Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SHS)

Mangalore, Aug 25: Alleging the Mangalore city corporation of anti-Dalit stance and claiming that it diverted 22.75% of the funds reserved for Dalit welfare, the CPI (M) along with Dalit Rights Committee (DRC) staged a protest in front of MCC here on Monday August 25.

Elaborating the alleged gross injustice from many decades by the city corporation towards Dalits, CPI (M) Mangalore committee secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal said the MCC misused 22.75% of the funds earmarked in the corporation budget for the welfare of the backward community. He claimed that the fund stipulated has been allegedly diverted for other civic works undertaken in the city.

Launching a scathing attack on the MCC, he said from past three-and-a-half decades the MCC has ignored the community, though many memorandums have been shot to the corporation to seek justice on various issues. "We have procured all the documents pertaining to the misuse of funds through RTI and we will persist with our efforts to ensure that justice is done to the poor people." The corporation, he alleged, was taking anti-Dalit stance and failing in its duty to perverse the rights of the community.

The corporation, according to the documents sought throught RTI, reportedly show that funds reserved for Dalit welfare have been diverted to road construction, laying interlocks, lake rejuvenation, playground and more. "The move by the MCC amounts to degradation of the Constitution which stipulates that funds reserved for Dalits be exclusively used for their welfare," he said.

"The MCC has failed to provide land to the Koraga community. The corporation had said that it would sanction 1.50 cents, which is equalant to the space of the small office of MCC commissioner or mayor," he mocked.

"According to the Mohammad Peer report, a Dalit is entitled to get 1.50 acres of land and MCC should comply with the report. The corporation must grant one-and-a-half acres of land to the Koraga community," he said.

The protesters raised slogans against the MCC and demanded that funds reserved for Dalits be used for their rightful purpose.
Lingappa Nantoor, president of Dalit Rights Committee, secretary Prashant M B, Shahikala Tribe Rights Coordination Committee secretary Jayakumar and others participated in the protest.