Dalits against quota for converts

There is already competition among Scheduled Castes for schemes

Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation President A R Krishnamurthy, speaking at an event in Kolar on Monday, said that the dalits should stand united against the reservation policy recommended by the Ranganath Mishra Commission. The Commission has recommended the reservation for the members of Scheduled Castes converted to
Christianity and Islam.

He said there is already a fierce competition among the 101 scheduled castes for various schemes and projects rolled out by the governments for their welfare. Now, if more number of people are brought under the reservation lakhs of dalits will be deprived of
their share. Though the ruling party is endeavouring for the welfare of the minorities and the scheduled caste and tribe, the Opposition parties are criticising the party as ‘communal’.

He said of the total 224 legislators 24 belong to scheduled caste and nine to scheduled tribes. The Government has allocated Rs 2,916 crore for 2009-10 and Rs 3,358 crore for 2010-11 for the welfare of the scheduled caste; Rs 167 crore in 2009-2010 and Rs 207 crore for 2010-2011 were allocated in the budget.

He said the corporation has ensured power supply to the borewells sunk under the Ganga Kalyana Scheme in 2005-06 and the corporation has also sanctioned Rs five crore for the electrification.

“I’m aware of the groundwater available below thousand feet in Kolar and Chikkaballapur districts,” he said.

Absenteeism irks president

There was none to welcome Dr B R Ambedkar Development Corporation President A R Krishnamurthy when he visited the Corporation’s district office. Neither the manager nor the taluk development officers were present. They had not even signed the attendance registrar for the last three years. Krishnamurthy wondered: If this is the plight of the office, what will be the state of the scheduled caste? The empty office kept mum.