The Hindu : BC panel for extension of scheme to develop dhobi ghats

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

BC panel for extension of scheme to develop dhobi ghats

By B.K. Vittal

Bangalore Feb. 10. The Karnataka State Backward Classes Commission has come out with a suggestion for extension of the scheme for the development of dhobi ghats, now being implemented in Bangalore to all city, town, and village limits, and for formulating a scheme for the economic development of "Nayee Brahmins", a minuscule minority.

The suggestion was made to the Department of Backward Classes by the Chairman of the commission, S. Muniraju, who was impressed by the success of schemes for these groups being implemented in Andhra Pradesh which he visited sometime ago along with the Director of the Department of Minorities.

In a communication to the Department of Backward Classes in this connection, Mr. Muniraju has welcomed the Rs. 2.68-crore programme for the development of 16 dhobhi ghats launched in Bangalore recently and said it had to be extended to the entire State. He has also suggested to the department to formulate suitable proposals for the Government's approval.

Mr. Muniraju has also recommended programmes to be formulated for the economic development of "Nayee Brahmins" as was being done in Andhra Pradesh. According to statistics available, there are just 2.5 lakh "Nayee Brahmins" in Uttara Kannada, Kolar, and Mysore districts.

According to Mr. Muniraju, the Andhra Pradesh Government was providing funds every year for the construction of dhobi ghats in cities, towns, and villages. In the case of municipal corporations, 50 per cent subsidy was sanctioned, the rest being met by urban local bodies. In the case of gram panchayats, the entire amount was sanctioned as subsidy, subject to a maximum, of Rs. 50,000.

As far as "Nayee Brahmins" were concerned, the Government had set up the Nayee Brahmin Cooperative Societies' Federation in 1989 for their welfare. The federation extends financial assistance to members of the societies for purchase of implements and material.

The federation had set apart Rs. 126 lakh in 2000-2001, including Rs. 10 lakh for training children of Nayee Brahmins in traditional musical instruments such as dholu and sannayi through three music schools.

A training programme had also been started by the federation for Nayee Brahmin women to help them set up beauty parlours with term loans. While the amount released was Rs. 23.50 lakh between 1997-98 and 1999-2000, 250 candidates took advantage of the scheme. In 2000-2001, Rs.10 lakh was provided to help 200 women set up beauty parlours.

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