A large number of activists of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday protested in front of the Mangalore office of the Deputy Commissioner demanding more facilities and grants for development of Dalits.The demonstration was a part of the call given by party for a Statewide protest on the eve of presentation of State Budget.
Sunil Kumar Bajal, a party office-bearer, said the State Government had done nothing for the development of those belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes. It was distressing that the problem of unemployment among these groups continued. .
The primary demand of the party had been allocation of 24 per cent of the budget amount for programmes related to the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes.
The Tumkur district unit of the Communists Party of India (Marxist) staged a protest demanding earmarking 24 per cent of funds in the budget for the Dalits . CPI(M) leader N.K. Subramanya urged the Government to increase the grant in tune with the increase in population of Schedule Castes and Schedule Tribes.
In raichur CPIM activists marched from Ambedkar Circle to the Deputy Commissioner's office and submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in this regard.
Earlier, talking to presspersons, convener of the district unit of the Dalit Sangharsha Samiti Hanumanthappa Kakargal said the samiti had decided to stage a State-level rally at Bangalore on February 25 demanding the Government reserve 23 per cent of the budgetary amount for the welfare of Dalits. He said the rally would demand that the Government distribute 50 per cent of government land available to Dalit families for agriculture. They also demanded that the scholarship for students be increased from Rs. 100 to Rs. 1,000.
