KADAPA: Seventy- four Dalits of Veluguvaripalle village in Pullampet mandal on Wednesday got back 180 acres of leased land at Pedda Orampadu village in Obulavaripalle mandal enjoyed by landlords for the last 12 years.

Joint Collector Kanthilal Dande and Railway Kodur MLA G. Venkateswara Prasad announced restoration of the land to Dalits at the first Social Welfare `sadassu' held at Railway Kodur MPDO office on Wednesday. They also distributed assets worth Rs. 78 lakhs among 909 Dalit beneficiaries through SC Corporation.

Speaking at the `sadassu' aimed at spreading public awareness against untouchability and atrocities on SCs/STs, Mr. Dande exhorted Dalits not to file false cases against their rivals.

He exhorted them to assert gain awareness of their rights, which have safeguards under Protection of Civil Rights Act 1955 and Atrocities Against SCs/STs (Prevention) Act 1989. Observing that the predominant complaint in most cases filed by Dalits was that they were abused on caste lines, he advised them to lodge only genuine complaints.

Officials took over assigned lands under possession of others and SCs/STs given rights on the lands in Kalasapadu, Kasinayana and Brahmamgari Matham mandals, the Joint Collector stated. Dalits were being assisted under Indira Kranthi Patham to cultivate the lands, he said.

Assigned lands

An inventory of assigned lands in Kadapa district was being prepared and such lands held by others would be allotted to SCs/STs, Mr. Dande said. He urged Dalits to cooperate in Government programmes and enrol dropouts in schools.

Railway Kodur MLA Dr. G. Venkateswara Prasad stressed the need for upholding moral values.

Integrated hostels

The Government was setting up 100 integrated hostels in the State this year and 200 more next year to enable students of all castes to live and study together in order to eliminate casteism, Kodur MLA stated.

An integrated hostel would be set up at Railway Kodur with an outlay of Rs. 1 crore to accommodate 400 students, he said. He suggested conduct of a monthly grievance redressal meeting at Kadapa for Dalits.

Stating that purchase and sale of DKT lands was an offence, he assured restoration of all DKT lands to the original allottees.

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