By Silvester D' Souza

Daijiworld Media Network—Kundapur (EP)

Kunapur, Oct 29: Members of backward classes and backward tribes held a protest in front of Gangolli Gram Panchayat on Wednesday October 29 against non-reservation and non-disposal of funds for their welfare schemes. They also condemned the style of functioning of the gram panchayat officials and staff.

Vijayakumar, acting official, Kundapur Taluk Social Welfare Department, visited the protestors and received appeals from the Dalit community leaders and promised that proper disciplinary action will be taken against the guilty officials and staff after investigation.

It was alleged that a certain percentage of funds are not reserved for the development of backward and backward tribes. The protestors also claimed that the meager funds set aside are not being used for development projects. They alleged that oral requests to the gram panchayat presidents and concerned officials have fallen on deaf ears as the officials have not responded to the request for provision of details of reservation and disposal of funds.

The protestors claimed that denial of basic rights to Dalits amounts to their harassment. “The gram panchayat president and concerned officials have failed to respond to the petition of the Dalits. The practice of demanding bribes to avail the benefits under projects meant for Dalits has increased,” they alleged.

They demanded that a special investigation team should be formed within the next 10 days to investigate and disburse funds to backward classes and tribes. Demanding immediate disciplinary action against the guilty, the Dalit leaders submitted a petition to the zilla panchayat chief executive through the taluk social welfare department officials.

Grama panchayat members Nagini, Jayanthi, Geetha, Santhosh, Kamala, Edward Kardin, B Ganesh Shenoy, Jayanti Kharvi, Mujahid Ali Nakuda, Nagaraja Kharvi, Dalit community leaders Ashok N D, Shashidhara Melgangolli, Shashideepa K, Arun Kumar, Shashidhara, Babu G, Gururaj, Bhojaraj, and Padmavathi participated in the protest.

Gram panchayat president Reshma R Kharvi, vice-president Mahesh Raj Poojary, and PDO Praveen D’Souza were present. Police security was provided by Gangolli police station acting inspector Jayanth M.