'State SCs denied quota benefits'

The SCs constitute 16.2 per cent of the State’s population and they are entitled for the same percentage of reservation in education and recruitment. But they are getting only 15 per cent. The National Scheduled Castes Commission pointed out this in its review of socio economic status of SCs in Karnataka.

The Commission, on Wednesday alleged that the State had done grave injustice to the SCs by denying their constitutional right of reservation. “It is clear in the Constitution that each state should have reservation for SCs as per the population of the castes.
Karnataka has not followed it,” Commission president Buta Singh said in a press conference.

Singh said the Department of Personnel and Training in the Centre had directed all state governments to appoint a liaison officer of the rank of principal secretary to review implementation of reservation. However, Karnataka had not appointed an officer and instead there was only a commissioner-rank officer.

As per the guidelines from the Centre, every state should have a committee under the chairmanship of the Chief Minister to monitor atrocities on dalits in the state. But in Karnataka, Home Minister heads the committee. And surprisingly, the committee has not met even once, Singh pointed.

The Commission said the State government was well aware that nearly 4,200 people secured government jobs by producing fake certificates. But the state machinery had not acted upon them. He also alleged that the government did not spend money released by the Centre for various welfare schemes.

Buta Singh said most of the replies from the State government to the objections raised by the Commission were evasive.

Replying to a question, Singh said the Commission had no powers to take action against the State government. It would submit its report to the President, who in turn will forward the same to the Parliament for appropriate action. He added that Social Welfare minister D Sudhakar, who was present in the review meeting, had assured the Commission that the government would take corrective measures.

-Reservation for SC falling short of quota.

-No liaison officer to ensure reservation.
-Funds for welfare schemes not utilised.
-Backlog vacancies not filled.
-Committee on atrocities on SC never met.
-4,200 people got jobs by submitting fake certificates.