Mangalore: Hike quota for Dalits in budget

"The Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) should increase the reservation proportion for Dalits in the budget from 18% to 22.75% as declared by the State government,demanded CPI(M) Action Committee for Integrated Implementation of 18% Scheme Convenor J P Vasudeva.

He was addressing party workers at a protest organised by the Action Committee demanding proper implementation of schemes for Dalits in front of the MCC Office here on Tuesday.

He said, "there is a downward trend in the Human Development Index (HDI) of Dalits in Mangalore city. Dalits, who lack proper housing facility, live in slum areas and also are facing severe health hazards.The HDI of Dalits in Mangalore is in a dire state only because of the lack of proper implementation of schemes by the MCC authorities, he charged.

Vasudeva urged that the annual income ceiling fixed for the beneficiaries under the 18% Scheme should be withdrawn. The financial aid being distributed to Dalits for the construction of house should be increased to Rs 3 lakh, he said and added that the formalities and conditions in schemes for Dalits should be liberalised.

CPI(M) District Committee member Krishnappa Konchadi urged that all schemes sanctioned for Dalits should be implemented in a transparent manner through a single window system. Authorities should liberalise procedures on humanitarian grounds to make available the benefits under various schemes to Dalits properly, he added. Konchadi demanded that electricity connections should be provided for houses of all Dalits in the city. Schemes should be implemented to provide houses for all Dalits, who do not have shelter, he said adding that benefits of all schemes should be made available to Dalits atleast within a month of application date.

CPI(M) Mangalore City Committee Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal and Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) district President Muneer Katipalla were present.

(Courtesy : Mangalorean.com)