Chairman of the State Scheduled Caste and Tribes Commission Nehru Olekar has said that additional hostels would be provided  for students hailing from scheduled caste and tribes in the district.

Speaking to reporters in the City on Monday, he said that number of hostels should increase corresponding to the population growth.

The Commission will send a proposal to the government in this regard, he stated.

Olekar also conducted a grievances redressal meeting with various Dalit organisations in the office of Deputy Commissioner on Monday. Leaders of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti urged the Commission to recommend the government for introduce inner reservation among scheduled caste and tribes. They submitted memorandum to him stressing the need for reformulating the reservation policy.

Scheduled caste and tribes have remained in lower rung of social order. Among Dalits many sub castes which are micro minority in population like Sudugadu Sidda, Hakkipikki, Domba and other castes have remained deprived as dominant sections within Dalits are enjoying the benefits of reservation and welfare programmes launched by government, the DSS leaders said demanding the commission to recommend the state government to accord internal reservation among Dalits and to reformulate reservation policy after conducting detailed caste based survey.

The DSS also demanded the Commission to waive loans borrowed by unemployed Dalit youths from Dr Ambedkar Development Corporation, raise grants for construction of Ambedkar Bhavan, raise the scholarship for Dalit students and provide reservation in private sector also.

Replying to a query about internal reservation, Olekar said that a separate commission constituted by state government under Justice Sadashiva will look into the issue. Regarding caste based population survey, he said that commission will talk to government in this regard.

Olekar also assured of resolving land disputes related to Dalits at the earliest. Activists from Madiga Dandora Meesalati Horata Samiti, Dalita Vimochana Sene took part in the redressal meet in which Deputy Commissioner Anil Kumar, SP Arun Ch-akravarthy were present.