TAKING STOCK: M. Maheshwar Rao, (second from right) Deputy Commissioner, presiding over a meeting of representatives and leaders of SC/ST community in Mangalore on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: M. Maheshwar Rao, Deputy Commissioner, has assured members and leaders of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes that the administration will take definitive action in identifying "depressed classes manna" land in Dakshina Kannada and steps will be taken to disburse such land to members of these communities over the next few months.

Presiding over a district-level meeting organised by the Department of Social Welfare, here on Tuesday, Mr. Rao said that he had discussed the issue with the sub-divisional and taluk-level revenue authorities. The revenue authorities had carried out a survey in this regard, he said. Details had been sought on the land provided to members of these communities under the "akrama-sakrama" process and the number of applications pending with the department, he said. Taking note of complaints by a section of participants at the meeting that members of non-SC/ST communities had encroached on "depressed classes manna" land set aside for SC/STs, Mr. Rao said the authorities would look into all aspects of the issue. Mr. Rao also directed Assistant Commissioner of Puttur K.A. Appaiah to expedite the process of registering land obtained by members of SC/ST communities.

When a few persons urged the Deputy Commissioner to regularise encroachments on "gomala" land, Mr. Rao said that he would consider it on a case-by-case basis. Stating that the Government had finalised the composition of the committee which would decide on requests received for regularisation of land under Form 50 and 53, Mr. Rao said the revenue authorities would dispose of the petitions on a priority basis. Mr. Rao directed District Health and Family Welfare Officer T.R. Jagannath to conduct periodic health check-up camps for inmates of hostels managed by Departments of Social Welfare and Backward Classes and Minorities.

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