Dalits must focus on education – A. Narayanaswamy

Dalits must focus on education – A. Narayanaswamy

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Aug 30, 2012: A. Narayanaswamy, social welfare and prisons minister, said after the symbolic inauguration of the construction work on the Mogera Sangha Samudaya Bhavan held at SDM Law College on August 29, Wednesday, that Dalits are the most oppressed people society because they are not educated.

Criticizing people from higher castes who object whenever benefits are given to Dalits, he demanded to know why Dalits shouldn’t be given benefits when even the president and the prime minister of India receive subsidized cooking gas. Nobody objects to benefits given to prominent people in society, but everybody objects to benefits given to oppressed people such as Dalits, he added.

Speaking on the issue of reservation, he said that around 101 scheduled castes and 51 scheduled tribes are getting benefits under reservation. Simultaneously, scheduled tribe communities living in forests are not even aware of the benefits available to them. On the other hand, a number of people belonging to SC/ST communities work for daily wages and are still struggling to come into the mainstream of society, he said.

Urging Dalits to question the various differences in society, he said that all people are born equal. He also advised Dalits to give top priority to education and make their mark in society. He also promised help to the Mogera community if they are interested in establishing schools for their community.

Speaking on the occasion, Mayor Gulzar Banu advised Dalits on the importance of getting hold a ration card. Stating that several Dalits find it difficult to get ration cards because they do not have title deeds, she urged the government to do something about it. She also submitted a memorandum to the minister regarding this issue.

The state government has already sanctioned Rs. 1 crore of the Rs. 2.5 crore required to construct the Mogera community hall. The community plans to construct a training institute and a hostel for members of the community.

MLA S. Angara, who was felicitated on this occasion, presided over the event.