Speaking at a meeting organised to receive grievances from Bakuda, Godda, Kadamban, Kuruman, Mansa, Pambada, Vodda and other communities included in the Scheduled Caste at Circuit House here on Friday, he asked the community leaders to conduct a survey and submit a report on the population of the community, occupation, economic and social status.
He said a survey will be conducted by the government in Aril-May 2008 on such small communities to find out whether the government facilities have reached equally to all the communities included under Scheduled Castes. In order to conduct an impartial survey, while appointing the members, it will be ensured that they do not belong to any particular community. If the tentative survey of the community leaders mentioning particulars about the community reaches the commission by January 2008, their requests will be taken into consideration, he assured.
Special benefits
The meeting has been convened to find out whether the communities with small population, who are backward, can be given educational and job opportunities. A request will also be made to include those communities which have not been included in the list, he added.
WHAT LEADERS SAID?
Leaders of various Scheduled Caste communities placed their requests before Justice Sadashiva. They are:
nMr P Deekaiah of Mansa community said, the community is native to Dakshina Kannada district. The community has almost lost its identity as it has moved to cities to mostly eke out a living as municipality workers. Only one per cent population of the community is educated. Hence, the community is totally neglected and is living in a pathetic condition. A survey will be conducted to provide the population figures of the community, he added.
* Mr Vasudev of Pambada community said, the community exists only in DK and Udupi districts with a population of around 800. The community still follows their traditional profession ‘bhootakola’ and very few have entered the portals of any college. Out of 800 people, only two have reached PG level of education. The bhootakola is held only for four months and rest of the year, they work as daily wage earners. Very few persons own land, which is a maximum of 3 acres, he informed.
* Mr Koira Balepuni of Mogera community said, in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district, the population of the community is 1.5 lakh. However, the original name of the community is ‘Mera’, and the same must be used in the commission report, he requested. The Mogaveera community has been included in the Scheduled Caste list. Hence, the Moger and Mogaveera community must be differentiated, he added.
* A member of the Vodda community said, especially in the coastal districts, the Scheduled Caste communities are losing land. With SEZ and other projects coming up, the government provides a meagre amount as compensation. However, with privatisation of the economy, reservations and government facilities for the community will be quite few and hence, the community members should own land and houses instead of selling it, he said.
