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Buta Singh criticises Puducherry Government

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

CAREFUL STUDY: Chairman of National Commission for Scheduled Caste Buta Singh going through the representation given by Dalit organisations at a function in Puducherry on Tuesday.

PUDUCHERRY: Chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC) Buta Singh on Tuesday flayed the territorial administration for defying a Supreme Court directive to ensure reservation benefits for all Scheduled Caste persons irrespective of whether they were origin or migrant SCs.

Criticising the Puducherry Government for issuing a notification to provide reservation benefits to origin SC persons, Mr Buta Singh said he would take up the issue with the Union Home Ministry to rectify the mistake. “The Union Territory cannot act on its own. The UT is not the competent authority to decide on major legislations,” he said at a seminar on Dalit Rights organised by the Pondicherry Scheduled Caste People’s Welfare Association here.

Mr Singh promised to convene a meeting of the representatives of Dalit organisations here with the Union Home Ministry officials and sort out the issue.

He also observed that successive governments at the Centre failed to implement welfare measures guaranteed in the Constitution.

Mr. Singh said he would hold separate meetings with the Members of Parliament to voice the Commission’s concern with regard to the Eleventh Plan.

Though the Planning Commission was approached several times to include NCSC in the formulation of Five Year Plan, they were denied the privilege that was guaranteed under the Constitution, he said.

He said the Commission would not accept the Eleventh Plan without the inclusion of their demands.

Earlier, the Pondicherry Scheduled Caste People’s Welfare Association passed 20 resolutions and submitted a copy to the Chairman of NCSC. Their demands included cancellation of the Government Order guaranteeing reservation benefits to origin SC only and adherence to Central Government’s guidelines in implementing the Special Component Plan.

Some of the other demands included implementation of the Central Government’s Housing Scheme (VAMBAY) for the benefit of SCs free distribution of clothes to SCs through Adi Dravidar Welfare Department and reservation of seats for them in higher education.

Others who spoke at the function included former Judge of Madras High Court Justice V. Kanagaraj and Henry Thiagaraj, Chairman of The Voice of Dalit Forum.

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