Karnataka - Bijapur   

CPI(M) to highlight problems faced by Dalits

Staff Correspondent

Devadasis to stage dharna in front of Chief Minister's residence

BIJAPUR: The Communist Party of India (Marxist) will hold a rally in Bangalore on June 13 to highlight the socio-economic problems faced by the Dalits.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, party's State secretariat member Maruti Manpade said Dalits were treated badly even after 60 years of Independence.

He said that incidents if atrocities on Dalits had increased in the State after the present coalition came to power.

The latest human development indicator had highlighted pathetic life standard of Dalits in the State.

The population of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe people was 24 per cent but when it came to land holding it was below 8 per cent.

Even the land owned by them was not suited for cultivation, he added.

A day prior to the rally, Mr. Manpade said, a day-long dharna would be staged in front of Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's residence in Bangalore seeking meaningful life for Devadasis.

Devadasis

A large number of Devadasis were expected to arrive in State capital on that day to take part in the protest.

He said there were over one lakh Davadasis in the State, and the practice had still been continuing unhindered. The State Government offered a monthly honorarium of Rs. 400 to only those, who crossed 45 years of age. Mr. Manpade said that all those pushed into the system should be given at least Rs. 750 honorarium a month irrespective of their age. District unit head Annaray Ilgera was present.

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CPI(M) to highlight problems faced by Dalits

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