Karnataka - Bangalore   

‘Ensure funds earmarked for welfare of Dalits are spent’

Bangalore: Mruthyunjay Nayak, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, on Saturday directed Social Welfare Commissioner Baburao Mudbi to ensure that funds earmarked for the welfare of the Scheduled Castes in the State budget were spent and that the targeted sections were benefited.

Addressing presspersons after holding consultations with various Dalit welfare associations working in different government agencies, Mr. Nayak directed the commissioner (who was also present) to monitor whether the Government implemented the directive of the Planning Commission to set apart 21.5 per cent of the funds for alleviating the sufferings of the Scheduled Castes.

His attention was drawn to the report of the legislature committee on Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes headed by M.P. Venkatesh which indicted the Finance Department for not setting apart funds according to the guidelines of the Planning Commission.

Even the funds already set apart in the budget under various departments had been diverted for other purposes, he said.

Mr. Nayak said he did not know this as he assumed office recently. But, he directed Mr. Mudbi to look into the issue.

But, Mr. Nayak, who hails from Orissa, said he would monitor the implementation of his directive to the commissioner.

Mr. Nayak said he was visiting Bangalore on September 17 for reviewing the implementation of the programmes by the Social Welfare Department.

He expressed displeasure over the failure of officials to provide him information on the issues raised at the press meet.

He said that the Additional Director-General of Police (Civil Rights Enforcement Cell) did not inform him about the number of cases pending with his cell and the action taken to ameliorate the grievances of the Dalits.

He told the officials to initiate measures to end atrocities on Dalits.

Mr. Nayak said he was writing to the Social Welfare Department as well as to the commissioner to redress the grievances of the Dalits. Around 7,000 of the 12,000 pourakarmikas working under the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike were getting only Rs.1,200 to Rs.1,500 per month for several years.

On the vexed issue of separate reservation for Madigas, who comprised the majority among the Scheduled Castes, in the State commensurate with their population, Mr. Nayak said the commission was ready to consider any recommendation made by the State Government.

On introducing reservation in the private sector, Mr. Nayak pointed out that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had announced in Parliament that the private sector should voluntary action on the matter.

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