Speaking at a review meeting of the Department for Social Welfare organised at the Zilla Panchayat auditorium on Friday, the minister instructed the Kolar and Chikkaballapur Deputy Commissioners to write to the district judge to take action in this regard.
‘Public unaware’
“Most officers are ignorant of the administrative aspects of dealing with applications submitted by victims of atrocity. But, this fact has come to light only during review of the progress of the department in five districts,” Narayanaswamy said and instructed the deputy commissioners of both Kolar and Chikkaballapur to ensure this does not continue in the districts.
In addition, Dalits who have faced atrocity are unaware of how to submit applications. They have to be given information in this regard, he said.
“The State has a Directorate of Civil Rights Enforcement. But many citizens do not know that a branch of the directorate functions from the police department too.”
Special powers
The police department has created this branch in order to ensure Dalits get 22.75 per cent of the aid. The branch has special powers but most officers are not committed to utilise it for the welfare of Dalits, he rued.
“The Directorate can take action even without any complaint being filed. It can review the files of any department that fails to utilise the grants,” Narayanaswamy explained. “The Directorate can investigate into the matter and recommend action against people’s representatives and officers of local administrative bodies.” Officer absent
The Minister expressed dissatisfaction at the absence of the officer of the Directorate of Human Rights in the district and ordered the Deputy Commissioner to take action against the officer “who is only drawing a salary from the Department for Social Welfare.”Narayanaswamy was also dissatisfied with the responses of the Tahsildar Dr Dayanand to the questions regarding the investigation of cases of violence against Dalits in Muduvari, Cheluvanahalli and Thirumalakoppa.
He ordered the Tahsildar to immediately make a survey of the places and take necessary action.
“It is never enough to discuss matters of violence against socially backward community people in meetings like this. It is necessary to visit the places where the cases are frequent, get information on the matter and then discuss issues like the relief the victims should get and the reasons for delay in providing them relief,” he reminded.
The matter that the funds reserved in Kolar district for the welfare of Dalits was mostly underutilised came to light during the meeting. Narayanaswamy and Department commissioner Naveenraj expressed dissatisfaction about this. They instructed panchayat officers to utilise the funds granted for 2009-10 before October. “Only then will we grant more funds,” they warned. Legislators M Narayanaswamy and G K Venkatashiva Reddy, Kolar Deputy Commissioner Manoj Kumar Meena, Chikkaballapur Deputy Commissioner Dr Manjula, Kolar Zilla Panchayat vice-president Somashekhar, chief executive officer N Shantappa were also present.
