People's Democracy

‘Do Not Discriminate Dalits in Development’

Several mass organisations in Andhra Pradesh have decided to bring pressure on the state government to develop the living places of dalits and tribals in the state. The non-allotment of funds under the special sub-plans for SCs and STs and diverting of whatever meagre amounts allotted was severely criticised and termed as “government discrimination” against these downtrodden sections.

Struggle Committee against Caste Discrimination (KVPS), AP Agricultural Workers Union and AP Girijana Sangham jointly organised a state level convention on “Improvement of living places of Dalits and Tribals” at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram on 2 February.

Making the inaugural address in the convention, retired IAS officer, K R Venugopal said that dalits in the country continue to be discriminated by governments in development aspects also. He pointed out that despite the special sub plan fund for SCs being designed in 1978 itself, till date the objectives of this measure have not been achieved because successive governments have worked to defeat those objectives. He underlined the link between caste discrimination and development discrimination of dalits. The dwellings of these downtrodden sections are so lacking in meagre sanitation facilities that these people constantly suffer from health problems. He called for bringing concerted pressure on state government to allot funds in the coming budget at least for development of living places of these sections.

KVPS vice president and CPI(M) Polit Bureau member B V Raghavulu in his address lambasted the state government for not filling up the post of chairman of SC/ST Commission for the last four years. This Commission itself was achieved with intense struggles launched by KVPS. The lack of sincerity of the government can be seen from this itself. “If you cant find one single person to appoint, we will give you 1000 names, including pro Congress persons. If the government’s stand is thus even for a non expenditure involved work, then imagine its stance when it comes to spending for dalits and tribals”, pointed out Raghavulu. He called for formation of a separate committee of experts to devise the means of spending the sub-plan funds.

During the entire month of January, surveys were conducted by these mass organisations in all parts of the state on habitations of dalits and tribals. Based on the findings of the surveys, memorandums have been submitted to state government at mandal, district level. Now, before the budget is finalised, these organisations have decided to pile up pressure on the government to allot funds for development of these habitations. Leaders of various dalit and tribal organisations also participated in the convention.

(INN)