Dalits under the banner of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday launched a 24-hour dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here against what they described as the “anti-Dalit attitude” of the officials of the Mangalore City Corporation.
Speaking on the occassion the party's state secretariat member Maruti Manpade said that corporations of several cities in various parts of the state have been following an anti-dalit policy and have shown no concern for their development.
Urging an increase in the budget alloted for the welfare of the underprevileged communities, the protesters demanded transperancy in the disbursement of funds and accountability in the functioning of the administration. Committee to Struggle for Dalits’ Right (CSDR) district convenor Krishnappa Konchady, Mangalore city committee secretary of CPI (M) Sunil Kumar Bajal and others were present.
Krishnappa Konchady, alleged that many applications with the civic body were pending action for several months. He urged the corporation to process all applications from Dalits for construction or repair of houses within a month. Demanding that the grants for the construction of toilets be increased to Rs. 20,000 from Rs. 10,000, he said that Dalits in Mulky, Belthangady and Sullia, had been given Rs. 15,000 for the purpose.
The memorandum demanded that the grants for the construction of houses be raised to Rs. 3 lakh. Their another demand was to double the amount of scholarships being given to Dalit students and to disburse it at the beginning of the academic year.
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