Date:16/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/16/stories/2005051606970500.htm

Kerala

Government will ensure jobs for Dalits

Staff Reporter

KOZHIKODE: The Industries and Social Welfare Minister, V.K. Ebrahim Kunju, has said that the State Government will move ahead with its liberalisation programmes only after ensuring that job opportunities are available for the Dalits. Mr. Ebrahim Kunju was speaking after inaugurating the Kerala Dalit Mahila Federation (KDMF) fourth State conference at the Nalanda auditorium on Sunday.

He said the inherent benefits of liberalisation had not reached those in the backward segments. The Government itself was responsible for this, he said. The Minister said such lacuna would be settled when projects such as ``Smart City'' is implemented.

He assured the members that their grievance that the Kerala State Women's Commission, Kerala Women's Development Corporation and the Social Welfare Department had failed to provide succour to Dalit women, would be looked into.

The KDMF president, T.M. Devi, presided. The Kerala Dalit Federation State president, P. Ramabhadran, delivered the keynote address.