Daijiworld Media Network- Udupi(HB)
Udupi, Jan 25: Samata Sainik Dal staged a protest against District-in-charge minister Vinay Kuamr Sorake by holding black flags held at Clock tower Udupi, on January 25 for seeking sanitation facilities for SC/ST communities.
On January 26, Vinay Kumare Sorake award Udupi district as a “Swacchata Zilla”. The protestors feel that this is completely wrong and protested against the minister.
Speaking during the protest, Vishwanth Pethri said "The committee demands complete sanitation for 80 scheduled tribes and scheduled castes families. Lacks of rupees has been spent over decades on India’s sanitation programmes, yet half of the country’s population do not have any sanitatation facilities."
"There is a provision to provide financial assistance to SC/ST committees that are Rs 5000 from SW/SCP/TSP funds, Rs 4,500 from MGNREGS fund, Rs 4,700 from MBA fund, nearly 22.75% i.e Rs 5000 from village panchayat. So there is a privilege to provide total amount of Rs 20,000 for the construction of toilets." He added.
Vishwanath said, the district authority has misused government funds. They are providing only Rs 6000 instead of Rs 20,000. The Rural Development and Construction funds have completely failed to keep cleanliness in the district.
Gopi Nejar said, ‘In remote area like us, we still depend on open grounds. We have urged many times from the village panchayat level to district, but we are fed up by such negligible system. ST/SC communities cannot afford all expenses, but surprisingly District-in-charge minister is going to declare Udupi an open defecation free district, but in reality it not successfully implemented’.
The committee says that, documents related to sanitation in Udupi district is false.
The members shouted seeking justice by holding black flags and beating the drums. The committee warned of going for massive protest in coming days if no measure is taken.
Manjunat Madhuvan, treasurer, Babanna Birthi, District xonvener, T Keshava, secretary, Ganesh Rane, Sudhakar Surgoli, Gunakar Bairampalli and Gopi Nejar were present.