Mangalore, May 8: Dalit leaders raised issues concerning the lack of development in naxal-affected areas in Dakshina Kannada, along with other complaints such as eviction of poor Dalits and objection to certain terms used to refer to the SC/ST community, at a grievance meeting at Deputy Commissioner's office here on Thursday.
During the meeting, convenor of Dalit Hakkugala Horata Samiti Shekhar L alleged that the funds sanctioned for providing basic amenities to naxal-affected areas in the district were not utilised for the purpose. He said that part of the money was used to construct a new asphalt road of about 1.5 km that leads to a Jain Basadi in Savanal in Belthangady taluk, while only 150 metres of road leading to Malekudiya hamlet in the same village was asphalted. “Where are the money released by the government going?” he asked.
He also urged the DC to construct a road to the Malekudiya hamlet in Banjarmale near Neriya, where Malekudiyas were compelled to pass through a private property to reach their dwellings.
Other grievances were voiced at the meeting where few Dalit community members objected to the use of terms such as Harijana' and Girijana' in official records, despite the ban on public usage of these words. A Dalit leader demanded that such words connected with the SC/ST community should be removed from the RTC and other government records.
Deputy Commissioner A B Ibrahim ordered the authorities concerned to remove the terms Harijana, Girijana and Holeya from the government records immediately.
Dalit Sangharsh Samiti leader S P Anand pointed the pathetic condition of the quarters provided by the Mangalore City Corporation to its civic workers at Mahakalipadpu. With the monsoons only days away, there is a fear of these houses collapsing due to heavy winds and rain. The lives of families residing in these quarters are at risk, he said, urging that the city corporation should make alternative arrangements for the civic workers till new quarters were built.
Mr Anand urged the administration to allot a cremation ground for SCs and STs at Niddodi. He said that the two-acre land sanctioned by the revenue department after constant demand was inconvenient for cremation.
The deputy commissioner assured of taking necessary measures.
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