Mangalore: The district (DK) Dalit Sangharsh Samiti submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister through Deputy Commissioner/Magistrate of DK dt. today, Friday seeking rightful demands made by Dalits in state in the coming state Budget, due to be presented on Feb.24 in the Assembly in Bangalore. The Samithi members offered Dharna (protest) in front of DCO gates on Monday to press their demands.
A similar request was made in Bangalore last year to CM who had promised to discuss and include the Dalit demands in 2010-11 Budget but did not. The demands are carried forward now to 2011-12 Budget, for which an announcement by CM had been made.
A giant rally is proposed to the state level in Bangalore for the purpose to remove the injustice done so far and so long to the backward Dalit communities. This will be held as on 25th Feb, 2011.
The Budget is scheduled a day earlier (Feb.24), so rallies were reorganized on Feb.14 all over the state to meet demands according to population strength of Dalits in the ensuing financial year.
A demonstration has been held at noon in front of the DCO to press for proportionate justice (as per population) and a petition was given to the DC accordingly.
The SC/ST being 23% of the total state population, to that extent their demands should be also met from the state Budget proportionately, the speakers told the rally today. They made about 20 demands at the rally today, such as employment, and 35kg. food grains at Rs3 per kg. under BPL cards.
D.Krishnananda, district organiser, Shekhar Chilimbi, Co-sponsor, Shivappa Attoli and Laxman Kanchan, district treasurer, among others addressed the rally.