The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Quota beneficiaries urged to make way for others

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 15, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Quota beneficiaries urged to make way for others

Special Correspondent

`It is the best way of showing respect to Ambedkar'

ANXIOUS MOMENTS: (From left) Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa, Minister for Science and Technology Ramachandra Gowda and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh were stuck for a whil e when the hydraulic lift jammed after they had garlanded the statue of B.R. Ambedkar in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.

BANGALORE: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy on Saturday appealed to those who had already availed themselves of the benefits of reservation to come up in life to make way for others who needed it so that the removal of social inequalities could be expedited.

"This is the best way of showing your respect to Ambedkar," the Chief Minister said while participating in the 116th birth anniversary celebrations of B.R. Ambedkar organised in front of the Vidhana Soudha. At the same time, he asked the oppressed communities to look beyond reservation in response to an aggressive demand from a section of the audience to expedite the filling of backlog vacancies for Dalits. "Tell me honestly; how many of you are depending upon reservation in government jobs alone. Is it possible for us to help those labourers who toil day and night for a meagre salary of Rs. 700 a month with reservation in government jobs," he asked.

`Officials unresponsive'

There was a dire need to provide some kind of social protection to such people who could not be helped by reservation in jobs. Turning the heat on bureaucrats, the Chief Minister said officials had failed to respond to his suggestion to come out with a scheme to provide houses to poor people who lack social security. "Our bureaucracy is still not ready to understand the harsh ground realities of the lower strata of society," he said and urged officials to go to villages and localities on the outskirts of Bangalore to understand the problems of poor people.

"We have the tradition of laying out a red carpet in the Vidhana Soudha for the heads of big IT companies who come here seeking infrastructure facilities for their companies. But our police do not even allow poor people with torn clothes to enter the Vidhana Soudha though they too want to pour out their woes."

He cited an instance in which a poor woman who had been sanctioned Rs. 50,000 from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund for the treatment of a heart ailment could not cash the cheque because she could not open a bank account. This was because she was yet to get a ration card, which was a proof of income and identify. She was prevented from entering the Vidhana Soudha when she tried to draw the attention of the Government to her problem. Mr. Kumaraswamy reminded officials that poor people were suffering because of their failure to provide ration cards.

He assured the audience that steps would be taken to fill the backlog vacancies. He also called upon youth to inculcate the spirit of struggle from Ambedkar and launch a struggle for social change. "But please ensure that your struggle is peaceful. It should not spread hatred," he advised the Dalit youth.

Single-window system

Social Welfare Minister Balachandra Jarkiholi appealed to the Chief Minister to initiate a single-window system for the Social Welfare Department to address all schemes and problems at one centre.

He also suggested that an Ordinance be promulgated to clear the hurdles to filling the backlog vacancies within six months. Stressing the importance of education, he asked Dalit leaders to fight for getting educational facilities for Dalits.

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Awards were presented to several personalities on the occasion for their contribution to the cause of social justice.

Union Minister of State for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways K.H. Muniyappa and Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly N. Dharam Singh spoke.

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