India’s First Transgender Football League Kicks Off in Kolkata, Empowering 200+ Players
Kolkata’s groundbreaking eight-day tournament unites 16 teams of over 200 transgender athletes, fostering inclusion through football amid historic rights advocacy. India’s first Transgender Football League launched in Kolkata on December 20, drawing 200+ players from 16 teams in an eight-day tournament celebrating inclusion, skill, and visibility amid growing calls for transgender rights in sports. India’s inaugural Transgender Football League launched on December 20, 2025, in Kolkata, featuring 16 teams and over 200 transgender players competing for the Transgender Cup. Organised by the West Bengal Transgender Persons Welfare Board in partnership with the All India Football Federation (AIFF), the eight-day tournament at Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan celebrates inclusion and visibility. Players expressed unprecedented empowerment, with officials hailing it as a milestone for transgender rights; no major incidents reported as matches progress smoothly into semifinals. A Vibrant Launch with Record Participation The tournament erupted into life with colourful opening ceremonies at Kolkata’s iconic Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan, a 120,000-capacity stadium usually reserved for international matches. Over 200 transgender athletes from across India-spanning ages 18 to 45-fielded 16 teams, including powerhouses like the Kolkata Trans Warriors, Chennai Rainbow Strikers, Mumbai Pride FC, and Delhi United Queens. Matches unfold daily from 9am to 5pm, blending high-energy football with cultural performances featuring folk dances and rainbow flags. Vital statistics underscore the event’s scale: more than 5,000 spectators attended the opener, with live streams on AIFF’s YouTube channel reaching 50,000 views in the first 24 hours. Player Divya Maligi, a 28-year-old striker from Bengaluru who once faced rejection from local clubs, beamed, “We’ve never felt more seen-football gives us a platform to dream beyond discrimination. For the first time, we’re not sidelined; we’re stars.” Tournament director Rajat Mitra, a former AIFF official, elaborated, “This is about skill, not stereotypes. These athletes train rigorously, often juggling day jobs as tailors or performers. They’re role models proving transgender talent thrives when given a chance.” West Bengal Sports Minister Aroop Biswas officiated the kick-off, stating, “This league aligns with our vision of sports for all, fostering unity in diversity.” Empowerment Through Grassroots Training Beyond the pitches, the league humanises its participants through dedicated support systems. Since 2023, the West Bengal Transgender Persons Welfare Board has run free training camps in Kolkata, partnering with local coaches to build skills in dribbling, tactics, and fitness. Many players, like Chennai’s captain Priya Singh, credit these sessions for transforming lives: “I was homeless two years ago; now I lead my team. This isn’t just a game-it’s survival and hope.” The event offers cash prizes totalling ₹5 lakh, plus scholarships for top scorers to pursue coaching certifications, ensuring long-term impact. Health and welfare tents provide free medical check-ups, counselling, and hormone therapy consultations, addressing common challenges like access to gender-affirming care. No injuries or disruptions marred the first four days, with semifinals slated for December 26, building anticipation for the December 28 final. From Legal Milestones to Historic First This league emerges from decades of advocacy amid systemic barriers. The landmark 2014 NALSA judgment by the Supreme Court recognised transgender persons as a “third gender” with equal rights, yet sports bodies often lagged, citing eligibility concerns. Kerala pioneered with a transgender cricket league in 2023, but football-a national obsession-lacked a national platform until now. The 2019 Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act further mandated equal opportunities, spurring state initiatives. Grassroots efforts intensified post-pandemic, with transgender welfare boards in states like Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu hosting trials that fed into this tournament. Organisers scouted talent via social media drives on Instagram and WhatsApp groups, drawing participants from remote areas like Manipur and Odisha. Globally, it echoes events like the U.S. Trans Football League, but India’s version stands out for government backing, signalling policy shifts under the National Sports Policy 2024 emphasising inclusivity. Syed Muskan Shafiq Courtesy : TLI Note: This news is originally published on https:/thelogicalindian.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, along with Sonia and Priyanka, among 6 leaders issued notice by court, accused of sedition!
Rahul Gandhi MP MLA Court Notice: The Lucknow MP-MLA court has issued notices to 6 Congress leaders. Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, and others will have to respond by January 5th. They have been accused of making anti-national statements. Rahul Gandhi, Sonia and Priyanka issued notice by court Abhay Singh Rathore, Lucknow: Congress MP Rahul Gandhi from Raebareli constituency in Uttar Pradesh, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and six other senior Congress leaders have been issued notices by the court. The Lucknow MP-MLA court issued the notices to the Congress leaders. The court has set January 5th as the date for all the accused to respond to the notice. Advocate Napendra Pandey had filed a complaint in the Lucknow MP-MLA court on September 9th. The plaintiff’s lawyer, Kunwar Pratap Srivastava, told the court that Rahul Gandhi, in his statement at the inauguration of the Congress headquarters, had said that he was fighting against the BJP, RSS, and the Indian nation. It should be noted that this entire matter is related to the alleged speech given during the inauguration of the newly constructed Congress headquarters in Delhi. The hearing in this case took place on Wednesday in the court of Special ACJM (MP-MLA) Judge Alok Verma. Anti-national and seditious statements After the hearing, the court issued notices against Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, Rajya Sabha MP Sonia Gandhi, KC Venugopal, MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, and Jairam Ramesh. The plaintiff alleges that this statement falls under the category of anti-national and seditious statements. It was also stated that other senior Congress leaders supported Rahul Gandhi’s statement, which further increases its seriousness. The complaint also alleges that Rahul Gandhi is misleading the public by making false statements against responsible individuals holding constitutional positions and is trying to spread animosity in society. According to the plaintiff, such statements can lead the country towards a situation like a civil war, which is an anti-national act. After hearing all sides, the court has initially deemed the case admissible and issued notices to the accused Congress leaders, asking them to present their arguments on January 5. Edited by: Dhirendra Singh About the Author Dhirendra Singh is a Senior Journalist at Navbharat Times Online. Dhirendra Singh writes news on politics, crime, governance, and other issues. He also has experience in ground reporting in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and Jammu and Kashmir. He has about 11 years of experience in the field of journalism. He started his career in Delhi, where he covered several beats, including crime reporting. He has gained reporting experience at Hindustan Samachar News Agency Delhi, Navodaya Times Delhi, Rajasthan Patrika Uttar Pradesh, Amar Ujala Jammu and Kashmir, and Dainik Jagran Lucknow Uttar Pradesh. During his reporting in Jammu and Kashmir, he also covered the Pulwama terrorist attack and the curfew. He also has experience reporting during assembly elections. Currently, for about 4 years, he has been responsible for writing news on various beats such as politics, crime, soft stories, and other issues for Navbharat Times Digital in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. He studied journalism at the prestigious Delhi University South Campus (2013-14 batch). Courtesy: Hindi News
Ashwini Vaishnaw: Rahul Gandhi’s praise for Karnataka jobs affirms Make in India success
NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi’s praise for “transformative” job creation in Karnataka led I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Wednesday to assert that it was an acknowledgement of the success of PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. He said on X, “Thanks Rahul Gandhi for acknowledging the success of PM Modi’s ‘Make in India’ programme. As you have noted, we are becoming a producer economy as we implement our PM’s vision.” In a recent social media post, the LoP in Lok Sabha had cited a news report to highlight the hiring of 30,000 staff in 8-9 months, the fastest factor ramp-up seen in India so far, by Foxconn in the Congress-ruled Karnataka. Rahul had said, “It is transformative job creation. What makes it even more powerful is that the unit is largely women-led, with around 80% women, most aged 19-24, and for many, this is their first job. Karnataka is setting an example by creating an ecosystem where manufacturing can grow at this scale and speed. This is India we must build: jobs with dignity, and opportunities for all.” Officials pointed out that it was during Covid that the Modi government, tapping into the widespread recognition to diversify supply chains, nudged Apple’s vendors, including Foxconn, to shift significant parts of their manufacturing operations from China. The nudge often resembled a covert operation as Beijing sought to block reshoring. At the time, it was a BJP government in Karnataka and Centre’s production linked incentives played a major role as it provided sops to mobile manufacturers. The government followed it up with incentives for electronic components. Since then Foxconn has bolstered its operations in the country with a large presence in Tamil Nadu and is also looking at facilities in UP. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights
Priyanka Gandhi to take over Congress leadership? Why did Kushwaha say – there is no longer any trust in Rahul?
Priyanka Gandhi Congress Leadership: Speculation about giving a new responsibility to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi has stirred up politics in Bihar. There are indications that Priyanka Gandhi may be given an important role in the organization in 2026. Patna: The buzz about Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi getting a big and important responsibility within the party in 2026 has intensified the political activity in Bihar. While statements from Congress leaders are raising demands for a bigger role for Priyanka, the opposition is portraying it as a ‘failure’ of Rahul Gandhi. Let’s find out. Priyanka Gandhi may get a new responsibility Priyanka Gandhi is currently serving as General Secretary without any specific portfolio. After the defeat in the 2022 UP assembly elections, she was removed from the post of UP in-charge. According to sources, instead of limiting her to one state, she may be given a new and influential position such as ‘Campaign Committee Head’ or ‘Election Management Committee’. Meanwhile, statements from Priyanka’s husband Robert Vadra and Congress MP from UP, Imran Masood, have fueled discussions about a leadership change. While Masood called her a contender for the PM’s post, Vadra said that the public’s demand to see Priyanka in a bigger role is constantly increasing. Political analysts are interpreting Robert Vadra’s statement as a hint towards the Congress president’s post. Congress doesn’t trust Rahul’s leadership: Upendra Kushwaha Reacting sharply to Vadra’s statement, Rajya Sabha MP Upendra Kushwaha raised strong questions about Rahul Gandhi’s leadership abilities. Kushwaha said, “The way Robert Vadra is talking about bringing Priyanka Gandhi forward, it is clear that even the Congress itself no longer trusts Rahul Gandhi’s leadership.” Kushwaha further taunted that whether it is Priyanka or Rahul, no Congress leader will be able to reach the Prime Minister’s chair for many years to come. He emphasized that the country is currently safe under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and will continue to remain so. What did Kushwaha say about Rahul’s statement abroad? Upendra Kushwaha also strongly objected to Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of Indian institutions in Berlin. He said, “When will Rahul Gandhi understand that matters concerning the country should be discussed within the country itself? Criticizing one’s own system abroad is objectionable.” Kushwaha said that the public has already responded to his statements like these in the past, and he will have to face the consequences in the future as well. Edited by: Sudhendra Pratap Singh About the Author Sudhendra Pratap Singh, Principal Content Producer at Navbharat Times Online. Started his journalism career in Agra. Began his journey with the local newspaper Agrabharat. From there, his career progressed through Kalpataru Express, Hindustan newspaper, and News18 before joining NBT.com. Courtesy: Hindi News
India’s shameful failure to grieve Dalits killed for love
A casteist society is built on boundaries: who can touch whom, who can eat with whom, and who can marry whom. These boundaries are not just social; they are moral and symbolic. In a casteiest society, love is never just love. It is regulated, guarded, and violently enforced. For Dalits, love—especially across caste lines—often becomes a crime punishable by death. The repeated killings of Dalits who have fallen in love are not isolated incidents driven by emotion or family anger. They are structured acts of caste violence, deeply rooted in the belief that Dalit bodies are impure, polluting, and undeserving of intimacy in a society where caste plays a dominant role. The recent killing of a Dalit youth in Nanded, Maharashtra for being in a relationship with a dominant-caste woman once again exposes how caste continues to operate through the control of bodies, emotions, and desire. Killings across states—Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and others—follow the same script. A Dalit crosses a forbidden boundary, and a casteist society responds with violence. These killings are not merely “honor killings” or “family matters”. They are caste killings, grounded in a long-standing social belief that Dalit bodies are inherently impure and must be disciplined when they challenge caste boundaries through love. Why such killings are brutal and public A casteist society is built on boundaries: who can touch whom, who can eat with whom, and who can marry whom. These boundaries are not just social; they are moral and symbolic. Dalits have historically been placed outside the zone of purity. Their bodies are imagined as polluting, excessive, and out of place. When a Dalit person enters a romantic relationship with someone from a dominant caste, a casteist society sees this as a violation of its moral order. Violence then becomes a means of re-establishing order. This explains why such killings are often brutal and public. They are not only meant to punish the individual but also to send a warning to the entire community: certain boundaries are not meant to be crossed. The killing in Nanded reflects this logic. It was not spontaneous rage. It was a calculated act to erase what caste society perceived as contamination. A silent approval that is disturbing Dominant-caste families treat their lineage, homes as sacred spaces. Dalits are placed on the opposite end, as profane, defiling, and dangerous. When a Dalit man loves a dominant-caste person, a casteist society does not see two consenting adults. It sees sacrilege. This is why caste killings often receive silent approval from families, neighbors, and sometimes even local institutions. The act of violence is normalised as “necessary”, “unfortunate”, or “provoked”. The Dalit body, already marked as profane, is considered expendable. The idea that Dalit bodies are impure is not natural; it is socially produced through repetition. Every act of exclusion, surveillance, humiliation, and punishment reinforces this fiction. From childhood, Dalits learn that they are watched more closely, judged more harshly, and disciplined more violently. Love becomes dangerous not because of emotion, but because a casteist society has trained itself to view Dalit desire as out of place. When violence follows, society asks not whether the killing was wrong, but why the Dalit crossed the line. The lack of grief One of the most disturbing aspects of caste killings is how quickly they disappear from public memory. Media coverage is brief. Public outrage is limited. Legal processes move slowly. The deaths of Dalits rarely become national moral crises. This is because a casteist society does not treat Dalit lives as valuable. Their deaths are not seen as losses that demand collective mourning. They are reduced to statistics, local news, or unfortunate incidents. When a Dalit is killed for loving, the focus often shifts to “family honor”, “social pressure”, or “cultural conflict”. The victim’s humanity disappears. This lack of grief is itself a form of violence. It confirms that Dalit lives are considered less worthy of protection, remembrance, and justice. Caste survives through strict control over marriage and sexuality. The regulation of women’s choices is central to maintaining caste boundaries. A casteist society treats women as carriers of caste purity, and any deviation is seen as a threat to lineage and status. Dalits, in this framework, are imagined as the ultimate danger, not because of who they are, but because of what their presence represents. A relationship between a Dalit and a dominant caste threatens the hereditary transmission of caste privilege. This is why the violence is often directed more harshly at the Dalit partner. Killing the Dalit becomes a way to restore caste order while controlling women through fear and surveillance. Dalit bodies are not only seen as impure; they are also seen as criminal. Dalit desire is portrayed as aggressive, illegitimate, and predatory. This stereotype allows caste society to justify violence as self-defense or moral protection. Police responses often reflect this bias. Complaints are delayed. Cases are diluted. Atrocity laws are underused. The system implicitly agrees with the idea that the Dalit body provoked its death. This criminalisation is not accidental. It is a structural feature of caste society, designed to keep Dalits within prescribed limits. Cases that reveal the pattern Across India, the killings of Dalits for loving across caste follow a disturbingly familiar pattern, revealing how caste power operates through surveillance, discipline, and exemplary punishment. In Nanded, the Dalit youth was murdered for being in a relationship with a dominant-caste woman, not because the relationship harmed anyone, but because it escaped the watchful control of caste society. His death functioned as a warning, a public lesson in what happens when Dalits refuse to remain within prescribed limits. Similar violence has unfolded in Tamil Nadu, where Dalit men have been hacked to death in public spaces after inter-caste marriages, their bodies displayed as proof that caste boundaries are enforced not just socially but physically. In Telangana, the killing of a Dalit groom through a planned contract murder showed how caste power does not act impulsively; it calculates,
Such a punishment for a minor mistake! Dalit shopkeeper surrounded and brutally beaten, head crushed with feet
NS Parmar, Chhatarpur: A video has surfaced from Chhatarpur that is a disgrace to humanity. The incident is reported to have taken place on Jawahar Road in the City Kotwali police station area of the city, where a Dalit youth was subjected to extreme brutality over a trivial matter. The CCTV video clearly shows about half a dozen people surrounding a Dalit shopkeeper. A few seconds later, two of them start attacking him with kicks and punches. The young man is thrown to the ground and brutally beaten. The attackers’ cruelty doesn’t stop there in the video. They are seen pinning the young man to the ground and crushing his head with their feet. He is continuously attacked with kicks and slaps, leaving him severely injured. Bystanders stand by and watch, with no one intervening. The young man who was assaulted runs a mobile repair shop. According to initial information, the dispute arose over a minor mistake during mobile repair, which quickly escalated into a violent attack. The young man was punished with a life-threatening beating for a small technical error. Courtesy: Hindi News
Telangana: Human Rights Commission takes strict action in Dalit youth’s custodial death case, seeks report from Home Department
Allegations of ‘third-degree’ torture against Suryapet police: Human Rights Commission seeks detailed report from Home Department, next hearing on January 12. Hyderabad: The Telangana State Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has taken serious note of the alleged death of a Dalit youth in police custody in Suryapet district. Taking a strong stance on the incident, the commission has ordered the state Home Department to submit a detailed report. What is the whole case? The deceased youth’s mother had filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission alleging that her son was illegally detained and subjected to police torture. The commission took cognizance of these allegations and issued its order on Monday. According to the information presented before the commission, the youth was allegedly illegally detained by the Chilkur and Kodad rural police. The family alleges that the police subjected him to ‘third-degree’ torture, framed him in a false case, and did not even allow the family to meet him. Serious allegations by the family In her complaint, the victim’s mother stated that her son was kept in illegal police custody from November 4 to November 9. During this time, he was physically tortured and then sent to judicial custody (jail) on November 10 in a false criminal case. On the same day, the staff of Huzurnagar sub-jail called and informed her that her son was unwell. When she reached there, her son’s condition was extremely critical. Died in the hospital According to the complaint, due to his deteriorating condition, the youth was taken to the Suryapet District Government Hospital on November 14. From there, he was referred to a government hospital in Hyderabad for better treatment, where he succumbed to his injuries on November 16. Commission’s action and administration’s stance Considering the seriousness of the case and the violation of human rights, the Human Rights Commission has linked this case with previous complaints. The commission has directed the Principal Secretary (Home) to submit a detailed report on the entire incident. The next hearing in the case has been scheduled for January 12, 2026. On the other hand, Telangana Director General of Police (DGP) B. Shivadhar Reddy recently stated that the investigation into the matter is ongoing and appropriate action will be taken against the culprits. Rajan Chaudhary Courtesy: Hindi News
Dalit Daughters’ Achievements: Tina Dabi wins Rs 2 crore water award for Barmer, Deepna Netrapal makes history at CAG!
These achievements are not only personal victories but also send a strong message against caste and gender-based discrimination, where one officer is making the environment greener while the other is strengthening accounting and financial transparency. New Delhi – The outstanding performance of Dalit women officers in India’s administrative system is once again in the spotlight. Tina Dabi, an IAS officer from Rajasthan, has made history by securing the Water Conservation Public Participation Award (JSJB) for her district Barmer in the field of environmental protection, while Deepna Netrapal, a Senior IA&AS officer from Bengaluru, has won the National CAG Award for innovation in GST audit and training reforms. Deepna is the first Dalit woman officer to receive this award. These achievements are not only personal victories but also send a strong message against caste and gender-based discrimination, where one officer is making the environment greener while the other is strengthening accounting and financial transparency. The arid Barmer district of Rajasthan has won the first Water Conservation Public Participation Award for its outstanding performance in rainwater harvesting. The district will receive a prize of Rs 2 crore for this achievement. District Collector Tina Dabi said that President Draupadi Murmu will present this award at the 6th National Water Awards ceremony to be held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on November 18. Earlier, Tina Dabi has also been awarded for many of her commendable works. IAS Tina Dabi had created history by securing the first rank in the UPSC Civil Services Examination in 2015. At the age of 22, she became the first Dalit woman to achieve this feat on her first attempt. Tina has extensively promoted the construction of traditional ‘tankas’ (underground water tanks) in Barmer. Under the Central Ministry of Jal Shakti’s ‘Catch the Rain’ initiative, states were divided into five zones and given the target of establishing at least 10,000 artificial recharge and water storage structures. Barmer has surpassed this target and secured the top position in the northern region, where local water sources have been revived through thousands of tanks. This initiative by Dabi is not only addressing the water crisis but also empowering rural communities, proving to be a milestone in quenching the thirst of the desert region. On the other hand, Deepna Netrapal, Principal Director of the Regional Training Centre (RTC) and Regional Capacity Building and Knowledge Centre (RCB&KC) in Bengaluru, has been awarded the National CAG Award. This award was given to her for two major initiatives: innovation and excellence in public accounting and auditing in GST audits, and the transformation of the training setup in Bengaluru. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India launched the ‘CAG’s Award for Innovation and Excellence in Public Audit and Accounting’ scheme in 2021 to recognize and reward the exceptional and innovative work done by officers and staff of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department in the areas of public audit, accounting, entitlements, and ancillary functions. The CAG Award Scheme 2021 recognized distinctive team excellence, which fosters a meritocratic environment, and more importantly, nurtures overall qualitative improvement from an organizational perspective. With this objective, in addition to the existing scheme that rewards team efforts towards excellence and exceptional work, a new award category has been instituted in 2022 to reward the ‘Most Improved Office’. This award category seeks to recognize those offices working in the fields of accounting, auditing, and training that have demonstrated the maximum improvement in performance during the stipulated evaluation period. Geetha Sunil Pillai Courtesy: Hindi News
Why is Barmer Collector Tina Dabi being targeted? Bahujan society says: ‘Upper caste resentment against a Dalit topper, she’s not a reel star – she’s a role model!’
Society rallies in support of Tina Dabi on social media, sparking a new debate. Barmer – IAS Tina Dabi, the Collector of Barmer district in Rajasthan, is once again at the center of controversy. Last month, Tina Dabi proved that she is not only a UPSC topper but also a revolutionary warrior for water conservation, when Barmer received the national first prize under the ‘Jal Shakti Abhiyan: Catch the Rain’ from President Draupadi Murmu. But this time, police action during a protest against fee hikes by college students, where she was called a ‘reel star’, has landed her in controversy. The Bahujan society is calling it a clear casteist conspiracy – why are upper-caste forces targeting a Dalit woman topper? Tina, who became a national icon after securing AIR-1 in UPSC in 2015, is being described as a victim of ‘upper-caste resentment’. Bahujan thinkers believe that Dabi is targeted the most. The first reason is that she is a UPSC topper from a Scheduled Caste. The second is that she has many achievements to her name. The root of the controversy: ‘Reel star’ comment and police action The incident took place at Maharana Bhupal Government PG College. On Saturday, students protested outside the college against the increase in examination fees. They demanded to meet IAS Tina Dabi, who cleared the UPSC Civil Services Examination in her first attempt at the age of 22. The situation worsened when an officer described Dabi as a ‘role model’ for the students, which was opposed by students associated with the BJP-backed Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). They said, “The Collector is not a role model. If she were, she would have come to listen to the students’ demands. She is a reel star and is busy making reels, but she doesn’t pay attention to our problems.” Following this, the students were allegedly detained by the police. ABVP condemned the alleged arrest of the students in a tweet on X: “The arrest of the students is an attack on democratic values. When the police asked them to talk to IAS Tina Dabi after calling her a ‘reel star’, the ABVP students gave a clear answer.” The students claim they were detained after the protest ended. Following this, several students gathered outside the police station, demanding the release of the arrested students and an apology from the administration. Senior police officer Manoj Kumar told NDTV, “No one was detained or arrested. Four boys were brought to the police station to calm the situation and were later asked to leave. But the students gathered near the police station and insisted on an apology. A discussion took place when senior officers arrived.” Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi criticized the incident, writing on social media, “Another day of intolerance from a bureaucrat in India. Despite corruption, power intoxication, and now intolerance, they get away without any serious scrutiny.” The controversy is rapidly spreading on social media. Tina Dabi completely denied the allegations: “There were no arrests or detentions. The fee hike issue had been resolved, yet the students were blocking the road and creating a disturbance. My subordinates took them to the police station, spoke to them, and released them after two hours. The ground issue is over, but it’s being kept alive on social media for defamation and cheap publicity.” Support from the Bahujan community: ‘This is a casteist conspiracy, we stand with Tina’ Bahujan thinkers are calling this an attack on Dalit excellence. Political scientist and Assistant Professor at Jadavpur University, Subhajit Naskar, tweeted: “Some UC liberals started targeting Dalit woman IAS Tina Dabi. A little investigation revealed – RSS student wing ABVP leaders were organized there! Hopefully, things are clear now.” In another tweet, Subhajit wrote: “Tina Dabi has faced the most vile casteist online abuse – despite being a topper. Even when Dalits are not appointed as Chief Secretaries or DGPs, she is proving her merit.” Anti-caste activist Prof. Rehana Ravindran called it an attack motivated by political self-interest. IRS officer Netrapal, supporting Tina in his post, wrote, “Targeting Tina Dabi in this manner… If you want, study and get Rank-1. If the roads are not good, file a complaint against the responsible engineers… The MLA should be held accountable. The local councilor, panchayat members should be held accountable. Suddenly, they target a collector just because she is a role model.” Swayam Sainik Dal tweeted: “The attempt to belittle Tina Dabi is a casteist conspiracy. Insecurity due to her brilliant success. We stand with Tina.” In another post, they said: “This controversy is a conspiracy to divert attention from illegal mining and the destruction of the Aravalli range. We will not let Tina become a victim of media trial.” Mayur Pawar wrote: “The casteist system is hell-bent on destroying Tina Dabi despite her good work. ABVP broke the campus, she took action, so a fake narrative. Stay strong Tina, we are with you.” A user, Happy Singh, targeted Anuradha Tiwari’s tweet: “This Brahmin woman is not only insulting top Dalit IAS Tina Dabi but also mocking reservation and Ambedkar’s ideology. A case should be filed under the SC/ST Act.” Author Lokesh Bag wrote, “IAS Tina Dabi is being targeted once again, and this is clearly a well-planned conspiracy. The fact that a woman from our community topped the UPSC exam with AIR-1 is still something many casteists cannot digest. As the Collector of Barmer district in Rajasthan, Tina Dabi led a major water conservation initiative, which earned the district the first ‘Jal Sanchay Jan Bhagidari Award’ from the President.” Rahul wrote: “‘Merit’ is only believed in until a Dalit tops the exam. Then it’s injustice? If you can’t defeat a ‘reserved’ student in the open merit category, then your superiority is itself reserved. Tina Dabi bothers them for this reason.” Bahujan thinker Gurudayal said: “Tina Dabi bothers you because a Dalit daughter has reached great heights. Your Brahminical superiority complex is being shattered. Reservation is an account of centuries of slavery.” Just a month
Worrying: Transgender and Disabled Individuals Still Labeled Abnormal in MBBS Textbooks, Ignored in Curriculum
A new research study has revealed that MBBS textbooks either ignore gender, transgender, and disability identities or present them as abnormal and exceptional. According to experts, such education influences doctors’ thinking, leading to a disregard for respect, autonomy, and the social needs of patients during treatment. The very textbooks that serve as the first step to becoming a doctor in India are themselves teaching discrimination. A new research study has revealed that medical textbooks taught in the country and around the world either completely ignore gender, transgender, and disability identities or present them as abnormalities, disorders, and exceptions. Experts say that this directly affects the thinking of doctors and, subsequently, the treatment of patients. The central argument of this research is that medical textbooks do not just provide information; they shape the doctor’s perspective. If a medical student is taught that gender is only male and female, and that intersex or trans bodies are exceptions and disabilities are deficiencies or disorders, then that same perspective will be applied to patients in the OPD and wards. Experts say that doctors consider only what the textbook teaches as normal, and anything not included in the book makes the patient invisible. Disregard for Respect, Autonomy, and Social Needs in Treatment In this research published in the Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care by Delhi Health University, Senior Professor Dr. Satendra Singh said that disability is still being taught under the medical model in medical education, i.e., as a deficiency, defect, or something that needs correction. He said that this perspective promotes a mindset of viewing disabled patients as diseased bodies rather than empowered individuals. As a result, respect, autonomy, and social needs are disregarded in treatment. He believes that until the foundation of medical education changes, achieving the goal of inclusive and equitable healthcare will remain difficult. Wrong Education, Wrong Treatment… Prof. Singh says that this situation contradicts the claims made in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Medical Commission (NMC), which advocate for making medical education more sensitive, ethical, and inclusive. The question arises: why are the social and ethical aspects of MBBS textbooks not being reviewed when changes are being made to the curriculum and evaluation methods? The health gap will widen further… According to the research, this bias present in medical education leads to problems such as incorrect or delayed diagnoses, neglect of mental health, and discriminatory language for transgender and disabled patients. In a country like India, where there is already inequality in access to healthcare services, this discrimination further widens the health gap. Equity audit tool proposed for the first time: The study also suggests an equity audit framework for medical textbooks as a solution, through which the language, illustrations, examples, and case studies in the books can be examined from an inclusion perspective. Experts believe that if medical councils, universities, and publishers take steps in this direction, the training of doctors can become more equitable and patient-centric. Parikshit Nirbhay, New Delhi, Published by: Nirmal Kant Courtesy: Hindi News