Dalit youth in Bihar allege that Bank of Baroda discriminates in loan processing, complaint written to RBI
Pappu Kumar alleges that the bank discriminates against small applicants. While his small loan application is being strictly scrutinized, the bank waived off Rs 44,481 crore of bad debts (NPAs) of 144 corporate companies in the last 8 years, which included many rich and influential borrowers. This difference shows that the bank is not treating the poor and Scheduled Caste youth fairly, which is against RBI rules. Rohtas- Many schemes are running on paper to provide employment opportunities to the deprived and marginalized community, but do the Dalit and backward class youth get the benefit of it in reality? Probably not! One such scheme is the ‘Suvidha’ loan of National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) under which various types of loans are provided to economically empower the Scheduled Caste persons. “Suvidha Loan” provides financial assistance to Scheduled Caste individuals to start small business or expand existing business. In the hope of self-employment, two youths from Bihar have been visiting Bank of Baroda for the last three months to get this loan, but despite being eligible and fulfilling all the documents, the bank refused to give loan to both of them. Pappu Kumar, a resident of Mauna village in Bihar, has filed a formal objection against Bank of Baroda (BOB) with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), in which he has accused the Bank of not following the guidelines of the National Scheduled Caste Finance and Development Corporation (NSFDC) and discriminatory behavior. Pappu Kumar, an unemployed Scheduled Caste youth with an annual family income of Rs 1.25 lakh, had applied for a commercial vehicle loan under the NSFDC Suvidha Yojana on March 28, 2025. Pappu said the bank’s Dehri on Sone branch discriminated and harassed him, deliberately delayed disbursing loans and arbitrarily rejected applications, undermining the scheme’s objective of promoting financial inclusion and self-employment for marginalised communities. Vikas Kumar also has a similar complaint. NSFDC, a central public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, has a scheme under which Scheduled Caste individuals with annual family income up to Rs 3 lakh can apply for loans. The applicant is provided loans up to Rs 10 lakh for small business activities, commercial vehicles such as jeeps and car taxis, without any collateral/security requirement or assessment of repayment capacity based on the applicant’s current income. Pappu and Vikas Kumar had applied under this scheme. Pappu told The Mooknayak that he had applied for a loan on 28-03-2025 to purchase a Tata Tigor XT CNG model for self-employment/business. The scheme provides loans at subsidized rates for purchasing vehicles, which he wanted to promote self-employment. Pappu says the BOB branch manager initially insisted on submitting income tax returns, which is not required under NSFDC guidelines. His application was accepted only after repeated clarifications. Despite submitting the application, the bank kept the loan “in process” pending for two months without any valid justification and kept citing vague reasons like approval from higher authorities. When he filed an RTI application to clarify the reasons for the delay, he received an incomplete and misleading response, which further strengthened his allegations of caste-based discrimination and misuse of position. Pappu argues that the bank’s actions violate NSFDC’s mission to promote prosperity among the Scheduled Castes through financial assistance and skill development initiatives. Similarly, the bank expressed its inability to give a loan to Vikas Kumar, writing that Vikas’s annual income is Rs 1.25 lakh and he has applied for a loan of Rs 8,90,689 for a commercial vehicle. As per the bank’s guidelines, loans are given only up to three times the income. In such a situation, the bank said that Vikas can be given a loan of only Rs. 3,75,000/- as per three times his annual income. If he is given a loan for seven years (84 months), then according to this, the average EMI will be Rs 12000 to 15000, whereas Vikas’s average monthly income is Rs 10416/-. The bank wrote in its letter, “According to this, you do not have the repaying capacity, so we are unable to approve your loan as per the above documents and bank guidelines.” The applicant says that the bank misrepresented his loan application by processing it under the agricultural finance conditions in a wrong manner, which is inconsistent with the objectives of the NSFDC scheme. The NSFDC framework evaluates repayment capacity not based on the applicant’s current income but on the expected income from the proposed venture such as commercial vehicle operation. Kumar estimates that a self-employed taxi driver can generate an income of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 per month, which can easily cover the EMI of Rs 15,000-16,000, yet BOB neither approved the loan nor considered this income possibility, but applied business loan norms that are inappropriate for this scheme. Pappu Kumar has made several serious allegations against Bank of Baroda (BOB). He says that the bank changed the terms of his loan, breaking the rules of NSFDC (National Stadium Finance Development Corporation). According to NSFDC, the loan repayment period should have been 66 months, but the bank increased it to 84 months. Also, the bank offered him loans at normal commercial rates instead of subsidized low interest rates (4-6%), which increased his financial burden. Kumar also alleged that the bank discriminates against small applicants. He said that while his small loan application is being strictly scrutinized, the bank waived off Rs 44,481 crore of bad debts (NPAs) of 144 corporate companies in the last 8 years, which included many rich and influential borrowers. This difference shows that the bank is not treating the poor and Scheduled Caste youth fairly, which is against RBI rules. Kumar has demanded RBI to direct BOB to approve his loan of Rs 8.91 lakh on NSFDC terms. He should be compensated Rs 8.91 lakh for financial loss and Rs 1 lakh for mental stress. RBI has been demanded to take action against the wrong practices of the bank and implement the NSFDC scheme properly. Courtesy: Geetha Sunil
Friendship broke, then Dalit youth was publicly humiliated by shaving his head! Shocking incident in Faridabad
After the friendship with Dalit youth broke, a conspiracy was hatched to beat him, the accused shaved his hair and hurled casteist abuses at him. Faridabad: Faridabad Police on Wednesday arrested a 19-year-old youth and detained two minors. They are accused of assaulting, holding hostage and humiliating a Dalit youth in Subhash Colony of Ballabhgarh. The incident is reported to have taken place on Monday evening. According to the police, the victim has been identified as Sahil (aged 25 to 30 years). The accused thrashed him, shaved his head, eyebrows and moustache and allegedly hurled casteist abuses at him. Apart from this, Rs 3,000 was also taken from the victim’s pocket and later he was left outside his house. Police investigation has revealed that the main accused and Sahil were close friends in the past, but their relationship had deteriorated in recent times. The two knew each other for about eight years. The police said, “The reason for the quarrel is the changing relations of friendship. At present, no caste angle has emerged, but since the victim belongs to the Scheduled Caste, a case has been registered under the SC/ST Act. Sahil is not in a position to give a statement right now, but we are expecting his statement today.” The case was registered at Adarsh Nagar police station on the complaint of Sahil’s cousin Suraj. The police also clarified that there is no truth in the viral reports claiming that the victim was made to drink urine or hung upside down. On Wednesday, the main accused was produced in court and sent to judicial custody, while the two minors were produced before the Juvenile Justice Board. Adarsh Nagar police station in-charge Inspector Nafe Singh said that the victim has suffered minor injuries. Courtesy : Rajan Chaudhary, Hindi News
India’s unemployment rate rises 5.6% in May from 5.1% in April
India’s unemployment rate rose to 5.6% in May 2025, up from 5.1% in April, according to the latest Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) released by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on Monday. Unemployment was up in both rural and urban regions, with a sharp increaseamong the youth. In rural India, the jobless rate for those aged 15–29 climbed to 13.7% in May, up from 12.3% in April. In urban areas, youth unemployment rose to 17.9% in May from 17.2% a month earlier. The female unemployment rate was a touch higher at 5.8% compared to the male unemployment rate in May. The Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) i.e an estimate of the number of people actively engaged in the workforce, in the Current Weekly Status (CWS)stood at 54.8% in May 2025, down from 55.6% in April. Rural LFPR was higher at 56.9%, while urban LFPR was 50.4%. LFPR in CWS for male of age 15 years and above in rural and urban areas were respectively 78.3% and 75.1% during May, 2025 which marked a marginal decline from the corresponding LFPR estimates of 79.0% and 75.3% respectively for rural and urban areas during April, 2025. LFPR among female of age 15 years and above for rural areas was 36.9% during May, 2025. This was the second monthly release of India’s labour force data covering both urban and rural areas. Previously, the government published employment data on a quarterly basis for urban regions and annually for both urban and rural areas. Asia’s third largest economy, which expanded 7.4% year-on-year in the JanuaryMarch quarter, is expected to grow 6.5% in the current fiscal year beginning April – broadly in line with the previous year’s pace. Courtesy : TET Note: This news is originally published on https:/theeconomictimes.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Domestic workers urge Union government to enact law for fair wages, social security
Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State govt. to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, among other demands Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, speaking during an event organised as part of the International Domestic Workers Day, in Chennai on Monday. Geetha Jeevan, Minister for Social Welfare and Women Empowerment, speaking during an event organised as part of the International Domestic Workers Day, in Chennai on Monday. | Photo Credit: M. SRINATH In the 25 years that R. Rajeshwari has been a domestic worker, only in the last 10 years did she come to know about her right to a weekly holiday and bonus. “We think domestic work is not important. Back in the village, people don’t value workers who clean the house or the bathroom. But now, we understand the dignity and social security in the work,” she said at an event here on Monday. On the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) urged the Union government to enact a legislation ensuring decent work, fair wages, social security and legal rights to domestic workers. “Domestic work helped me to educate my daughter only in a matriculation school. Its vital that we receive better wages and that people recognise our work as important,” said Rajeshwari. Better awareness needed Speaking at an event organised on the occasion, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan said, “Even with the government’s support, there is a need for better societal awareness. A lot of improvements for women have come about through law. However, many problems persist due to constraints faced within the family set up.” Further, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State government to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, revise their existing minimum wage to ₹100 per hour and establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms for domestic worker recruitment by agencies to prevent exploitation, among other demands. Member of Parliament Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Legislative Assembly of T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi, District Judge and Deputy Secretary District Legal Services Authority S. Vengadalakshmi, chief functionary TNDWWT Josephine Amala Valarmathi and members of the TNDWWT also spoke at the event. Courtesy : The Hindu Bureau, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https:/thehindu.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Don’t use Sanskrit honourific ‘Mahatma’ for Ayyankali: Vedan says Dalits still enslaved by Sanatana Dharma
At an event held in Thiruvananthapuram, Vedan requested the organisers not to adorn him with the headgear and instead accepted it in his hands as a symbolic gesture Thiruvananthapuram: Rapper Vedan (Hirandas Murali) respectfully declined an attempt by event organisers to place a traditional headgear on his head during a memorial event for social reformer Ayyankali. The incident occurred at the “Smrithi Sangamam” event organised by KPMS (Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha) in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, marking the 84th death anniversary of Ayyankali. Vedan, the chief guest at the event, requested the organisers not to adorn him with the headgear and instead accepted it in his hands as a symbolic gesture. He was also presented with a ceremonial sword during the function. Speaking at the event, Vedan said that Dalits still remain shackled—enslaved by the structures of Sanatana Dharma. “A time will come when the broader society will celebrate icons like ‘Mahaveer’ Ayyankali and Babasaheb Ambedkar. Until then, we must remain patient,” he said. His words were met with cheers andapplause from the attendees. Vedan criticised Kerala society, alleging that both Ayyankali and Ambedkar are being misrepresented as casteists. “I have merely walked the paths they clearedfor us. Even though it’s challenging to navigate these routes through the Sanatana-dominated spaces, I will continue,” he asserted. He expressed hope for a future where thousands will gather annually to celebrate these reformers and stressed the need for societal progress to reach that stage. However, he acknowledged that it may take a long time for the marginalised to evolve into a unified and questioning political force, as divisions continue to deepen. At a separate event organised by the Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS) in Venganoor, Vedan reiterated that Ayyankali should be called “Mahaveeran” instead of “Mahatma”, a Sanskritic title. Accepting the inaugural Villuvandi Award at the event, he urged for unity among oppressed communities. “The oppressed Scheduled Castes, Tribes, and Adivasis must come together. A time will come when we will emerge as a strong political force,” he said. Roaring Welcome at Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium Earlier, Vedan received a thunderous welcome at the Olympia Hall of Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium, where crowds chanted his name as he arrived. His declaration that he would continue to tread the path paved by Ambedkar and Ayyankali energised the gathering. He repeatedly stated, “Next year, on this very day, let us celebrate with tens of thousands gathering at the venue.” On popular request, Vedan sang a few lines from Poykayil Appachan’s poem and concluded his address with a rendition of his popular track Kadalamma. For the audience, Vedan was not just a guest — he was one among them, a family member returning home. ‘Dalit-Adivasi Communities Must Unite to Become a Political Force’ Rapper Vedan, speaking at the Ayyankali commemoration organised by Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham at the Panchajanyam Smrithi Mandapam in Venganoor, said that the lack of unity among the Dalit and Adivasi communities was the root cause of their continued marginalisation He expressed hope for a future where these communities would rise as a powerful political force. “We are merely walking the illuminated path shown by renaissance leaders like Babasaheb Ambedkar and Ayyankali. But our lack of fraternity is being exploited as a weapon by Sanatanists,” he warned. Rejecting the use of the Sanskrit honourific Mahatma, Vedan reiterated his desire to refer to Ayyankali as Mahaveeran — a title more befitting of his revolutionary spirit. Courtesy : Mathrubhumi Note: This news is originally published on https:/mathrubhumi.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Andhra BJP MLA denies stage access to Dalit sarpanch, video sparks outrage
A viral video from Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district shows BJP MLA PV Parthasarathi allegedly denying a Dalit sarpanch access to the stage after learning his caste. The video sparked public outrage over caste-based discrimination, especially at a public event. A video from Adoni in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district has gone viral on social media, showing BJP MLA PV Parthasarathi allegedly humiliating a Dalit sarpanch during a public event by denying him access to the stage upon learning of his caste. The video, dated June 16, captures Parthasarathi addressing a public gathering in his constituency. During the event, the MLA is seen calling out to a sarpanch in the crowd, saying, “Hey Sarpanch, you come here, why are you standing there?” As the sarpanch hesitates to step forward, the MLA is then heard asking, “Is he a Christian?” A Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader standing next to him responds, “He is a Scheduled Caste (SC), sir.” Following this, both the BJP MLA and the TDP leader appear to gesture toward the ground in front of the stage, instructing the sarpanch to remain there instead of joining them on stage. “Okay, come and stand here then,” the MLA says, and the sarpanch complies. The TDP leader can be seen repeatedly covering her face from the cameras during this exchange. The video has triggered sharp criticism online, with many calling the incident casteist and humiliating. Several users have pointed to the body language and gestures of the leaders as deeply disrespectful, particularly in a public setting. “Who’s more to blame the casteist leader who insulted the Dalit sarpanch, or the sarpanch himself who stayed silent, valuing power over dignity? Isn’t this silence what emboldens daily humiliation of Dalits, Muslims, and the marginalised?” wrote an X user. “A BJP MLA publicly degrades a Dalit Sarpanch with ‘Oh, SC ha?’ This is not a slip-up. It’s caste supremacy showing its real face.” wrote another. Courtesy : India Today Note: This news is originally published on https:/indiatoday.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
Budaun News: Dalit family returning from wedding beaten up, accused of snatching 50 thousand
Ughaiti. A family returning from a wedding ceremony was attacked by the people of the village itself. The attackers did not spare even the women. The victim family has accused the attackers of snatching 50 thousand rupees as well. The whole family reached the police station with a complaint, but the inspector has denied having any information about the incident. Har Dayal, a resident of Hamupur village of the police station area, said that he had gone to village Sateti of Bilsi police station area on foot with his family. His sister-in-law’s wedding was there. He was returning to his village with his family from there, when as soon as he left Ughaiti intersection, on Mahanagar Road at around 1 pm, two goons of his village started misbehaving with the women with him. When he objected, they beat him up. The attackers used abusive caste-specific language. It is alleged that 50 thousand rupees were also snatched from Har Dayal’s brother Bablu in the fight. After the incident, the whole family reached the police station directly. Where he told the whole story by giving a written complaint naming the accused. The complainant family waited there for a long time for justice. Later they left after giving a written complaint. Inspector Kamlesh Mishra said that no such case is in his knowledge. Courtesy : Hindi News
Dalit man attacked, head and eyebrows forcefully shaved by his old friend; three held in Haryana
A Dalit man named Sahil was assaulted and his head and eyebrows were shaved by his old friend, aged 19 along with two of his accomplices in Subhash Colony of Ballabgarh, Faridabad in Haryana. Following the assault, police arrested all three on Wednesday. On Monday evening Sahil was allegedly lured to a dispensary near his home where he was mercilessly beaten, threatened and later left outside his residence. The police stated that the main accused who is one of Sahil’s close friends got into conflict with him. A police official stated, “The two know each other from the past 8 years. The accused wanted to teach him a lesson due to falling out.” Despite the casteist allegations the police have stated that they have not found any cast angles so far in the case however a case has been registered under the Schedule Caste and Scheduled Tribes Act. Inspector Nafe Singh of Adarsh Nagar police station said that the fight does not appear to be over caste. The accused was sent to judicial custody on Wednesday and the two accomplices were presented before the Juvenile justice board. Sahil who sustained injuries is not in a state to give a statement according to the police. Courtesy : MM Note: This news is originally published on https:/muslimmirror.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
‘Main women’s cricket ke liye eligible hoon’: Anaya Bangar urges ICC, BCCI to include transgender athletes; post goes viral
NEW DELHI: Anaya Bangar, child of former India cricketer Sanjay Bangar, has called upon the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to support transgender cricketers. Currently, transgender cricketers are not allowed to participate in women’s cricket. This ban was implemented during the ICC board meeting following the 2023 ODI World Cup. Anaya shared an eight-page scientific report detailing her transition journey as a transgender athlete. Bangar plans on submitting these findings to the ICC and BCCI. Courtesy : MSN Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.
SHRC seeks probe into death of dalit woman
Idukki: State human rights commission has directed Idukki’s district police chief to investigate death of a dalit woman in Peermade’s Meenmutty forest area and submit findings within four weeks. The order came during an SHRC sitting at Peermade Govt Guest House. Seetha, 42, from Plakkathadam colony, was found dead on June 13. SHRC chairman Justice Alexander Thomas issued this directive following a petition by human rights activist Guinness Madasamy requesting an independent probe. While Seetha’s husband Binu claimed she was killed by an elephant when they were collecting forest produce with their children, the postmortem results didn’t support this claim. Binu told relatives that he and the children narrowly escaped the alleged attack. The case will be reviewed once the report is received. TNN Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https:/timesofindia.com/ and is for use by the non-military/non-commercial community, especially those in the human rights sector.