Full Coverage: Social exclusion

31.10.2007 Employers are practicing social favouritism by shunning dalits and Muslims with matching qualifications in favour of those with upper-caste Hindu names. A recent study provides sufficient evidence on the discriminatory character of the Indian job market.

26.10.2007 Social exclusion results in lower development outcomes, deprivations, poverty and contributes to the non achievements of vital human and economic development goals. A two-day national conference being held in the Indian capital, New Delhi, organised by the Indian Institute of Dalit Studies, is engaged in addressing these critical issues.

23.10.2007

22.10.2007 Dr Pam Rajput, eminent women rights activist and organizer cum jurist of the recent Women’s Tribunal on Poverty has hopes that the issue of Indian women’s engagement with poverty will not end with the tribunal. OneWorld South Asia met her prior to the event to discuss the role of women in ending poverty. Dr Rajput is also Director of the Centre for Women's Studies and Development (CWSD) at Punjab University.

22.10.2007 Kamla Bhasin, feminist activist, author, and poet, was a jury member at the recent Women’s Tribunal on Poverty, held on October 17, the International Day for Eradication of Poverty, in the Indian capital of New Delhi. OneWorld South Asia spoke to her on the need for a separate space for women to raise their voice against poverty. Kamla is also Advisor to South Asian Network of Gender Activists and Trainers (SANGAT).

19.10.2007 Over 25,000 people danced, sang and walked, carrying flags, banners and posters in support of the MDGs at the north Indian city of Mathura. These poor, landless people are on a march to the capital to claim their rights from the government.

18.10.2007 P.V. Rajagopal of the Ekta Parishad talks while he walks, in a freewheeling interview with OneWorld South Asia, along with 25,000 people towards the Indian capital to demand pro-poor land reforms policy. Industrialisation alone cannot solve the problem of poverty and unemployment, he says. The march aptly named Janadesh meaning People's Verdict, is expected to reach Delhi on October 28.

18.10.2007 In India, hundreds of women came together to raise their voices against poverty at the Women’s Tribunal on Poverty on October 17. The event, held at New Delhi, was marked by the release of a women’s charter on poverty and a visit to the President, reinforcing their rights to be heard.

18.10.2007 The Women's Tribunal Against Poverty, held in the Indian capital on October 17, was one of many tribunals against poverty in the world. Testimonies highlighted that while the country is growing at phenomenal rates, the most marginalised women are getting further impoverished.

16.10.2007 Irfan Mufti from Global Call to Action against Poverty (GCAP) feels society has to be organised and mobilized to influence policy. The change may not be immediate, but political influence is bound to grow in future.

16.10.2007 Like many others, the Art of Living Foundation (AOL) will also Stand Up and Speak Out as part of the UN Millennium Campaign to bring poverty down.

15.10.2007 The report, People’s Voices on MDGs 2007 highlights key policy areas, common obstacles, as well as MDG progress among countries in the South and Southeast Asia regions from the civil society perspective.

11.10.2007 Millennium Campaign Asia Deputy Director Minar Pimple spoke to OneWorld South Asia (OWSA) on how the Stand Up campaign in South Asia is making a difference by changing the perspectives of people on how they are being governed, and how they would like to be governed.

10.10.2007 A new manual encourages the hearing disabled communities in developing countries to take control of their health. Developed by the Kenyan Peer Education Network,The Deaf Peers’ Education Manual addresses three main issues: sexual education, relationships and hygiene for a basic understanding of sexual health, HIV/AIDS, and can be adapted to fit the cultural context and needs of the deaf communities.

09.10.2007 Choirs and anti-poverty campaigners, in a global chain of performance, will sing poverty goodbye on October 17. The Poverty Requiem, a musical piece, tells the story of poverty and how it impacts people. On most of these locations, the choirs will include a Stand Up and Speak Out moment.

01.10.2007 The Karnataka State Police in India becomes the first state police department to set up a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS. The document clearly spells out guiding principles that would help protect the rights of personnel with HIV/AIDS. The challenge is now to implement the paperwork on the ground