Karnataka - Belgaum   

`Dalits' treatment deplorable'

Staff Correspondent

Government urged to fill vacancies in universities and government colleges

Equal participation: Lambani women join the procession taken out to mark the 114th birthday anniversary celebrations of Dr. Ambedkar in Belgaum on Thursday.

BELGAUM: The fact that Dalits in the country continue to be subject to socio-economic and cultural inequality is deplorable, as the Constitution that stresses equal rights for all was framed by B.R. Ambedkar, a Dalit.

A function was organised by the Dr. Ambedkar Utsav Mahamandal and Utsav samiti to celebrate the 114th birth anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar here on Thursday. Ramesh Kudachi, MLA, presided over the function. The president of the mandal, Mallesh Chaugule, and president of the samiti, Vijay Shetty, were present.

All leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party from the district, including Suresh Angadi M.P., Abhaykumar Patil, MLA, and Satish Jarkiholi, Minister for Textiles, were conspicuous by their absence.

Baswaraj Jalvadi of Belgaum warned that the fundamentalist forces were getting organised to strengthen the exploitative system.

He called upon the Dalits to organise themselves and fight for their rights. He also urged the Union and State Governments to take steps to fill the 75,000 vacancies for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in universities and government colleges in the country.

Sudhakar Joglekar of Sirsi asked the Dalits to be alert against the forces that were bent on dividing society on caste and religious grounds.

The Minister for Agriculture Marketing and district in-charge, Prakash B. Hukkeri, spoke about the various schemes and programmes announced by the Union and State Governments for the uplift of Dalits.

The Deputy Commissioner, M. Maheswar Rao, stressed that Dalits can fight exploitation by becoming economically independent, which can be achieved only if they are educated.

Eighty-two Dalit organisations jointly took out a procession of tableaux on the life of Dr. Ambedkar. Cultural troupes, including Lambanis and "Dollu Kunita" artistes participated.

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