BIJAPUR: The crucial meeting called here on Thursday by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Mohsin to resolve the issue of social boycott imposed on Dalits of Kadkol village in Basavanabagewadi taluk failed.

Following this, the Karnataka Moola Asprushyara Manava Hakkugala Rakshana Vedike and a few other organisations announced that they would go ahead with their proposed agitation, including a padayatra from Kadkol to Bijapur.

At the meeting, the ostracised Dalits put forward nine demands and insisted on a written assurance on time-bound relief.

Apart from ending social boycott, the demands included allotment of residential sites to 93 families near Allamaprabhu Gudi away from the village, rehabilitation of eight bonded labourers and three Devadasis, starting a nursery school, extending financial assistance to unemployed youth to start units, distribution of land to 60 families under the land ownership scheme.

Proposal

Mr. Mohsin said a proposal on providing 50 houses to them (Kadkol Dalits) had already been sent to Government, and temporary jobs would be given to them under the food for work programme in a day or two.

Loans would be sanctioned immediately for starting "kirana" shops and flour mills in their colony.

The other demands would be considered as per the norms and as and when funds were made available by the Government.

He said it was necessary for people of all communities to maintain peace in the village.

Besides Mr. Mohsin, Superintendent of Police Seemanth Kumar Singh; Chief Executive Officer of zilla panchayat Rajeev Ranjan; Additional Superintendent of Police S. Shivanand; Basavanabagewadi tahsildar R.M. Reddy and Social Welfare Officer H.M. Pujar, who represented the administration, insisted that five persons each from both sides sign a peace pact.

However, Dalit leaders, especially vedike president Ramanna Chalavadi rejected it saying that it would not lead to any qualitative change at the ground level.

In the past, he said, the caste Hindus promised to end the boycott but continued it.

Representatives of caste Hindus such as Shrimanth Allagi, Sahebgouda Gunnapur, Ummaragi, Choudry and others said there was no boycott. Shops and flour mills were open to all.

However, Yamanamma Kadkolkar, a Dalit, alleged that her son who had gone to buy essential commodities from a shop on Wednesday, was sent back.

Echoing her view, some other women said they were not secure in the village. Hence, they must be rehabilitated outside it.

The Dalit leaders rejected a proposal to have two separate tanks - one for them and another for caste Hindus. Mr. Chalavadi urged Mr. Mohsin to disclose the direction given by the State Government to end the social boycott.

However, Mr. Mohsin rejected it saying that there was no need to make public the Government communication.

He also rejected the demand to give a written assurance about the proposed relief measures.

Sources said the administration was against rehabilitating the Dalits outside the village as it would mean continuation of their boycott and might trigger such demands elsewhere.

An attempt would continue to break the deadlock, they added.

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