Tuesday, Apr 15, 2003
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Karnataka-Bangalore
By Our Special Correspondent
He was speaking on the occasion of the 112th birth anniversary of B.R. Ambedkar observed by the KPCC. Addressing the function, the Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, directed the administration to end the practice of hoteliers serving coffee and tea in separate cups to dalits, particularly in areas around Bangalore. He added that a time-bound programme would be launched to fill the 16,000 remaining backlog vacancies which should go to SC and ST candidates. The Government had already filled 5,000 posts in various departments. Mr. Kharge said only Karnataka had failed to provide reservation to SCs in proportion to their population. The SC and ST population in the State exceeded 23 per cent going by the 1991 Census report. However, the total reservation for them had remained at only 18 per cent (15 per cent for SCs and three per cent for STs). He warned that if the Government failed to increase the percentage of reservation for SCs and STs, the Opposition parties would exploit the situation. Moreover, the delimitation of Assembly and parliamentary constituencies would be done on the basis of population. He had already written to the Chief Minister on the matter and a collective decision should be taken. The Home Minister noted that for some years, 23 per cent reservation had been given to SCs and STs in the State by a Congress government. But it had been reverted to 18 per cent. However, Mr. Kharge acknowledged that dalits in Karnataka had benefited from the policy of reservation, though they could not avail themselves of some benefits. The KPCC President, B. Janardhana Poojary, also supported the demand for 23 per cent reservation. The former chief minister, M. Veerappa Moily, who too supported Mr. Kharge, said it was his government which, in 1993, ensured 23 per cent reservation for SCs and STs in panchayat raj bodies and municipalities. However, the Supreme Court, in a judgment on reservation (Indra Sawhey's case), ruled that it should not exceed 50 per cent (for SCs, STs and OBCs). The Janata Dal government reverted to 18 per cent reservation for SCs and STs. Mr. Moily told the Government to enhance reservation to 23 per cent by promulgating an Ordinance. The Vice-President of the KPCC, H. Hanumanthappa, said the Government should go beyond reservation while helping the dalits. It was he who spoke of dalits being served coffee and tea in separate cups in places around Bangalore. However, the Chief Minister made him correct his statement that a dalit tahsildar was prevented from hoisting the National Flag and a dalit schoolgirl, who insisted on drinking water from the same pot, was blinded. Mr. Hanumanthappa said that those offences did not take place in Karnataka. The tahsildar incident was reported from Rajasthan and that of the unfortunate girl from Tamil Nadu. Reacting to his statement, the Chief Minister said such "uncivilised" practices against dalits should be put down. The licences of the erring hotels should be revoked. He instructed the ministers, D.K. Shivakumar, Ramalinga Reddy, A. Krishnappa, and H.M. Revanna, to look into the matter and present a report to the Government. Mr. Krishna also told the Congress workers to ensure that the practice was ended. However, they should educate the hoteliers and not take the law into their own hands. He also spoke of the Congress party and its President, Sonia Gandhi's commitment to the policy of reservation for dalits. However, Mr. Krishna said the question of going "beyond reservation" was difficult. The Minister for Women and Child Development and member of the CWC, Motamma, spoke of disguised discrimination against dalits in various walks of life. Some only paid lip sympathy to their cause. The dalits should reform themselves through education and organisation. Those of them who were in power should help the SCs and STs.
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