Houses demanded for destitutes

The members of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha and Karnataka Prantha Krishi Koolikarara Sangha laid siege to the Melya Gram Panchayat on Wednesday, demanding sites and houses for the destitutes.

They lamented that the Central and State Government neglected the poor and destitutes and said that due to the lack of interest of the government they are deprived of the facilities.

Insecure residence

The convenor of the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha said: “Many people in the taluk live in insecure huts due to lack of appropriate housing facilities. Over the past one year, the homeless, have submitted 500 to 600 applications through the Karnataka Prantha Raitha Sangha and Krishi Coolikarara to each gram panchayats.”

He added that a massive protest was also held in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Prior to, that a Nodal Officer was appointed who submitted a report to the government.

“But none of the gram panchayats have recognised the list of beneficiaries,” rued the convenor.

Around 8,000 applications have been submitted to 10 gram panchayats through the organisations.

Demands

Their various demands included provision of sites and construction of houses to the destitutes, effective implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, providing honorarium for construction of toilets in villages, implementation of drought-relief work and establishment of goshalas.

They also demanded construction of drainage and roads in dalit colonies as part of the sanitation drive.

The president of Krishi Koolikarara Sangha C C Ashwathappa said “If our demands are not met at the earliest then we will lock the Taluk Panchayat and stage an indefinite sit-in protest.

Thippanna, Babureddy, Narayanasway and others participated in the protest.