduled area without presidential assent. Submergence, in fact, alters boundaries, causes disappearance of villages and village institutions, and renders people from these communities vulnerable through dispossession by displacement — all of which are the subject of special protections for the STs. The largest volume of litigation in scheduled areas has to do with non-tribal occupation of tribal land and the blatant derogation of land transfer regulation laws. Financial inclusion poses the third major problem: despite policy commitments to financial inclusion of vulnerable communities as a measure to lift them out of debt bondage and predatory money lending and usury, moneylenders continue to thrive in tribal areas.

“An important part of Article 19 protections have to do specifically with protection of interests of STs.”

Hidden provision

It is in this overall context that I flag an unused constitutional provision as perhaps holding a key to the justiciable, mandatory protection of the interests of the STs as distinct from other marginalised groups.

Article 19 of the Constitution is commonly understood, through text and case law, as a provision that protects freedom of speech, expression, assembly, association, movement, residence and calling. The first clause of Article 19 reads as follows: 19(1) All citizens shall have the right (a) To freedom of speech and expression; (b) To assemble peaceably and without arms; (c) To form associations or unions; (d) To move freely throughout the territory of India; (e) To reside and settle in any part of the territory of India; and (f) omitted (g) To practise any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business. Clauses 19 (2) to (4) set out the reasonable restrictions to speech, assembly and association in the interests of public morality, decency and integrity and sovereignty of the state — these aspects and their restrictions are what figure most often in animated fashion in debates around Article 19.

Clause 5 of Article 19 reads as follows: 19 (5) Nothing in sub clauses (d) and (e) of the said clause shall affect the operation of any existing law in so far as it imposes, or prevent the State from making any law imposing, reasonable restrictions on the exercise of any of the rights conferred by the said sub clauseseither in the interests of the general public or for the protection of the interests of any Scheduled Tribe (emphasis added).

In other words, an important part of Article 19 protections have to do specifically with protection of interests of STs (Clause 5) as distinct from other marginalised groups through limitations on right to freedom of movement [sub-cause 1(d)] and right to freedom of residence [sub-clause 1(d)]. This, I would argue, when read with existing protections (for instance as set out in Samata or similar cases) offers a core and express fundamental right protection to Adivasis (as distinct from legal/ statutory protection) from a range of state and non-state intrusions in scheduled areas as well as from the perennial threat of eviction of Adivasis from their homelands.

It is the interests of STs that are paramount in this fundamental right provision, which is presented importantly as a restriction on an enumerated right that is clear and specific — not a restriction of a general nature, namely, the “sovereignty and integrity of India” or “public order,” “decency” or “morality,” as is the case with the other constituent freedoms in Article 19.

Understanding the situation of tribal communities is key to understanding the Constitution, its framework and its possibilities in the fullest sense. Perhaps it is time to reinvigorate our reading of the Constitution in the troubled times we live in. We may find answers to other questions as well around an idea of justice that we grapple with every day.

(Kalpana Kannabiran is Professor and Director, Council for Social Development)

Virus targeting banking, personal info prowling Indian cyberspace

Cyber security sleuths have alerted Indian Internet users about the destructive phishing attacks by a virus which could compromise personal email and banking-related data.

The virus, identified as 'Golroted', belongs to the deadly 'Trojan' category of computer viruses which is characterised by its smart capability of masking its original content and looking like genuine.

"It has been reported that variants of a new malware family, dubbed as Golroted, having spyware functionalities are spreading. These malware typically spread through spear phishing mails having attachments as zipped archives or Microsoft Office document exploits or via removable drives," the Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In) said in a latest advisory to domestic Internet users.

The CERT-In is the nodal agency to combat hacking, phishing and to fortify security-related defences of the Indian Internet domain.

The agency said once the virus infects a system successfully, it is capable of stealing Personal Identifiable Information (PII) from the affected machine that includes computer name, local date or time, Internet Protocol address, installed security software, among other private and sensitive system details.

The virus is notorious for undertaking specific attacks with regard to banking and financial transactions, ultimately leading to loss of funds kept in the bank account.
"Golroted is reported as targeting banking sites, online payment sites, email accounts, social networking sites among others.

The stolen information is ex-filtrated to a pre-configured File Transfer Protocol server/web panels or to email addresses as attachments," it said.
The agency said at least two aliases or pseudo-identities of the said virus have been detected till now.

"The spyware is capable to log key strokes, capture screen shots, scrap web browsers for saved passwords, browsing history etc," it said.

The agency has suggested some counter-measures in this regard.
Do not allow administrative access to systems, with the exception of special administrative accounts for administrators, do not download or open attachment in emails received from untrusted sources or unexpectedly received from trusted users, do not visit untrusted websites and enable firewall at gateway or desktop level.

The agency also said that vulnerable systems, whom the virus could target, should install and scan anti-malware engines and keep them up-to-date.

Do not follow unsolicited web links or attachments in email messages, limit or eliminate the use of shared or group accounts, turn off file sharing if not needed and disable "save credentials" feature in browsers, are some of the counter-combat measures suggested by the agency.

National Optical Fibre Network Project

National Optical Fibre Network Project 6.56 In order to ensure equity in access and to accelerate socio-economic growth in rural areas, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has planned to connect all 2,50,000 Gram Panchayats in the country with minimum 100 Mbps bandwidth under the National Optical Fibre Network Project (NOFN). Cable laying has been completed in about 5000 villages and the project is likely to be completed by 31 December 2016.

-Economi Survey 2014-15

Malnutrition among children under five years of age

As per the last National Family Health Survey (NFHS)-3 (2005-06) carried out by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, 42.5% of the children under 5 years of age are underweight. However, the provisional India Fact Sheet of the Rapid Survey on Children (RSoC) commissioned by Ministry of Women and Child Development with assistance from UNICEF India has been released. As per these figures, there is a reduction in underweight among children under 5 years of age from 42.5% in NFHS-3 to 29.4% as per RSoC.

As per NFHS-3, the latest nationally representative data, the prevalence of underweight in children under 5 years of age in Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Rajasthan is 37%, 42.4%, 55.9% and 39.9% respectively.

The Government has accorded high priority to the issue of malnutrition and is implementing several schemes/programmes of different Ministries/Departments through State Governments/UT Administrations. This Ministry is implementing Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) Scheme, Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) namely SABLA, and Indira Gandhi Matritva Sahyog Yojna (IGMSY) as direct targeted interventions.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

*****

Decline in Child Sex Ratio in Tribal population

  As per the Census 2011, the Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years) among Scheduled tribes population has shown a decline from 972 females per 1000 males in 2001 to 957 females per 1000 males in 2011. 

To address the issue of declining Child Sex Ratio (CSR), in age group of 0-6 years, Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao (BBBP) programme has been launched by Ministry of Women and Child Development. The Scheme is intended to improve Child Sex Ratio across the country with the focussed intervention & Multi-Sectoral Action in 100 gender critical districts including tribal areas. The total project cost of the programme for the 2 years and 6 months is Rs. 199.99 crore with 100% Central Assistance.

The Ministry of Tribal Affairs in consonance of Article 275 (1) of the constitution of India the Government ensures welfare of women while providing grants to the States/ Union Territories under Special Central Assistance to the Tribal Sub-Plan. The Ministry of Tribal Affairs implements schemes, which are focused on the upliftment of tribal girls and women in the field of education and employment. Details of the funds allocated under the schemes being run for the welfare of the tribal population including tribal women are as under:-

S.No	Programmes/Schemes	Budget Allocation (BE) 2015-16(In Crore)
1	Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe Girls in Low Literacy Districts	40.00
2	National Scheduled Tribes Finance and Development Corporation (NSTFDC) including Adivasi Mahila SashaktikaranYojana (AMSY)	70.00
3	SCA to TSP	1250.00
4	Grants under Article 275 (1)	1367.00
5	Umbrella Scheme for Education	1136.84
6	National Overseas Scholarship	1.00

Ministry of Tribal Affairs through regional consultations and its meetings has advocated and supported growing and consumption of traditional minor millets, green leafy and traditional vegetable in kitchen garden, rearing backyard poultry, and fishery. In addition, the Ministry has advocated regular administering of Iron Folic Acid tablets and Vitamin A supplements to pregnant women right from their cycle. Documentation of tribal crops and food, tribal medicine and practices to improve health and nutrition issues has also been initiated.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Women and Child Development, Smt Maneka Sanjay Gandhi in reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha today.

*****

Development of CBIC

The Chennai-Bengaluru Industrial Corridor (CBIC) is being developed in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). The Master Planning Report on three identified Industrial Nodes i.e. Krishnapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Tumkur( Karnataka) and Ponneri ( Tamil Nadu) in the CBIC region has been submitted by JICA. The report has been accepted by DIPP.

The East Coast Economic Corridor (ECEC) is envisaged from Kolkata (in West Bengal) to Tuticorin (in Tamil Nadu). The first phase of the ECEC focuses on the Vizag-Chennai section which runs from Vishakhapatnam (Vizag), Andhra Pradesh to Chennai, Tamil Nadu. ADB has submitted the Conceptual Development Plan report of Vizag Chennai Industrial Corridor (VCIC) region. The report has been accepted by DIPP.

This information was given by the Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the Ministry of Commerce & Industry Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman in a written reply in Rajya Sabha today.

*********

Same sex marriage and Anthropology

Same-Sex Marriage from an Anthropological View

Terry McFadden looks at the upcoming marriage equality referendum from an anthropological point of view to make a case for a more nuanced understanding of same-sex marriage. He examines different forms of marriage around the world to argue in favour of a Yes vote in next month’s referendum.

The primary concern for the No campaign in the same-sex marriage referendum is how far a yes vote would stretch the meaning of the social/legal construct of marriage so that it covers beliefs, behaviours and customs different from traditional Irish Catholic ideology and constitutional reform without losing its shape altogether.

Gay Rights in Ireland: Past and Future

“Homosexuality wasn’t decriminalised in Ireland until 1993, despite its presence in all socio-economic sectors of Irish society, including the Catholic Church…

In 1988, the European Court of Human Rights decided a more pressing monumental issue; the case of Norris v. Ireland improved the legal and social standing of a minority of Irish citizens seeking common recognition and equality under the law. David Norris claimed that Ireland’s archaic criminalisation of certain homosexual acts was in violation of Article 8 of the European Convention of Human Rights. The ECHR found in favour of Norris, vindicating him after an eleven year legal battle with what was described as “a backward-thinking Irish judiciary”. Homosexuality wasn’t decriminalised in Ireland until 1993, despite its presence in all socio-economic sectors of Irish society, including the Catholic Church, a fact which has only come to public acknowledgment in recent years.

In a society which has undergone unprecedented social and cultural change in a profoundly short period of time, Irish voters are now required to make a judgment on a relatively tiny section of our fellow citizens whose sexual preferences, on the face of it at least, do not seem to fit neatly into the dominant form of ‘traditional’ man-woman marriage within the state. But how and to what extent can a yes vote really change the shape of marriage? To answer this question and to encourage a more informed reflection on this issue, I have turned to those most expert on the human condition – anthropologists.

Same-Sex Marriage in Terms of Varying Forms of Marriage Throughout the World

Different forms of marriage have long occupied the thoughts of anthropologists. Two notable anthropologists, Kathleen Gough (1959) and Ward Goodenough (1970), have for some decades sought to find common denominators for marriage in different societies. Their aim is to answer many of the questions which are currently dogging the Irish ‘yes’ and ‘no’ campaigns, extending from sexual rights, kin relations, property rights, rights of inheritance to adoption. Several competing definitions of marriage have been proposed in an attempt to encompass the wide variety of marital practices observed across and through cultures both western and non-western.

“This forced Gough to disregard sexual access as a key element of marriage and to instead define it in terms of the legitimacy of offspring… This is currently an issue for gay adoption and child support rights. 

In an analysis of marriage among the Nayar, a polyandrous society in India, Gough found that the group lacked a husband role in the conventional sense, yet the institution functioned quite well. Likewise in the west, unitary roles were often divided between non-parental residents (uncles, aunts etc.) in times of economic hardship whereby “social fathers” took temporary or permanent responsibility for a woman’s children, for example as a result of emigration. Lovers in western and non-western marriage have also acted as the socially accepted pro-creators of offspring, including in property and social perpetuity for absent or dead fathers.

In Nayar society, men often enjoy the legal rights to a woman’s child in cases where such rights are required, for example because of the inability of the male to procreate. This forced Gough to disregard sexual access as a key element of marriage and to instead define it in terms of the legitimacy of offspring. Therefore, marriage was redefined as “a relationship established between a woman and one or more other persons, which provides a child born to the woman under circumstances not prohibited by the rules of [the]relationship… accorded full birth-status rights common to normal members of society”. This is currently an issue for gay adoption and child support rights.

Other forms of marriage have been observed to function equally well. In 1997, an article by Duran Bell  in Current Anthropology described marriage as “a relationship between one or more men (male or female) in severalty to one or more women that provides those men with a demand-right of sexual access within a domestic group and identified women who bore the obligation of yielding to the demands of those specific men.” This means that the family of the husband, which have paid a bride price, have a right to the woman’s children even if her husband passes away. Bell refers to both males and females, because women, as well as men, within the family can stand in as the “social fathers” of a wife’s children.

In many countries throughout Africa and Asia, levirate marriage is also practiced; this means that if a woman’s husband dies, his brother has an obligation to marry the widow and she is obliged to marry him. In Sudan, Nuer tribes practice ghost marriages, which is a slight variation of levirate marriage. In this case, if a husband dies and his brother steps in, any future children are considered those of the deceased man. This form of marriage reflects Catholic views whereby God, the absent spirit husband of Mary, sanctioned the legitimacy of Joseph as the stand in father.

Polyandry is the practice of a woman marrying more than one husband. Draupadi, the main character in the historic Hindu epic Mahabharata, sits on a throne surrounded by her five husbands.

There are therefore as many different forms of marriage as there are interpretations. For instance, polygamy, marriage of more than two partners which is practiced by Mormons, allows a woman to marry ‘in’ to a marriage. While bigamy is illegal in most US states, this form of marriage has been accepted as socially and religiously legitimate within Mormon society. Polyandry is another form of marriage, whereby a woman is married to more than one husband at a time. There is no marriage bond between the husbands, only social obligations which are equally as binding.

A recurrent theme in the variety of definitions of marriage is the range of obligations by which marriage is itself also constituted. These include norms and prejudices based on legislation or social values, including how different relationships transform and become accepted over time in different societies, take for instance arranged marriage within the Japanese royal family. Debates have bordered on the personal in relation to the legitimacy marriage represents for individual partners in areas such as human productivity. One of the oldest bug bears of marriage (forgive the cliché) in dominant Irish Christian thinking is the ‘tradition’ of the contractual rights – sexual, economic and social – of males over females. Yet, while not so well known, this view of marriage has its precedent in western secular thinking.

Marriage and Misogyny in Catholic Ireland

In Ireland, the overwhelming context by which marriage is defined is the family. It is first and foremost the basic site of production – social, economic, political, cultural, and biological (Daly, 2002). This has institutional backing in Irish law through the constitution, Bunreacht na hÉireann 1937. Under Article 41.1 the state promises to “protect the family”, while recognising families’ “inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law”. Social obligations are affirmed under Article 41.2 whereby the state is required to ensure that “economic necessity” does not oblige a member “to engage in labour [the mother/wife]to the neglect of her duties in the home”.

“In the 1970s, marriage in Ireland required a legislative corrective to a common sexual bias, which pertained in Irish society and enshrined in Irish constitutional law that the woman must be subservient to her male ‘partner’ in marriage…

In Ireland up until the 1970s a husband retained exclusive sexual, as well as property, rights over his wife under the law which would equal any ‘primitive’ society on earth. Wives were the property of their husbands. The family itself was the spiritual property of the Catholic Church, an institution which enjoyed a moral monopoly over biological reproduction and even sexual intercourse in the past.

In the 1970s, marriage in Ireland required a legislative corrective to a common sexual bias, which pertained in Irish society and enshrined in Irish constitutional law that the woman must be subservient to her male ‘partner’ in marriage, including upholding her obligation and the church’s priority to biological reproduction. In short, marriage could only properly function as a locus of male domination and control through such subjugation.

Vote Yes for Marriage Equality

Whether we accept or reject gay marriage by referendum is a personal choice, but it has profound consequences for gay people. It is as profound as the 1920s suffrage movement concerned with the rights of female voters, a status which was equally objectionable to many.

As a single heterosexual male and a trained cultural anthropologist, I am in favour of the right of marriage choice for same-sex partners. I believe same-sex couples should enjoy the same choices I have.

“We heterosexuals need to consider who we are to deny the rights of transfer we ourselves have the option to enjoy through marriage…

Below, I have set out a series of general premises I consider crucial to my arguments on the necessity for a yes vote. I deem these are necessary in order to engage in a more inclusive debate on the main tenants of the upcoming referendum on this most important of issues:

• Marriage, regardless of its form, is characteristically never simply a relationship between individuals alone but rather a positive, legally recognised social contract also between groups who desire it (extended family, friends, including community, the broader State etc).
• Marriage is about the positive transfer of emotions, feelings and obligations. It is about the rights of extended family and associated groups. While the exact set of rights transferred differ socially, economically and culturally between households, as well as between societies, this fact pertains to all democratic marriage forms.
• In gay marriage, as in heterosexual marriage, sexual and other social rights are transferrable and thus positively negotiable within the ‘sanctity’ of the social engagement both parties commit to legally. A yes vote will help to ensure that these rights will not be arbitrary as they are now, but legally defined within the constitution. Thus constitutional protection will be extended to homosexual married partners without threatening or reducing others’ rights or the sanctity of the institution of marriage itself.
• Finally gay marriage, by being on the same legislative footing as heterosexual marriage, will most likely benefit diversity and creativity in social thinking and cultural behaviour. This should be embraced not restricted.

This is an argument for understanding gay marriage comparatively with monogamous, heterosexual marriage from an anthropological perspective, which is the dominant form of marriage within the Irish state. Gay marriage will be precisely the same as heterosexual marriage, except that there will be two people of the same sex involved. Thus, the shape of marriage will remain the same institutionally.

I have not touched here on the other forms of marriage of which polygamy, while not possible to enact under Irish law, is nevertheless practiced and socially facilitated in Ireland. To understand gay marriage as proposed under the upcoming referendum, we need to view it first as a necessary legal relationship between contractual parties and second, as an essential social institution with all of the attendant obligations enjoyed by heterosexual couples.

The legislation sorts out for us who the parties are: man and man, or woman and woman. Our job is to consider what rights and values such an institution is likely to grant or to threaten. We must take even greater care to ensure that all our citizens are treated equally under Irish constitutional law. We heterosexuals need to consider who we are to deny the rights of transfer we ourselves have the option to enjoy through marriage. We need to carefully consider, beyond any prejudice we harbour, what rights are currently being denied, will be assigned and distributed and to whom. We can no longer deny to others – our fellow citizens – the rights we expect, enjoy and take for granted.

Original Article : http://www.headstuff.org/2015/04/same-sex-marriage-in-anthropology/ 

But anthropological research disputes all of this. Gay marriage, in one form or another, has existed for thousands of years in many cultures. In Africa alone, the ethnographic data show that there are at least 42 cultures with documented gay or lesbian marriage or commitment ceremonies. 
Biological anthropologists are aware that one of humans' closest relatives, separated by only 7 million years, is the bonobo (or pygmy chimpanzee), who is frequently sexually active with members of both the opposite and the same sex. Biologists are learning that literally hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and insects are known to engage regularly in same-sex behavior and desire. It is possible that same-sex behavior and desire is universal in a subset, about 5 to 10 percent, of all living animals. Homosexuality is then perfectly natural.

But the social conservatives are still there, armed with their misconceptions. The Supreme Court decisions were a major breakthrough in LGBT rights, but we now face new challenges in our struggle for equal rights and acceptance for all

Original Article : http://www.huffingtonpost.com/american-anthropological-association/gay-marriage-the-struggle-is-far-from-over_b_3573685.html?ir=India&adsSiteOverride=in


The Summary of Homosexuality & Hinduism

When discussing contraversial issues in Hinduism one needs to take into account a number of factors. There are those acts which are crimes and there are those acts which are categorised as sins. There are crimes which are not sins and sins which are not crimes. Crimes are acts which are contrary to establishes Law (usually civil) and sins are religious offences which are usually never crimes. In the west there is a separation between religion and law. In ancient India there was no such distinction.
Sin in Hinduism

Christians declare homosexuality to be a sin, an act hateful in the eyes of their god. There are some modern Hindu commentators who, mimicking their christian mentors, concur with them! But the term “sin” is very differently understood in the true Hindu context. There are a large number of terms which indicate different ideas. But are all translated by the English term sin.

Papa – an act which causes demerit being defined as causing suffering to another being.
Vipatti – failure to fulfil some duty
Klesha – defilement
Aparadha – a ritual or protocol offence against either the deity, guru or other devotees.
Dosha – a character fault
Pataka – an act causing loss of caste
Dushkrta – misconduct
Agha – misdeed
Amhas — blame
Agas — heedlessness
Drugdha – transgression
Abhidroha – an act based upon hatred
Enas – contamination, physical or mental
Anrita – untruth – an act against the laws of nature
Durita – a ritual offence against the gods
Droha — an act of maliciousness against the gods Before an act can be declared a Sin one needs to ask the following questions:—

1. Is it a crime – in other words an act contrary to the Law?
2. Is there a victim — has any suffering been intentional caused to another being?
3. Has the actor done anything which would compromise their social status (i.e, “ results in loss of caste”)?
4. Has the actor compromised their ritual purity.

In consensual adult sex between members of the general Hindu community the answer to all of these would be no!

Problems of Homosexuality in Hindusim/India

The problems posed by homosexuality in the Dharma Shastras (Sacred Law) are not based on moral judgements but rather legal complexities with reference to offspring and inheritance of ancestral property.

Homosexuals, along with the impotent, the childless and unmarried sons & daughters are excluded by the Sacred Law from inheriting the paternal property. Preference goes instead to the married siblings who have sons. The reasonable need for family units in ancient India was to retain the property within the family and to have it passed down to the descendants. If a homosexual inherited, it means that on his/her death the property would pass to some other family or be acquired by the government.

The second problem presented is liturgical. The essential pre-requisite for participation in many rituals is marriage. Manu states that a man on his own is not whole — he only become so, when united with a woman and children. Unmarried men and women in general may not participate in certain ceremonies regardless of their being homosexual or heterosexual. Apart from these two cases, homosexuals have never been discriminated against nor victimised in Hindu society.

Hindu mothers have wept over the homosexual son or daughter — not because they were sinners and morally perverse, but because of the denial of grand-children that is regarded as so important in Hindu society. Hinduism has been the exemplar of tolerance throughout the ages, let us hope that our youth will continue this sacred and rewarding tradition. Let us pray that they will proudly carry the beacon of compassion for all sentient beings and tolerance for all people and their varieties of life-styles into the future generations.

We hope that every Hindu will become a role model to others for social and religious tolerance and communal understanding. Let no person be denied his/her right to find happiness and contentment in whatever way they see fit.


Original article: http://history-of-hinduism.blogspot.in/p/homosexuality-and-hinduism.html



Current India legal position :
The new homophobia was made overtly manifest by the British law of 1860, Section 377, Indian Penal Code, still in force in India, whereas homosexuality between consenting adults was decriminalized in England in 1967. Section 377 penalizes ‘unnatural’ sexual acts with ‘imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.’

Supreme Court Reversed the judgement of Delhi HC (Naz Foundation case) and restored the criminality of homosexuality or Sec 377 IPC in its draconian form.

Four Harappan-era skeletons found near Hisar

5,000-yr-old treasure

• The skeletons of two adult males, a female and a child have been found from a cemetery at Hisar’s Rakhigarhi village
• Archaeologists have been working at the human settlement site, spread over 300 hactares and dating back to 5,000 years, since Jan 23
• Forensic experts led by a South Korean scientist will attempt to reconstruct their DNA to decipher the history and origin of the settlement
• Five years ago, 70 skeletons from the same era were found at Farmana village in Rohtak. But DNA could not be retrieved

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Rakhigarhi (Hisar), April 13

Four human skeletons dating back to the 5000-year-old Harappan era have been recovered from a cemetery located at Rakhigarhi village in Hisar.

Enthused at the recovery of well-preserved skeletons, archaeologists hope forensic scientists will reconstruct the DNA extracted from bones to help decipher the history and origin of the human settlement, which is part of the Indus Valley civilisation.

Pune’s Deccan College in collaboration with the Haryana Archaeology Department and Seoul National University, South Korea, have been carrying out excavation at the site since January 23. A forensic team from Seoul led by Professor Dong Hoonn Shin will arrive in July to process the sampling of the skeletons for obtaining the DNA. Prof Nilesh Jadhav, co-director of the project, along with his team of research scholars — Yogesh Yadav, Malavika Chatterjee and Shalmali Mali — recovered the skeletons at mound No. 7 in Rakhigarhi.

Jadhav said: “The skeletons of two adult males, a female and a child have been found. With the help of forensic experts, we will try to reconstruct their DNA. We tried doing the same with the help of a Japanese anthropologist five years ago, when a Harappan-era graveyard was discovered at Farmana village in Rohtak district, but failed. Now, scientists from South Korea, equipped with advanced technology, will attempt to reconstruct the DNA.” Malavika said they also found potteries and other belongings at the site.

Ranvir Singh, deputy director, Haryana Archaeology Department, said though they had recovered 70 skeletons at the Farmana site, they could not extract their DNA because the skeletons were damaged due to the presence of calcium in the soil. “The soil at Rakhigarhi is sandy so the skeletons are better preserved here,” he said.

Vazir Singh, a Rakhigarhi resident who has been assisting the team, said the discoveries had established that the site used to be a mega city during the Harappan era.

Original article :

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/haryana/community/four-harappan-era-skeletons-found-near-hisar/67080.html

Digital India Week Observed all over the Country

          To Inform, Educate & Engage citizens across the country, Digital India Week, from 1^stJuly to 7^th July, 2015 has been observed all over India. In this week, multiple and varied events and activities took place at all the levels. Starting from the National level event, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister, events were conducted at State and District levels, villages and Panchayats, Industry, Schools, Colleges and Universities, Common Service Centres, NIELIT centres, STPI centres, Post Offices, BSNL/MTNL Centers and CDAC centres. Many events, after the national launch, were also undertaken by Central Ministries and agencies under it.

During the Digital India Week, a number of services relating to Health, Education, Public Distribution System, Police, Agriculture, Trade and Employment etc. have been launched by various State Governments. Activities such as workshops, competitions, digital literacy activities, display of Digital India Films and Videos, rallies etc. have been organized by various stakeholders.

A gist of activities and events undertaken during the Digital India Week are as follows:

1.     National Level Event – Digital India Week, launched by Hon’ble Prime Minister at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium on 1^st of July, 2015, was attended by more than 15,000 persons including Ministers of Union Council, State Ministers, Ambassadors, young CEO’s & IT professionals and other dignitaries. The evet witnessed launch of 15 initiatives by Hon’ble Prime Minister. Some of the key highlights of this event are:

·        Leading industry captains shared their ideas and vision of Digital India and committed investments of about Rs 4.5 lakh Crore, for the programme.

·         Millions of viewers watched the live telecast of the event on Doordarshan, Webcast ( webcast.gov.in) and Youtube.

·        Simultaneous  telecast of the event was organised in Post Offices, CSCs, STPI Centres, NIELIT Centres, BSNL Centres, State Headquarters and Missions abroad.

·        The event witnessed more than 1 billion impressions on officials social media handles (Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and Instagram).

2.     Week Long Event – To maintain the momentum and enthusiasm of the National Programme, Week-long events were organised from State to the Gram Panchayat level. All State Governments, Industry and a number of Central Government Departments and Organizations have conducted the events. Some of the key highlights are as follows:

a.     State Level Events – Have been conducted at all State headquarters.     ~ 150 such events have been organized with a participation more than 98,000 people.  About 25 such events were graced by Chief Ministers, LGs and Administrators. The events were also attended by State Ministers, Industry representatives and other dignitaries.

The key activities undertaken at the State level events are launch of new services by States, discussions on technology and e-Governance and awareness through publications and social media.

More than 250 services were launched in areas of Health information, utility services, smart PDS card, land record services, mobile app for civic amenities, services for farmers, social welfare and pension services, electoral services, online court services, police services, and employment exchange services

b.    District Level Events –Events and activities have been organized at most of the District headquarters in the country. Reports have been received from 438 districts wherein in 1238 events, more than 1.36 lakh government officials and citizens have been informed on Digital India Programme and its services. A large number of events have been attended by Member of Parliaments, District Collectors, Members of the Legislative Assembly and other dignitaries.

Some of the key activities undertaken are workshops and seminars, digital literacy activities, registration for Digital Locker and other e-Services, promotion through rallies and publications and contests and competitions.

c.      Common Service Centres (CSCs) Events – Events were organised at more than 57,000 CSCs, wherein more than 34.2 lakh people (rural citizens, youth, e-Service users) participated.

During these events citizens have been informed on Digital India, Financial Literacy, Digital Literacy, e-Health, e-Commerce etc. Activities like educating villagers about pension account opening, Bank account opening, Registration of youth for national skill development agency, career counselling and registration for jobs were also undertaken. 

d.    Post Office Events – Events have been organized at more than 1,500 post offices across the country and more than 1.75 lakh citizens have been informed about Digital India and e-Services.

Some of the key activities conducted during the week are, Jan Chetna Divas, Financial Inclusion Day, Education Day, e-Duniya Day, e Commerce Day and Public Grievance Day.

e.      Digital Wellness Online Challenge – NeGD in partnership with Intel has organized the Digital Wellness Challenge in a large number of schools. This initiative has empowered the students for providing them with information and sensible application of the principles of cyber safety, cyber security and cyber ethics.

More than 6.23 lakh students, from class 6^th to 12^th participated in the event.

f.      School, Colleges/ Universities Events - These events have been organized in association with State Education Departments. More than 1.35 lakh students in 1,500 School, Colleges/ Universities have been made aware about Digital India Programme and its services.

Activities like competitions for students and teachers, webinar on Digital India, showcasing on Digital India Film and Education Portals etc. have been organized, during the week.

g.     STPI Events - Events and activities have been organized at more than 70 STPI Centres and associated IT units across the country and more than 17,000 IT professionals have been informed about Digital India and e-Services.

Activities like awareness through audio visuals and discussions, re-cycling the e-Waste by placing e-waste bins at various locations and campaign on Swacch Digital Bharat, Cyber Security and hygiene and IT Industry and Trade were undertaken.

h.    NIELIT Events - Events and activities have been organized at more than 120 NIELIT Centres across the country and more than 1.25 lakh citizens have been informed about Digital India and e-Services.

Activities like live broadcast of PM’s event at NIELIT centres, classroom sessions on Digital India Pillars and services, top shows, launch of smart classrooms, cycle rally etc. have been undertaken.

i.       Industry Events – Industry and industry associations organized more than 75 events on Digital India in which ~ 25,000 IT professional and employees and school students participated.

Awareness activities through workshops and seminars have been conducted in areas like Future classrooms, Digital Literacy Programmes, e- Waste Management, Telemedicine and Tele-consulting, Internet safety, Putting Indian heritage Online and enabling educators to support education system of future.

j.       Gram Panchayat Events – These events have been organized in partnership with Ministry of panchayati raj, Government of India. Till date, reports have been received of events at more than 1,600 gram panchayats and participation of ~ 58,000 people. The actual number would be much larger as the states, during the Video Conference held on 9^th July informed activities in almost all the GPs were carried out.

Some of the key activities undertaken are Awareness creation on Digital India & e-Panchayat services, Updation of details on Panchayat websites and other information portals of Panchayats, Mobile based mapping of Panchayat assets (mAsset), Digital Literacy Enrolment drive, Competitions among public with incentives and prizes.

k.    CDAC Events - Events and activities have been organized at 16 CDACCentres and more than 10,000 students and IT professionals have been informed about Digital India and e-Services.

3.     Initiatives/Launches  by Central Ministries/ Departments

a.     Department of Telecom  - Pan India Full Mobile Number Portability (MNP)implemented from July 3rd onwards- helping in Mobile Identity and realising the goal of JAM Trinity ( Jandhan - Aadhar - Mobile ).

b.    CEO Roundtable by FICCI with the theme ‘Investment in NexGen Digital Infrastructure’ was held on 3rd July 2015 which was graced by Hon’ble Minister of Communications and IT, Government of India as chief guest. Hon’ble Minister said that the government is working towards Digital Inclusion and that the private sector has a pivotal role to play in driving the Digital India programme.

c. Bharatnet (NOFN) events– During Digital India Week, Bharat Broadband Network Limited (BBNL) organised events around Bharatnet (NOFN) at various locations in 13 states. The activities relating to e-Governance, e-Education, e-Health, e-Commerce and e-Agriculture were organised where large number of students and citizens  participated.

d.    Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited – launched a number of initiatives such as BSNL Buzz and Speed Pay under Digital India program during the week. These initiatives have been launched by Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications and IT. Events and activities were  also  organized at BSNL Centres across the country and where BSNL officers, stakeholders and citizens were informed about Digital India and e-Services.

e. Centre for Development of Telematics ( CDOT) – Hon’ble Minister of Communications and IT, launched the following products as part of Digital India programme.

·        Solar powered Wi Fi hot spots

·        Long Distance Wi Fi System

·        Next Generation Network in MTNL network

·        100 Gbps Optical Fibre Link System

f.      Ministry of Rural Development – Under the Digital India Initiatives Ministry of Rural Development has launched a number of IT services, namely

·        Launch of mobile monitoring system (MMS) and distribution of 35,000 tablets in identifying gram panchayats (2,500 blocks)

·        Launch of online learning portal (OLP) for MNREGA

·        Launch of MNREGA village view

g.     Ministry of Agriculture –NDDB has developed an application called “Pashu Poshan” under Digital India.  This application is to enable dairy farmers balance the ration for their animals taking into account nutritional requirements and locally available feed material to optimize the cost of feeding.

·        Newly developed application of INAPH will be available on web as well as android platform

·        Framer can access application by registration on INAPH Portal (http://inaph.nddb.coop)

·        INAPH currently covered over 40.87 lakh animals of over 20.23 lakh farmers across more than 21690 villages

h.    Ministry of Labour and Employment –EPFO has launched following initiatives under Digital India programme.

·          Universal Account Number (UAN) : 4.64 Crores UAN allocated

·          Online Inoperative Accounts Helpdesk

·          Online Transfer Claim Portal

·          Electronic Challan cum Return

·          Helpdesk for UAN to assist employers and employees with toll free     number 18001 18005

·          Short code SMS service for members who have activated their UAN   number whereby members can send an SMS from their registered mobile number to 7738299899 to receive PF information in 10 different Indian languages

i.       Ministry of Commerce & Industries –  Ministry has launched the following initiatives under Digital India program

·          Information on prices of Jhinga  by using missed call/sms services

·          M-agriculture – launch of mobile app  for water resource    management for Jhinga cultivation

·           Portal for online MPED registration for exporters

j.  Ministry of Panchayati Raj – Many panchayat departments,   across States/UTs initiated their Social Media pages.

4.     Social Media – An extensive Digital and Social Media campaign was conducted during the Digital India Week so that netizens, in India and abroad can be made aware of these programme. Hon’ble Prime Minister also initiated the Digital Dialogue (#DigitalDialogue) on Twitter, which received very encouraging response from technocrats and IT professionals. Some of the key highlights are

·         #DigitalDialogue received 391 million impressions during period of 3 days (4^th – 6^th July, 2015)

·        1 Billion impressions on the day of National Event

·        On Facebook, 1 person joined every second with a total reach of 2.6 Million during the week.

·        On Twitter 1 follower added every 4 seconds with 3.6 Million impressions during the week.