JOIN USSpeaking at an award ceremony to mark the 120th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, Yeddyurappa said the conditions of the present hostels were pathetic and the State has planned to construct new ones.
The State will also establish 50 new residential schools –– 25 Morarji Desai residential schools for boys and 25 Kittur Rani Chennamma residential schools for girls –– this year to ensure better education facilities to SC students.
Social Welfare Minister A Narayanaswamy pointed out that atrocity cases were on the rise but conviction rate was slow. “The number of cases registered for atrocities against the Dalits is 6,500, but the conviction is just 25, which is not even two per cent of the cases registered,” he said.
Special component plan
One of the award winners, Lakshminarayana Nagaravara, before accepting his award urged the chief minister to cancel the Special Component Plan (SCP) fund allocations to various departments and said the responsibility be entrusted to Social Welfare department.
“During his inspection of various departments, the chief minister himself has found that the SCP funds have not been utilised. If this continues, benefits from the government meant for the welfare of SC/ST will not reach the beneficiaries,” he said.
Awardees
The State government presented the Dr B R Ambedkar award to: Dr Mallepuram G Venkatesh, Dalit Sangarsha Samithi State convener Lakshminarayana M Nagavara, Tatya Rao Kamble from Bidar district, Madhav Rao from Bellary district, Ramesh Yamunappa Assange from Bijapur (Indi), M Krishniah from Mysore, M Jayanna from Chitradurga, M Shankarappa from Anekal, Annaiah from Hoskote and Phataphat Nagraj, President, Karnataka Chapter, Praja Vimochan Chaluvali.
P Chikkahanumanthiah, Bangalore South and Narayana, K R Pet taluk were honoured with Babu Jagajivan Ram award.