Karnataka - Bangalore   

‘Speed up caste certificate verification'

National Commission for Scheduled Castes chairman P.L. Punia addressing a press

Bangalore: Expressing concern over the large number of false caste certificates in circulation in Karnataka, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has recommended that Caste Verification Committee be given a deadline to complete the authentication process.

Speaking to presspersons here on Wednesday, commission chairperson P.L. Punia said that action should be taken not only against those who hold false certificates but also officers who issue them. Social Welfare Minister A. Narayanaswamy admitted that no officer had been prosecuted in Karnataka in connection with a false caste certificate case.

Low conviction

The commission noted that conviction rate under Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities Act), 1989, was low in Karnataka — about 9 per cent as opposed to 45 per cent in the best performing States. Mr. Punia recommended that officers be trained to track and implement the provisions of the law.

In the light of non-expenditure of money allocated under Special Component Plan, targeted for Dalit welfare in all government departments, being an area of concern in Karnataka, the commission has recommended a single-window system. Mr. Punia said that the Social Welfare Department should become a nodal agency — on the lines of the system in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra — and ensure that the allocation benefits the targeted group.

Manual scavenging

Mr. Punia said that the continued prevalence of manual scavenging was a matter of concern. He said that a survey be conducted to find out their numbers. He underlined the need to provide them permanent jobs if their living condition was to improve.

Mr. Narayanaswamy claimed that 266 scavengers were identified and rehabilitated in Karnataka in 1994. The Government was planning to buy jetting machines in all districts to do away with manual scavenging within a year, he added.

Asked why manual scavengers in Savanur, who had protested against loss of livelihood by pouring faeces on themselves, had not yet been given permanent jobs as promised earlier, he said that there were “technical issues” and they were being sorted out.

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