practices of caste discrimination in action aid · 11/5/2014 gmail - practices of caste...

11/5/2014 Gmail - PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID :

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Karthik Navayan <[email protected]>

PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID :

Jayanta Bora <[email protected]> Wed, Nov 5, 2014 at 3:53 PMTo: Eugene Culas <[email protected]>Cc: Karthik Navayan <[email protected]>, Sandeep Chachra <[email protected]>, DipaliSharma <[email protected]>, Judith Davey <[email protected]>, Lanre Amao<[email protected]>

Dear Eugene,

Greetings from Johannesburg! With reference to the earlier mail on practices of caste discrimination(appended below), ActionAid International has reviewed the detailed independent investigation report andother details of the case. Based on the review and follow up on specific antecedents, we would like to sharethe following with regards to the investigation outcome.

1) After Karthik’s alleged complaint of caste discrimination at work place, a detailed inquiry wasconducted by ActionAid India by constituting an independent inquiry committee consisting of Mr. MartinMacwan, an eminent and well respected Dalit rights leader in the country, as an independent externalmember to lead the inquiry. There was no conflict of interest here as neither Mr. Martin nor hisorganisation has any financial or any other association with ActionAid India which qualifies as conflict ofinterest. The committee took significant interest and care in conducting the enquiry following the principleof natural justice, giving a fair hearing and free ground to Karthik to express his views.

2) ActionAid extended Karthik’s fixed term contract on account of his complaint for the period of theenquiry. Since he had made the complaint immediately prior to his fixed term contract end date.

3) The inquiry committee observed that there was no caste based discrimination as alleged by Mr.Karthik. The full report was shared with Mr. Karthik (Investigation report attached for reference). Mr Karthik accepted formal closure of his contract from ActionAid India on 31st October 2013, andreceived full and final settlement payments

4) ActionAid India's Governing Board, which consists of eminent national personalities including someleading Dalit movement leaders in India were well informed of the case and the process undertaken bythe organisation. After reviewing the details of the inquiry and having satisfied themselves with theprocess, ActionAid India Board had shared its conclusions with AA International Board and AAInternational management. They have endorsed the third party independent investigation report findings.

5) ActionAid India is an autonomous member of the ActionAid Federation and there is no further needfor a re-investigation into this case by ActionAid International. Mr Karthik was on an annual contractualemployment with ActionAid India and his services came to an end in accordance with his yearlongcontract tenure. ActionAid India, as an equal opportunity employer and in line with its diversity policy,encouraged Karthik as a potential young leader from Dalit community thereby giving him ampleopportunities within the organisation to learn and grow.

6) ActionAid India with over 40 years of its presence in India focuses its work with the most poor andsocially marginalised communities and the Dalit community forms a primary constituency where asignificant portion of its resources are spent. ActionAid India works with several national, regional andlocal Dalit rights groups in the country and has strong partnerships with NCDHR, NACDOR, National Dalit



movement for Justice, Dalit Munnaripu Kuttu, Dalit Dasta Virodhi Abhiyan, Dalit Samakhya, RashtriyaGarima Abhiyan, Safai Karmachari Andolan, Dalit Adhikar Morcha (Bihar), Dalit Bahujan Movement(Karnataka) to name a few, focussing with communities considered lowest even within the Dalit castehierarchies for example manual scavenging community (hella and valmiki), musahars, Arundhatiyars etc.The earliest work dates back to early nineties when ActionAid worked with the musahar community inBihar and with Dalit jasmine farmers in Tamil Nadu. Currently the work spans a range of critical issuesright from Dalit land rights to issues of atrocities and discrimination including that faced by Dalit childrenin schools, release and rehabilitation of Dalit bonded agricultural labourers, release and rehabilitation ofmanual scavengers, allocation and utilisation of resources for davits under SC sub component plan,services to urban poor etc. The national study by ActionAid (2006, Harsh Mander, Ghanshyam Shah,Sukhdeo Thorat et al ) titled “Untouchability in Rural India”, covering 11 states is a widely acclaimedstudy and a recommended reading for students of sociology and social anthropology. ActionAid is evercommitted to furthering rights of Dalit communities both through its programmes and internally within theorganisation.

7) ActionAid India is a socially diverse organisation. It has diversity based affirmative action policywherein people from diverse backgrounds are especially encouraged to be a part of the organisation.Currently 45% of AA India's staff comes from socially excluded and marginalised community – Dalits,Tribals, other backward communities, disabled people, religious minorities, people living with HIV andAIDS et al. ActionAid India follows a voluntary disclosure policy, and the top line diversity datapercentages (appended below) could actually be higher as some AA India colleagues may not havevoluntarily disclosed their diversity status.

.

8) Mr Karthik has written defamatory articles /mails in public and social network sites even after a fairand transparent enquiry process was conducted into his complaints and the report shared with him.There has been a continued attempt to defame ActionAid and inciting people against ActionAid. Westrongly object to such conduct aimed at damaging the reputation of ActionAid.

9) Through this mail Action Aid International would want to bring the caste discrimination case to aformal closure.

Have a good week ahead. With warm regards,

Jayanta.

Jayanta Bora | Head – Human Resources & Operations | International

4th Floor West, 158 Jan Smuts Avenue, Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 731 4531 | Mob: +27 (0) 71 836 1936 | Fax: +27 (0) 11 880 8082

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From: Jayanta Bora Sent: 15 October 2014 04:33 PMTo: 'Eugene Culas'Cc: Karthik Navayan; Sandeep Chachra; Dipali Sharma; Judith Davey; Lanre AmaoSubject: RE: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Eugene,

Greetings from Johannesburg. I hope you are keeping well. I have been in discussions with the ExecutiveDirector and Organisational Effectiveness Director of AA India with regards to the captioned case. We are inthe process of reviewing all relevant information and related documentation with regards to the complaint. Our endeavour will be to provide the diversity data for AA India along with the third party investigation reporton the complaint. We anticipate the overall process to be completed by around three weeks. Thank you foryour patience. Have a wonderful week ahead. With warm regards,

Jayanta.



Tel: +27 (0) 11 731 4531 | Mob: +27 (0) 71 836 1936 | Fax: +27 (0) 11 880 8082


Skype: jaybora




From: Eugene Culas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 12 October 2014 01:33 AMTo: Jayanta BoraCc: Karthik Navayan; Sandeep Chachra; Dipali Sharma; Judith Davey

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http://www.twitter.com/actionaid

http://www.facebook.com/actionaid

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Subject: Re: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Jayanta,

Thank you for your email.

Please find below a series of emails [3] which Mr Karthik received from Action AidInternational, with dates, for which he is still awaiting a response from AA International:

1. Irene Ovonji Odida <[email protected]> 8 January 2014 03:24

To: Karthik Navayan <[email protected]>, Sandeep Chachra <[email protected]>, Vijay Shunglu<[email protected]>, Chennaiah Poguri <[email protected]>, Chris Kinyanjui <[email protected]>,Natasha Barker <[email protected]>

Email received and noted, thank you. I trust appropriate procedures will be followed regarding issues raised.

Regards,

Irene Ovonji-Odida

2. Natasha Barker <[email protected]> 9 January 2014 12:53

To: "[email protected]" <[email protected]>

Cc: Chris Kinyanjui <[email protected]>, Lanre Amao [email protected]>,Sandeep Chachra <[email protected]>

Dear Karthik

I hereby acknowledge your note of 6 January 2014 which you sent to the Chairperson ofActionAid International, Irene Ovonji-Odida. I have noted the allegations contained there-in which relate to caste practices and discriminatory behaviours of the AA India hierarchy.Consistent with our Whistleblowing Policy, these allegations will be investigated and youwill be notified of the outcome of the investigation. In the meantime if there is any othermore specific information that you can share with me with regards to these allegationsthis will be welcome.

Kind Regards

Natasha

Acting on behalf of Chris Kinyanjui

Natasha Barker | Director of Finance & Operations | International

Tel: +27 (0) 11 731 4512 | Mob: +27 (0) 72 986 5642 | Mob: +44 (0) 79 3178 7211 (UK &Roaming)

E: [email protected] Skype: natasha.barker4














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ActionAid is a global movement of people working together to further human rights for alland defeat poverty.


3. Lanre Amao <[email protected]> 28 February 2014 21:03 To: Karthik Navayan<[email protected]>, Natasha Barker [email protected] Cc: Chris Kinyanjui<[email protected]>, Sandeep Chachra [email protected]

Dear Karthik

This is to confirm that an investigation into your complaint is in process and once this isconcluded we would inform you of the outcome. Please bear with us.

Regards

Lanre Amao

Head of Internal Audit

This is not an AA India matter now. It has been put into the hands of AA International,whereby "allegations will be investigated and you [Mr. Karthik] will be notified of theoutcome of the investigation". [09.01.14]

An "investigation into your complaint is in process and once this is concluded we wouldinform you of the outcome. Please bear with us". [28.02.14].

Could you please give Mr Karthik a date by which you will inform him of the outcome ofthe investigation.

With Thanks,

Eugene Culas

Voice of Dalit International (VODI)ICG HouseStation ApproachGreenford, London UB6 0ALTel/ Fx: 00 44 20 8813 2380 /(M) 7919247332Email: [email protected] Web: www.vodintl.org.uk

From: Jayanta Bora






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Sent: Saturday, October 11, 2014 8:56 PM

To: Eugene Culas

Cc: Karthik Navayan ; Sandeep Chachra ; Dipali Sharma ; Judith Davey

Subject: RE: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Eugene,

Greetings from Johannesburg. I learnt of the case only after receiving Judith’s mail and have been in touchwith AA India’s ED and OE Director. I am afraid I will not be in a position to give a response to the case, asthis is an AA India matter. However, we are discussing the possibilities of sharing the diversity data for AAIndia with you as requested. AA India will be in touch with you. Have a good weekend. With warm regards,

Jayanta.



Tel: +27 (0) 11 731 4531 | Mob: +27 (0) 71 836 1936 | Fax: +27 (0) 11 880 8082


Skype: jaybora




From: Eugene Culas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 11 October 2014 08:04 PMTo: Jayanta BoraCc: Karthik Navayan; Sandeep Chachra; Dipali Sharma; Judith DaveySubject: Re: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Jayanta Bora,

I am forwarding a communication below. I have been advised by Mr. Karthik that he has been waiting formore than the last 8 months for a response from your side. Hence I brought it to the attention of Ms. JudithDavey of ActionAid UK, who also holds the view that a response from you is pending on the matter.






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With Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you,

Eugene Culas


From: Judith Davey

Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 11:15 PM

To: Eugene Culas

Cc: Karthik Navayan ; Sandeep Chachra ; Jayanta Bora ; Dipali Sharma


Dear Eugene

As I mentioned before, I am not able to advise on this, as it is Sandeep’s area of responsibility. Jayanta willbe able to advise on whether there have been inquiries where the outcome has not been shared with KarthikNavayan.

Best regards

Judith Davey

Director of People, Performance and Accountability ActionAid UK

33-39 Bowling Green Lane,

London, EC1R 0BJUnited KingdomTel: +44 (0) 20 3122 0708

Cell: +44 (0) 77 9180 0656

[email protected]

www.actionaid.org.uk

End poverty. Together.










http://www.actionaid.org.uk/



From: Eugene Culas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 30 September 2014 00:43To: Judith DaveyCc: Karthik Navayan; Sandeep Chachra; Jayanta Bora; Dipali SharmaSubject: Re: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Judith

Thank you for your email. You said you have copied my email to Mr. SandeepChachra, who is the India Country Director of Action Aid to respond to me.Further you mentioned that AA India is an independent member of the AAFederation.

Mr. Sandeep Chachra passed that responsibility to the OE Director, Ms. DipaliSharma, to respond to my concerns. Unfortunately there was nothing in herresponse connected to my concerns. Instead I found it to be the typical,stereotyped, legalistic style of a caste perpetrator attempting to tackle issues ofCaste discrimination faced by Dalits. They also flout the assurance of a replygiven to Mr. Karthik Navyan by AA International Chair, Johannesburg, underthe pretext of some old immature enquiry done by AA India themselves andsome interested parties. Mr. Karthik is still waiting for the results of the furtherenquiry from Johannesburg as was promised to him.

When it comes to the question of Caste discrimination, Dalits, the 1/3rd of theGlobal poor, the Directors in AA India also seem to have the same style ofevading the subject, without taking into account of the fact that their aidagency receives almost 50% of its income from UK public and taxpayers and therest from people of other similar countries, in spite of they being an independentmember of AA Federation.

As mentioned in my first email and taking the above into consideration, Irequest you to pursue the points below (1 to 4):

1. The contact details of the Dalit Expert in Action Aid India to interact, becausethe present staff in AA India do not seem to understand what CasteDiscrimination means for its victim and who normally have no representation.

2. To reinstate Mr. Karthik Navayan as Programme Officer or in any othersuitable position in AA, as no adverse finding has been recorded about hisperformance in Action Aid. Perusing all records of his case, I also feel that thathe has been unfairly dismissed and that this is not the way to encourageexcluded people to apply and be part of their development.




3. Caste Composition of Action Aid India.

4. Possibility of appointing a Dalit as a Country Co-ordinator /Director of ActionAid India, when 90% of the poor in India are Dalits.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Eugene Culas


From: Judith Davey

Sent: Tuesday, September 23, 2014 9:32 AM

To: Eugene Culas

Cc: Karthik Navayan ; Sandeep Chachra ; Jayanta Bora


Dear Eugene

Thank you for your note. As you’ll be aware, ActionAid India is an independent member of the ActionAidFederation. I have therefore copied Sandeep Chacra, as the Country Director as he is best placed torespond to you.

Best Regards

Judith Davey




Cell: +44 (0) 77 9180 0656

[email protected]














From: Eugene Culas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 23 September 2014 01:12To: Judith DaveyCc: Karthik NavayanSubject: Re: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Judith,

Thank you for your email. Through this I am responding to one part of your email. I will respond tothe other part separately.

After speaking again to Mr Karthik Navayan, we are still concerned about his issue. He says thathis case is about downgrading a Programme Officer position for which he was interviewed, to FieldOfficer, for which he was appointed, without following any prescribed norms within ActionAid’s HRpolicy.

Mr Karthik says that the leading Dalits rights activist who you refer to was Mr Martin Macwan,who is a partner of Action Aid and as such would not be able to give an independent perspective.

In January 2014 Mr. Karthik also approached ActionAid International, who assured him that theywill conduct an investigation and inform him of their findings and suggestions. Now, even after 8months, they have not completed their investigation and provided him with some credible answersthat he is looking for.

Mr Karthik believes that the Indian caste perpetrating office representatives of ActionAid India andin its international office in Johannesburg, S. Africa are influencing the delay in the investigationof his case.

We request you to intervene within your capacity, to further an immediate completion of theproposed enquiry of ActionAid International.

I am also copying this to Mr. Karthik.




With Thanks and looking forward to hearing from you.

Eugene Culas

From: Judith Davey

Sent: Friday, September 19, 2014 5:24 PM

To: [email protected]

Subject: FW: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Eugene

It was good to meet you again at the Bond meeting earlier this week.. I am now in a position to respond toyour question on the specific case that you mentioned regarding Mr Karthik Navayan. I will respondseparately with the information you requested on caste composition of ActionAid India once my colleagueshave forwarded me this information.

Mr Karthik Navayan was employed on a one year local contract by ActionAid in India that ended in October2013. When Mr Navayan raised concerns about his employment an inquiry was held led by a leading Dalitsrights activist to offer an independent perspective in addition to ActionAid staff. The inquiry found that MrNavayan’s allegations of discrimination were groundless.

As an organisation dedicated to upholding people’s rights, ActionAid India makes every effort to create awork environment free from caste-based prejudice and is dedicated to eradicating such discriminationwherever and whenever it occurs.

As I say, I’ll be in touch when I have the other information that you have requested. I know that I gave youmy business card and my contact details are also in my email signature below. Should you have any otherquestions in the future, it’s probably best to raise them with me (or my colleagues) directly rather than raisingthem in an unrelated meeting.

Best regards

Judith Davey








Cell: +44 (0) 77 9180 0656

[email protected]



From: Eugene Culas [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 September 2014 00:27To: Judith DaveySubject: PRACTICES OF CASTE DISCRIMINATION IN ACTION AID

Dear Judith Davey

Greetings from Voice of Dalit International (VODI). Nice to have met you today. I am happy thatyou are aware of the practices of Caste discrimination within Action Aid. In the recent case it isagainst its own employee - unfair dismissal of its own employee based on caste discrimination. Iam attaching some information on it.

Our request is to withdraw all charges against him and reinstate.

Meanwhile please let me know the caste composition of Action Aid India and its Indian Partners.

Today I have handed over to you a booklet "Dalits and International Development Aid', whichcategorically proves that over 1/3rd of the global poor living in caste affected countries are poordue to caste and discrimination based on work and descent. With such a big number in povertydue to caste discrimination, I am sure Action Aid must be having an expert in your office. Kindlylet us know his/ her contact details so that I could interact with that person on caste issue andparticularly on the unfair dismissal issue.

I would like to also seek a clarification from Action Aid, when 90% of the poor in India are Dalits, isit not only appropriate to appoint a Dalit as the Country Co-ordinator of Action Aid India?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Eugene Culas

Voice of Dalit International (VODI)ICG HouseStation Approach






Greenford, London UB6 0ALTel/ Fx: 00 44 20 8813 2380 /(M) 7919247332Email: [email protected] Web: www.vodintl.org.uk

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Inquiry Committee report on Karthik Navayan matter.pdf371K



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