Udupi: SDPI holds hunger strike seeking better facilities for minorities

Udupi, Dec 4: Activists of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) staged a day-long hunger strike in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office in Udupi on Saturday demanding better facilities for the minorities.

Addressing the gathering, Abdul Rehman Malpe, general secretary of SDPI district unit, said that even after 69 years of Independence, the full benefits of government schemes were yet to reach the minority communities.

The Union government should keep at least Rs. 10,000 crore aside for the welfare of minority communities in its budget for 2017-18, he added.

The government should reserve 15 per cent of funds for the welfare of the minority communities as per the recommendations of the Justice Ranganath Mishra Commission.

Of this 15 per cent, 10 per cent should be reserved for the welfare of the Muslim community, he added.

Morarji Desai Residential Schools and PU colleges should be started for providing education to students of minority communities.

A residential PU college and hostels should be started for girls belonging to minority communities in all districts. I

In the last three years, the number of Muslim students failing in the SSLC and PUC exams had increased by 10 per cent when compared to the students in the General category. As per the SSLC results for 2016, 27.47 per cent of Muslim students had failed in the exams.

The students of the minority communities basically went to the government schools. Hence, a three-month preparatory training should be given to students before the SSLC exams, he said.