MANGALORE: Most urban local bodies and panchayati raj institutions in Karnataka are not following directives issued by the Government regarding utilisation of 18 per cent funds set aside for welfare of members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Even the action plans prepared for programmes taken up under these funds are being approved by the respective district administrations without proper scrutiny.

At a monthly meeting with representatives of Dalit organisations and members of Dalit communities organised by district police authorities here on Sunday, the Superintendent of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement Cell) Manjunath Annigeri said he has already submitted a report in this regard to his seniors.

Referring to the norms, Mr. Annigeri said 30 per cent of total revenue generated by the urban local bodies and panchayati raj bodies should be used for their education, 40 per cent for their economic empowerment and rest for other programmes.

Earlier, Gopal Kadumatt, member, District Legal Authority urged B. Dayananda, Superintendent of Police, to ensure that families living below poverty line were exempted from paying fees for availing drinking water connection. He also urged the authorities to look into the problems faced by Dalit communities in receiving houses under housing schemes.

Issues of Dalits going missing, people obtaining government jobs using false caste certificates and delays holding up post mortems in government hospitals too came to the fore. Mr. Dayananda promised to forward the concerns expressed to the competent authorities.

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