let them fall in love and rise in life

Let them fall in love and rise in life!

Yesterday, in Udumalpet, a usually sleepy town in Tirupur witnessed one of the most unlikely scene that was captured on a CCTV camera. A group of men drag a man and a woman and maul them down and escape on a motor bike wielding deadly weapons. The next we hear is that the man was dead and the woman was grievously hurt and is fighting for life. Just a few moments ago some media montages tell us that the father of the woman surrendered to the police. This is becoming a pattern in Tamil Nadu: Girl from a higher caste marries a boy from a dalit community. He is targeted and killed and the girl is forcefully taken away. In some cases the entire village is burnt down. They do it with no guilt and conscience. Or rather just because the person's caste conscience was hurt and would be deemed guilty by fellow caste beings.

This I am sure is a result of severe social pressure and loss of face for the parents who felt that their child left them without their approval. She has profaned their caste and brought a bad name for their family. Now the family stands at risk of being ostracised from its own kith and kin. There may be another unmarried daughter in the family who may not get married for this reason, and the fear of polluting the family lineage are some common excuses that are imagined. This even makes people hire jobless goons and mercenaries to kill the hapless partner and the children. They trust that they can get back their lost glory by punishing them. The least is to separate them the worst is to kill them and come out to the world and thump the chests and say, ‟Look what I did”. Some times it sounds like the gorilla after establishing its alphaness.

How do we tell our people that caste is just a mental construct and has nothing to do with what we look or what we do or what we eat or how we dress or how we speak? There is no difference in the DNA or the way we are made of? We have been stratified to be controlled by some vicious myth and we refuse to believe that we are capable of overcoming it even in this time and age. We see honor in protecting something that is not even real as a mirage! But we do not see it as an honor that our sons and daughters are capable of deciding a suitable future that is built on self confidence and love.

I think there is a lot that can be made to change this system in schools, colleges, churches, temples, mosques and all establishments. May be a preferential system can be evolved in the process. I don't mean to touch the existing reservation but I want much more to be done.

I want to teach children to love and to live. So let them fall in love and rise is life! I want to us to trust them and believe that they will accept the challenges that come about.

Will the next CM please stand up!

Literally and figuratively will the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu stand up against the gross injustices and be intolerant to mediocrity and babudom?

Will he/she be ready to take bold steps that promote radical systemic changes?

Will the next CM be ready for public scrutiny, by being transparent in all operations pertaining public works.

Will the next CM be ready to sweat and bleed for the poor not only in the screen but in real life.

Will the next CM be willing to cut all the unnecessary paraphernalia and take public transport to work, go only to the government hospital where sick and put their children, grand children or great grand children which ever applies only to government schools.

Will the next CM assure the people of Tamil Nadu that they will get safe drinking water out of the tap.

Can the next CM declare his/her assets along with the family's earnings on a quarterly basis.

Will you be willing not to use banners, biriyani and liquor to mobilize crowds for your political meetings.

All this may really sound strange on this day and time. But all this was possible and has happened.
Your predecessors have actually done it.

If you tell us that all that is a thing of the past and not possible, all of us will hit the BS BUTTON.

Please remember the word minister comes from a Latin word which means servant. Much more is demanded from a Chief Minister which means Chief servant.

Now will the next CM be ready to bow before the people rather than make them bow till they break their backs.

Can the next CM restore the rational spirit that gave us self respect.

If you dare to do it put your hat in and try to run a fair race with some self respect.

The Budget

Dear FINMIN,

we all know from the sweet that was made to kick start the budget session that the budget is ready. Apart from the customary sweet halwa or what ever you call it we need some real stuff in this budget. I am not an economist but i simply want to echo the sentiments of my friends and families who are just average citizens of this country who pay taxes both direct and indirect, with which you are making these plans. Hence, believing that we have a right to know how our own money is being spent I want to place a few requests in an understandable manner.

1. Atleast this year let there be a substantial increase in funding for education at all levels, primary, secondary and tertiary. We are a country of more young people than any other. We need to educate our children and grand children. If we don't spend on education we have no right to talk about an empowered nation.
2. In terms of infrastructure, i know the focus is going to be on highways and roads that connect the country. But it is essential to concentrate on non motorised transport as well. If you are really concerned about Mother India she needs to be placed on non motorised transport to travel safely. Can we expect anything to this effect.
3. For a long time we have focussed on non renewable sources of energy. We all understand the damage it can do to all of us including you. Is there anything to encourage the safety of the planet by supporting renewable energy. Can we see something concrete on Solar, Wind, Hydro and Tidal energy. Without it we are becoming a powerless country
4. Health for all has become a misnomer, hundreds and thousands of our brothers and sisters are perishing in pain from absolutely preventable/curable diseases. The simple mosquito is deemed responsible for many deaths. TB and Cancer are on the rise. You may well understand that this can be and needs to be stopped. Do you have anything for this?
5. We all know that India is a nation that has no place to pee or poop. A majority of the Indians are loosing mortgaging their dignity every day to open spaces where they defecate. Is there something to restore their dignity.
6. Every day in the international market the fuel prices are reducing, but unfortunately, the price in India seems to be rising steadily. We go one step forward and two steps backward. When you are so quick in hiking the price the same should be maintained while it comes down. Can we expect something to change with your wisdom.
7. You have said that we have to change the taxation policy of the country. The poor and middle class are being taxed continuously while the super rich go ahead with so much ease. We are not asking you to be robin hood but you can be our minister who can play the balancer who pays attention to the poverty of the poor and richness of the rich. In fact it has been the other way around as the poverty of the rich gains priority. Can we expect any change to this effect.
8. You know that to forgive and forget is a very divine value. Can we expect you to be kind to the poor farmers who have been struggling to make ends meet while trying to pay of the loans even when the crops have failed repeatedly. When you write off almost three times of the loans of the industry I am sure it is not going to be a big burden to write off a small amount in the large scale of things.
9. We are a nation that is cricket crazy for the right or the wrong reasons. But we are also capable in other fields. To sustain the youth and develop them is there is a possibility to increase the funding for sports and games especially for women. This can be in the forms of professional academies or in terms of locally coordinated clubs. Is there any effort to increase the medal tally of India in the world of sports.
10. Is it too much to ask for an investment in the green ecology and environment. As it has been many years since we heard anything from you on this area. We have heard more on investing in exploiting the earth than replenishing it. Can we hear something from you on this.
11. Industry cannot be left out. We are fuelled and driven by it. But can we expect anything for the small scale industry? Here is where many millions are working and they do not seem to get anything out of this.
12. Here is a the last one of this dozen for now. We are a nation with several disparities. Caste is emboldened by class, gender is marred with an imbalance of power. In this budget can be expect any creativity from you to change the situation. Let it be a beginning, I hope you can light a candle.

Light at the end of the tunnel

Refugees have not occupied much of the media space unless there is a crisis. Refugees from Syria, are now given relatively more attention. Fair enough. But what about those who are living in Tamil Nadu. For some readers, it will be surprising to hear that there are 107 camps in which over 67000 refugees from Sri Lanka are housed since 1991. Technically they came to India in 1983-84 and went back home from 1987-1990. Though some went home even in 1997, most of them came back to be refugees in Tamil Nadu. So, this is the second generation that as grown up in Tamil Nadu, without knowing much about their home land. The unfulfilled political promises and the war have determined their uncertainty in India for over 35 years. 

The refugees have been keenly watching the happenings in Sri Lanka in the last 6 years. Since the end of the war in May, 2009, there was a climate of suspicion constant sense of insecurity in their minds. The news coming from the relatives to cemented their fears of return. However, the last year and a half has been quite different. Though there is not much that has changed in terms of systems and structures, the election of the new president and prime minister have sent positive messages. 

The return rate which was around 2000-3000 people per year drastically reduced to less than 900 in 2014-15. This is believed to be because those who had returned came in 2007-08 and they were in a hurry to get back. While others who returned had other family related emergencies. The significant drop was also because the messages that came across the Palk Strait were negative. Some discussions on both the sides of the strait revealed that the reason for the drop was that there was no organized governmental efforts to take back refugees to return. Neither was there a sincere call from the Sri Lankan government nor was there a conscious support package from India. 

Though wanting to return was in the mind of the refugees. They wanted to be sure that they will not go back home and stay in camps. The did not want to go back to restart their lives from scratch. They wanted a new identity that would be backed by policy that would protect their rights. They even outlined it in a document titled,"Asserting the right to return" (2014). This helped them take the process further. 

They discussed these issues in the track two and track three diplomatic channels. It opened the doors to track one. Meetings with the external affairs minsters of India and Sri Lanka since 2014 proved fruitful. It kept the foot on the pedal and did not loose steam in the process. It finally culminated when it became part of the official discussions in Colombo during the visit of the External affairs minister of India. The discussion became public and sent a clear message that evoked a a variety of responses from the refugee community. For those who are waiting to go home this was a tiding of joy. especially because it spoke about the ferry service which would enable them to carry all that they had earned and saved in India, provision of support for livelihood, housing and land rights. This is definitely light at the end of the tunnel. For those who wanted to stay back in India this sounded like a gong to wake up to reality and for those who live outside the camps it was rather confusing as this would threaten their status. 

Those who have observed this situation for a long time in the refugee camps this is a message that comes after so much of thought. It seems like the central government of India is ready to take a call along with the government of Sri Lanka, while the Tamil Nadu government is playing it cautiously for obvious reasons of the timing of these happenings. 

Cuddalore and Kancheepuram

First impressions after the visits: There are two patterns of impact in the two districts. Since it has been raining for a more than a month in Cuddalore district, the problems are clearly associated with flooding related to incessant rains. Whereas, in Kancheepuram district the flooding is largely due to the breach lakes, flooding of water bodies and canals.

The residents of the affected villages expressed that their main concerns were housing and livelihood. Residents of Kuchipalayam said that out of the 180 households 170 lived in thatched houses. It was observed that these houses were clearly damaged and did not even have tarpaulins to keep them safe at night. On the other hand the neighbouring villages such as MGR thittu, Kalangaiyar nagar, Mulukku thittu, MGR nagar, Ponnan Thittu and Eddapalayam had serious livelihood issues. The Irulars who lived in these areas were found to be particularly vulnerable as they had concrete houses that were constructed as part of the the post Tsunami relief. Since the houses look un affected those who come to provide relief feel that they are unaffected. An interaction and close observation proved that these families did not have much to eat. They survived on the rice that they had received through the public distribution system. Hence there is an urgent need to take stock of the situation and provide them with the basic supplies for their survival.

The villages in Kancheepuram portrayed a completely different scenario. The villages adjoining Palar river were affected due to the damaged bridges. They had to use boats to reach the villages and it was impossible to deal with medical emergencies at night as the boats operated only during till 5.00 pm. However, irulas and dalits who lived in these villages were living on the edge as they were severely affected due to the rise in water in the lakes. Having been excluded in the entire development process, it appeared as though the Irulas of Chinna Edyapalayam were living in the 19^th Century. The same was the case in Manappakkam and Olaloor villages near Chingleput. On the outskirts of Olaloor, 50 families live on the banks on the lake. When the water levels on the lake rose it took almost half the houses. The huts were completely destroyed and need complete reconstruction. It was tragic to see a family belonging to the Landhar community, a community that raises pigs and in this season they flog themselves and beg for alms for livelihood had almost nothing to eat. The head of the family was found to be cooking a crane he managed to catch in the lake and said that it was the food for the family. They neither had rice nor bread to go with it. These areas also would need immediate attention.

Encounter with the Maestro!

The rains in Chennai have been successful in closing schools and colleges for over 25 days. The met department says that this is the highest recorded rain fall in the last 100 years. All the canals, rivers and water ways have been flooded. Drains have mixed with the sewerage and has converted the entire city in to an open drain. It has displaced people in many places and washed out people along with their property making thousands homeless and jobless. It is trying to bring the city to its knees and say "enough" we need no more for now.

Wanting to be useful during the rains I went to college to ask if they needed assistance. Fr Henry told us to go to Little Flower School where the places was flooded. LFS is a school for the visually challenged and the hard of hearing. So we decided to get there to see what was happening. While trying to approach the gate, the roads were closed and the police asked us to step back as there was too much water. We braved it with life jackets and decided to wade through the waters. As we started the water got deeper. It was now rising above my hip. With the help of a stick we spotted pot holes and walked for about 800 meters to reach the reception.

The ICM sisters who run the school were in tears. They head mistress was inconsolable. She said that they had lost everything. The previous night the water level was very low up to the ankle. In the morning when they woke up the water was neck deep. It had entered the class rooms, residential rooms, kitchens toilets and all other places. Before our arrival the children were taken to the first or second floors.

The sisters said that we have nothing, the children have not eaten since last night as the kitchen was flooded. There are 256 children and 30 staff who were hungry since the previous night. After hearing what they said I tweeted immediately. My wife called a couple if friends, one of them posted her name and number on face book. This went viral. Thanks to the social media the calls to help came in immediately. We were able to feed the children. Loyola college delivered food and was willing to help as well.

Whatever help, it had to come through the water. People had to carry it on their heads. So we wanted to get a boat. I started with twitter again. We seemed to be getting everything but could not manage to get a boat or a catamaran. Once of my friends organized a catamaran but could not get a truck to transport it.

By then the news had gone viral and there were phones that came all the time. In the middle of all this we had to salvage the remaining items that were under water. The gas had to be disconnected, provisions such as rice, sugar, pulses and so on were all submerged, we had to save what we could.  The scholastics from Berchman's Hall came to secure the other essential items that were under water.

I made about 60calls trying to get a boat but no one was available. We decided to walk through water and also carry on saving stuff. Now to carry materials we made a make shift raft from a plastic table and were trial running it.

I was annoyed and upset for not getting a boat and but continued trying. This was the time when a catamaran came in. There were many boys in the catamaran. I shouted that we were waiting for them. They said that it was a local catamaran and were willing to help. In the middle of the catamaran I saw a priest dressed in spotlessly dressed white clothes, sitting with his legs crossed on the rim of the catamaran. I said to myself, "now a priest is the last thing that we need here! we need people to help not priests." As the catamaran approached, I realized. It was him. He stood up. Looked a bit confused, got out of the safely parked catamaran and walked up the stairs.

We welcomed him. He wanted to see the children. so we took him to a class room and he met with the children and even sang a song for the children and had them repeat it for him. The children both Visually challenged and the hard of hearing were there to listen to him. When we introduced him to the children, I asked, "in Tamil Nadu when I say music who comes to your mind?" without a hesitation they shouted in one voice, "Illayaraja". it was something special for him to hear it from these kids. She shared his experiences in making the film Raajapaarvai.

He they wanted to give something to the students. We never expected anything from him. But he insisted. Then we thought that he had brought some stuff to be given. But that was also not right. So he said, "You must have something that I can give right?" Sure we said, we asked a student to get a food packet that was received earlier. He gave it to the children and they took it as well.

The children or staff did not expect anything from him. But he made it special by singing to them. An experience they will remember for a long time.

Since there were too much to do, I left the place for maestro to interact with the students.

Later after work when I was trying to leave the place wading through the water the media was trying to get an angle on me for an interview. As this was going on Mr Illayaraja's catamaran passed behind me.

The social media later reported that he participated in giving food which was not entirely wrong but he had given much more.

I am a slave! Hear My Cry! Save Me!

My name is Ramalakshmi, I am 55 years old and am from Ram Nagar in Coimbatore. I got a job offer in Saudi Arabia through an agent. Since I have two daughters and wanted to get them married, I thought this as a good opportunity to make some money and decided to take up the job. The agent promised to pay me Rs 25000 a month. It looked very attractive especially given my situation. I got my passport and left for Saudi with a lot of dreams. When I reached the airport an agent picked me up in his car and we drove and got to a palatial house. He handed me over to the woman of the house and left. I do not know the name of this place. The assigned work was shown immediately. I had to cook for the family, wash the clothes and iron them, clean the kitchen and the toilets every day and take care of the children.

They took away my passport, my jewels, and my clothes. They gave me two night gowns to wear. In the beginning I thought of this as a routine. But slowly I had to take care of the animals of the house as well. I was given only one meal a day to eat and I had to drink the water from the toilet. I had only two sets of night gowns and I had to wash them and wear them one after another.

One day the men of the house along with the lady stripped me and video graphed me. I am 55 years old. They stripped me of my dignity. They started to black mail me with that video. Later they packed my jewels along with some cash and placed it in my bag. They asked me to go and check my bag. As I was taking things out of my bag they video graphed it and said that they had now clear evidence of stealing. They threatened to report me to the police charging me with theft.

At home they constantly beat me up with a whip, sticks and with their shoes. When I cried or protested they would blackmail to release the video to the Police who would arrest me for five years or cut off my hands for theft. I had to endure all this pain.

I cried and told them to pay my salary, they paid Rs 15000 only against the promised Rs 25000. For the last 6 months they have not paid me. My employer said that she had bought me for 25,000 Rials. I was her slave. I am asked to pay 25,000 Rials if I have to leave.

They would force me to wash their clothes with shit on it. The worst is when the woman took out her panties that was filled with her menstrual blood and pressed it against my face and forced me to smell it. I was repeatedly tortured, beaten and abused. I can't endure this. Since I continued to cry and protest, they have shifted me to another huge bungalow to work. My employer has taken away all my belongings along with my passport. This place is entirely new and I don't know where I am .

I have told this to my daughter in Coimbatore. She has written to the protector of emigrants. I have not received any help. I only have the name and phone number of the agents they are not helping me. The government of India is not helping my case. I need to get out of this place. I have the money to pay for my ticket. I need somebody to find me and get me out. I cannot reach the Indian Embassy by myself as I know that it is really far away. They can't enter the house where I live in as well. I need someone to help me. Please help me. I am a slave who is tortured every day, I have no tears left.

I live in Saudi Arabia and need help urgently. My employer's name and address is, Riyadh Mustafa, Giza Immava Tower, No 2, Apartment Floor, Isha Door No 674K, Opposite Siddha Mosque, Riyadh. My phone number is 00966592257267.

The story was narrated by Ramalakshmi to Sr Valarmathi of National Domestic Workers Movement (NDWM) and me. NDWM is an organization that works for migrant women who are exploited and trafficked.

There are hundreds of women who are suffering as slaves in many countries. They are known as the ones who do the dirty, difficult and dangerous jobs. They fetch the most amount of foreign exchange for the country but they are treated less than animals. Their cry continuously falls on deaf ears of the administration.

Any help in this case is appreciated. If you are in the Saudi area and can help do get in touch with us we will give you more details. mjavalar@gmail.com, gladstonxavier@gmail.com