Protest today against sexual assault at Jal Vihar

Rapist also apparently tried to murder her 
Gayatri of Feminist Approach to Technology (FAT), Delhi, informs of yet another awful crime that took place yesterday in Jal Vihar, in New Delhi . FAT runs a Tech Centre for girls from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. Jal Vihar is one such basti. One of the girls from the Tech Centre was sexually assaulted yesterday; the guy attempted to rape her when she was home alone. He also apparently tried to murder her after that. Luckily, she survived and was taken to AIIMS. The guy turns out to be the brother of two other girls who also come to the Tech Centre. He was caught in Badarpur.
Gayatri and her colleague Asha are right now in AIIMS trying to get more information about the status of the young girl.
The young women of the Tech Centre know who he is and are very angry that this has happened in their own basti. They want to do a protest in Jal Vihar tomorrow afternoon, to discuss this with members of their own community, and register their anger.
Date: February 6, 2013
Venue: Jal Vihar bus terminus
Time: 2pm
Contact numbers: Gayatri – 9999971179 and Asha – 9968252342
Please do join in large numbers to show solidarity to the young women and to support them in their right to (among other things) safety, mobility and education. (Courtesy: Kractivist)
Protest today against sexual assault at Jal Vihar

CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area

NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013,New Delhi

The Chief Minister of Delhi, Smt. Sheila Dikshit inspecting the flag area, during her visit to DG, NCC Republic Day Parade Camp-2013, in New Delhi on January 08, 2013. The DG, NCC, Lt. Gen. P.S. Bhalla is also seen. (PIB) 08-January-2013                             CM Dikshit inspecting the flag area

A letter from Namita Bhandare

Sun, Dec 30, 2012 at 12:43 PM
We have a long fight ahead. But we will win

Photo courtesy Facebook

Dear Rector,
Yesterday was a sad day as we woke up to the heartbreaking news of the death of the 23-year-old medical student who was subject to a brutal gang rape, beaten and then dumped on the road on the night of December 16. 
Today, we share the same feelings of sorrow, hopelessness, anger and frustration. Yet, I believe that while this is a time for grief, this is also a time for action. This is a time to say: enough. 
Our petition has gathered over 88,000 signatures. It is important to make every voice count and to send a strong message that we will not continue to tolerate sexual violence against women. 
Tomorrow, at 10 am, I am going to the office of Justice J.S. Verma who is the head of a three-person committee that will submit its findings and recommendations on issues of safety of women. I will be submitting our petition with all the signatures (yes, all 2,700+ pages!). 

It is important to keep this campaign going. I am writing to you once again to request you to sign this petition and forward this email to your friends and family.

The Justice Verma Commission is accepting submissions until January 5. We don't have a lot of time. If you would like to make additional suggestions, please leave a comment as 'reasons for signing this petition'. I will be collecting all the comments and submitting them to the committee.

We have a long fight ahead. But we will win. 

With warm regards,

Namita Bhandare via Change.org
A letter from Namita Bhandare 
PS:  Help us reach out to more people by forwarding this email to your friends or share it on Twitter and Facebook.

Govt.of India Wall Calendar for 2013 Released

Calendar a Vital Tool to Reach the “Aam Aadmi”- Manish Tewari

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari addressing at the release of the official calendar 2013, brought out by the DAVP, in New Delhi on December 14, 2012. (PIB Photo)

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari addressing at the release of the official calendar 2013, brought out by the DAVP, in New Delhi on December 14, 2012. (PIB Photo)

The Government of India’s Wall Calendar for 2013 was released today in the presence of Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari along with Minister for Telecommunications and IT, Shri Kapil Sibal, Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions and PMO, Shri V. Narayanasamy. Justice Markandey Katju, Chairman PCI and Secretary (I&B), Shri Uday Kumar Varma were also present on the occasion.  The theme of the calendar is based on “Bharat Nirman and other flagship schemes of the Government”.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister for Information & Broadcasting, Shri Manish Tewari said that the calendar as a tool of communication played an important role in disseminating information regarding the policies of the Government. This was despite the fact that media platforms were enhancing their reach through digital means of communication. The calendar ensured that the benefits of the flagship schemes reached the doorstep of the “Aam Aadmi” especially as the objective was to showcase images of rights, “Haq for the common man”.  This initiative of the Government was a step to make the people aware of policies that aimed to achieve inclusive growth in the governance process.  Shri Tewari further added that the people residing in rural areas always have the passion for wall calendars hence the calendar brought out by the Government can serve as an important source of information for them.

Earlier, Shri Kapil Sibal and Shri V. Narayanasamy highlighted the initiatives taken by the Government to promote the rights and entitlements of the common people through the various flagship schemes.

 Over the years DAVP had been successful in developing a composite broadbased social advertising brand the “Bharat Nirman” which caters to disseminating information of various flagship and other welfare programmes and the achievements of Government of India. The visual portrayal in the 2013 Calendar too is based on this composite branding.

The Calendar designed and printed by the Directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity (DAVP) of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting depicts the various flagship programmes of the Government of India. The theme of the calendar is: ‘Bharat Nirman- Sabka hit, Sabka Haq’.

This year’s calendar portrays in colourful images the regime of Rights (Haq) for the common man (aam aadmi) by encouraging the intended beneficiaries to claim the benefits under the Bharat Nirman and other flagship schemes of the Government of India.
January month displays the ‘AADHAR’ based Direct Cash Transfer Scheme being implemented in 51 districts from January 2013.The scheme ensures the intended beneficiaries to receive full benefit of the central government programmes.
February month shows the PM’s New 15-point Programme for welfare of Minorities. This programme provides various facilities to minorities to seek equitable share in economic activities, including education.
March month represents the ‘Sarva Shikha Abhiyan’, a prominent program which provides primary and upper primary education for children with new intervention as uniform, transport facility.
April month is dedicated to a unique scheme, Mid Day Meal Scheme nurturing crore of children with hot cooked meals in schools.11.85 lakh schools have been provided with kitchen devices.
May month exhibits one of the most popular scheme, Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, which has benefited more than five crore families in the year 2011-12.
Universal Immunization program is the key depiction of June month. About 2.5 crore children got the benefit of free vaccination. 
Literacy and education are the key to human resource development. July month is dedicated to ‘Saakshar Bharat Abhiyan’ launched in 372 districts. This mission will empower the seven crore illiterates is 1.6 lakh village panchayats to impart functional literacy.
Healthy mothers and children build the brighter present and future of the nation. The month of august presents ‘Janani-Shishu Suraksha Karyakram’ benefiting one crore pregnant women with all free medical services.
September month page is dedicated to empowerment of schedule castes through Schedule Castes Empowerment Program which provides benefits to 48 lakh students, including new scholarship schemes.
Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana is the theme of October month. Through this scheme over 46 thousand habitations have been connected through all- weather roads.
Power is the basis of development. November month throws light on Rajiv Gandhi Grameen Vidyutikaran Yojana. This scheme completed electrification of one lakh villages till October 2012.
The well renowned scheme Indira Awas Yojana covers the December page of the calendar. (PIB)    14-December-2012 18:08 IST
CP/ST

PM consoling Shri Naresh Gujral

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh and his wife Smt. Gursharan Kaur consoling Shri Naresh Gujral son of the former Prime Minister, late Shri Inder Kumar Gujral, in New Delhi on December 01, 2012.  (PIB)          01-December-2012 

Parents & Students Dharna at DOE office

Demanding withdrawal of arbitrary Class XI Admission CriteriaManu Samriti still at work in minds of top govt. officials
The Directorate of Education vide its order dated 28-05-2012 have changed the criteria for admission in XIth class in Science and Commerce streams. No justification or rationale behind the change in criteria is forthcoming, this circular not even finds mention in the web site of the Directorate of Education
In regards to Science stream, a candidate having CGPA6 was eligible previous year but now minimum CGPA7 is required, furthermore where earlier a student needed overall grade C1 in total and individually in subjects English, Mathematics and Science, but now it is mandatory to obtain minimum grade B2 in English, Science and Mathematics individually to be eligible in Science stream. As a result where last year, based on the earlier admission criteria, nearly 15000 students got admission in Science stream but now, based on current revised criteria, not more than 5200 students will get admission in Science stream.
It is important to know that presently also Science stream is not available in all Government Schools. The numbers of Government Schools with Science stream in 2011-2012 have reduced in comparison to the status of 2008-09.
In regards to Commerce stream a candidate having CGPA5 was eligible previous year but now as per present criteria minimum CGPA 6.6 (with mathematics) and 6 (without mathematics) is required. In addition to, CGPA difference a student needed overall grade C2 in total and individually C2 in subjects English and Social Science and C1 in Mathematics but now it is mandatory to obtain minimum grade C1 in English and Social Science and B2 in Mathematics to be eligible in Commerce stream.
Last year, based on the earlier criteria, nearly 36000 students got admission in Commerce stream but now, based on current revised criteria, not more than 20000 students will get admission in Commerce stream.
It appears that the Government is adhering to a policy of totally eliminating Science stream and diminishing the number of students in Commerce stream in Government schools. There is also some change in criteria for the change of Humanities stream where at-least CGPA 6 is needed to get Economics as a subject.
As a result of the modified criteria for the 2012-13 for admission in Commerce and Science streams, even formation of Sections for these streams has become difficult in many of the Government schools and is resulting in forcing students to opt for either Humanities stream or take admission in Patrachar Vidyalaya (where students have no future except to get XIIth Class Certificate).
It appears that the intention of Government behind such arbitrary criteria is only to promote Unaided Private schools where schools are at liberty to fix their own criteria for admission in to various streams. The parents of the students wanting to take admission in the particular streams will have no other alternative than to succumb to the unjustified demands of the Private Unaided Schools. By reducing the admissions in the Science and Commerce stream in the Government Schools the Government is ensuring that most of the future Engineers, Doctors, Chartered Accountants and Economist will come from the Private Unaided Schools and all the Labourers, Workers, Subordinates will come from the Government Schools. That directly translates in to that only those who can afford to pay for the Education will get the Education, thereby converting Education in to a Commodity where one has to Invest to get returns in future.
The Government statistics itself project that 85% of the school going population studies in the Government run Schools and only 15% of the school going population can afford Education in Unaided Private Schools.  It implies that the 15% will prevail over the 85% of the population and this 85% population will always remain exposed to all kind of exploitation. The masses will remain the exploited lot. That comes out of Manu Smriti.
We all have to join hands and protest against the demonic design of the Government to fail the plan of the Government to indirectly Privatise the Education. To protest against the plan of the Government to convert Government Schools in to Workers/ Labourers manufacturing factories and to fight for the Social Justice in Education for all, the All India Parents Association (AIPA) is organizing a VISHAL DHARNA in front of the office of Delhi Directorate of Education, Civil Lines Delhi-110054 on Monday 16th July 2012 at 16:00Hrs. All are requested to join the protest in large numbers.
Ashok Agarwal, Advocate      Inderjeet Singh Ghambir
National President, AIPA       President, AIPA (Delhi)
M-09811101923                        M-9810133325
12 July 2012

Lesson to learn:

Say No to Tobacco
29 year old Satish Kumar Sansi, working as a cobbler on the roadsides in Delhi, is suffering from cancer for the last two and a half months which has been caused due to chewing of GUTKA TOBACCO. Out of his five family members suffering from cancer, three have already died, the three being his father, elder brother and paternal uncle. His other elder brother is also suffering from cancer.

Patient Satish Kumar went to TATA Memorial Hospital, Bombay for treatment but the treatment could not even be initiated as he was unable to afford any expense for his treatment.

Now he has approached Advocate Ashok Agarwal, Member, Monitoring Committee on Free Treatment Facility in Identified Private Hospitals, for free treatment and he has accordingly been sent to Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket for free treatment.

Delhi HC:

Implement Pay Commission recommendations from date of inception

The Delhi High Court today rejected the appeals filed by an unaided school, Rukmini Devi Jaipuria School, Rajpur Road while holding that the teachers of unaided private schools are entitled to parity in pay and emoluments’ with their counterparts working in government schools under Section 10 of Delhi Education Act, 1973. Accepting the contention of advocate Ashok Agarwal appearing for the teachers that it’s a travesty of justice that the teachers are denied their lawful salary without any justification, the court while directing the school to pay arrears of salary from 01.01.1996 within four weeks also imposed costs of Rs 15,000 for each appeal.

The court also held that all the employees of all unaided recognized private schools are entitled to benefits of pay and emoluments from 01.01.1996, the date the fifth pay commission recommendations have become applicable and the schools cannot deny or delay the same on the ground that it could not recover fee from the students.



Upholding the order of the single bench of Justice Kailash Gambhir, a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice A K Sikri and Justice Rajeev Sahai Endlaw directed the Rukmini Devi Jaipuria School to implement the recommendations of the Fifth Pay Commission and pay the teachers accordingly. 

Justice Gambhir had earlier directed the school to pay all the arrears with effect from January 1, 1996 but the teachers claimed that they were only paid with effect from  April  1997, after  15 month. 

Lawyer Ashok Agarwal, appearing on behalf the four teachers, told the court that many private schools are violating the recommendations of the Pay Commissions even though they have collected surplus funds from the students. 

Their audit records show that the private schools have crores of rupees lying as surplus which they collected from the students on the pretext of implementing the Fifth and Sixth Pay Commission, Mr Agarwal contended. 

He told the court that Section 10 of Delhi School Education Act, 1973 mandates that the employees of all the Unaided Private Recognised Schools are entitled to benefit of pay and allowances etc as per the Government school teachers. 

Senior Advocate, Sanjeev Sachdeva, appearing on behalf of the school, said the pay commission recommendations are only applicable to the government-aided schools and not to private schools. 



Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
M-09811101923
11 May 2012

Social jurist moves Delhi HC

Seeking 2 Years Pre-Primary classes in all schools

A camera view of a classroom : Courtesy photo

Social Jurist, A Civil Rights Group through Advocate Ashok Agarwal has today filed a PIL in Delhi High Court seeking directions against the Government of Delhi, and Local Bodies to start 2 years of Pre-Primary (Pre-primary & Pre-school) Classes in their formal schools from the academic year 2012-13 and no child of 3+ age in Pre-school and 4+ age in Pre-primary class is denied admission. The petition states that in terms of Section 11 of RTE Act, 2009, the respondents are obliged to start 2 years of Pre-Primary (Pre-primary & Pre-school) Classes in all their formal schools where children of 3+ in Pre-school. The PIL is likely to come up for hearing next week.
Ashok Agarwal, Advocate
M-09811101923
10 May 2012          

National Workshop

The Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Environment and Forests, Smt. Jayanthi Natarajan releasing the India’s Second National Communication to the UNFCCC, at the National Workshop on India’s National Communication – Future Challenges, organised by the Ministry of Environment and Forest, in New Delhi on May 09, 2012.  {PIB photo}  09-May-2012

09-May-2012

RTE Breached

 Delhi Govt. schools reluctant to admit children

These 25 complaints regarding denial of admission in Government schools in Jahangirpuri, Delhi-33 written by the students/parents on 2/3 May 2012 are addressed to  Advocate Ashok Agarwal .  

S. No.	Name of Child with Address & Phone No.	Class  and School in which admission is sought
1.	Chanda  R/o. 19/23 Bhaghanand Colony, Bhalswa Jahangirpuri Delhi. M- 9899265805	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
2.	Khushbu R/o. 320 Kalander Colony, Bhalswa Dairy, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M-  9868318503	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
3.	Neeta R/o. Sadhyanand, Jahangirpuri.     M- 8826122867	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
4.	Sanam R/o. 199-C-D Park, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 8447124379	Class-VII, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
5.	Kripali R/o. 199, Bhalswa Dairy, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 7503505200	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
6.	Uma R/o. Vinsnakpuri, Bhalswa, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 9540022457	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
7.	Geeta R/o. Bhalswa Dairy-228, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 7563565200	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
8.	Khushi R/o. 317, Kalander Colony, Bhalswa, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 8860223395	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
9.	Saira R/o 193-C-D Park, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M-9873419692	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
10.	Bhawna R/o B- Block, H No. 24, Gali No. 24, Bhalswa, Jahangirpuri, Delhi. M- 8750768854	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
11	Rukhsar R/o N/38 C-D- Park, Jhuggi No. 127, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
12	Zakir  R/o. N/38 C- D Park, Jhuggi No. 127, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
13	Aarti R/o. 101 Sadhyanand Colony, Bhalswa , Delhi. M-9999219350	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
14	Shadab R/o. N/38 C-D Park, Jhuggi No. 152	Class-VIII, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
15	Rakesh R/o.	Class-IX, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
16	Kishan R/o. N/38 C- D Park, Jhuggi No. 146.	Class-IX, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
17	Sahil R/o. N/38 B 263 C-D- Park, Jahangirpuri, Delhi.	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
18	Deepika R/o. N/38 C-D- Park Jhuggi No. 128.	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
19	Rubina R/o. K-552, Jahangirpuri. M- 9891173273	Class-VIII, K- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
20	Tamanaa R/o. K- 552, Jahangirpuri. M-9891173273	Class-VIII, K- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
21	Shobha R/o 1157, K- Block, Jhuggi. M-9871285226	Class-VI, K- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
22	Shravan Kumar R/o. B-171, Jahangirpuri, M-9582747274	Class-VI, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
23	Radha R/o. A – 1528, Jahangirpuri, M-9278691740	Class-IX, D- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
24.	Nur Salim R/o. B-881, Jahangirpuri,	C-I, B-Block, MCD, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.
25	Rashid R/o. B-496, Jahangirpuri,.	Class-VI, A- Block, Govt.  School, Jahangirpuri, Delhi-110033.