The Hindu : Karnataka News : DSS (Sagar) to launch awareness campaign from December 6

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Nov 26, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

DSS (Sagar) to launch awareness campaign from December 6

By Our Special Correspondent

GULBARGA, NOV. 25. The Dalit Sangharsha Samiti (Sagar) will observe the `Mahaparinirvana Day' (death anniversary) of B.R. Ambedkar on December 6 by organising rallies in all district and taluk headquarters to create awareness among the oppressed sections of society about their constitutional rights.

Addressing presspersons here today, the DSS State convener, D.G. Sagar; the State organising convener, Malleshi Sajjan; the district convener, Arjun Bhadre; and the district organising convener, Suresh Hadimani, said that a monthlong awareness campaign would be inaugurated on December 6 in Gulbarga city by the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Water Resources Minister, M. Mallikarjun Kharge.

The inauguration would be preceded by a procession. Mr. Sagar said that during the campaign the DSS would stress on extending reservation in employment to the private sector and urge the Union Government to amend the Constitution to facilitate it.

Another demand was the sanction at least two acres of agricultural land to landless labourers and regularisation of unauthorised cultivation in forest and revenue land.

According to an estimate more than 12 lakh families were into bagair hukum cultivation in the State.

Burial ground

Mr. Sagar said that the State Government would also be urged to provide land for a separate burial ground for Dalits in villages and also protect them from encroachment. The absence of a separate burial ground for Dalits in many villages had given rise to tension between them and the upper castes. He said the State Government should concede the long pending demand of the Dalits to increase the monthly scholarship given to SC/ST students from Rs. 500 to Rs. 1,000 immediately and release the scholarship sum that was due. As against the total dues of Rs. 1.20 crores only Rs. 70 lakhs had been released to Gulbarga district so far.

Mr. Sagar said that the condition of most of the SC hostels was pathetic. For better upkeep and effective monitoring a separate directorate for hostels should be established and officers from the Social Welfare Department should be posted to supervise their functioning. He demanded that the ban on recruitment in Social Welfare, Education, and Health departments should be withdrawn and the vacant posts filled.

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