Date:21/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/21/stories/2008042153190300.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Dalits demand privileges, grants

Correspondent

12 districts identified as atrocity-prone

VIZIANAGARAM: The yatra that was launched with an objective to enlighten scheduled castes on their rights by Dalit Bahujan Shramik Union (DBSU), Dalit Sri Shakti, Bhavitha, Shakshi, and a few more organisations in Hyderabad on April 14 reached here on Sunday.

Addressing a press conference, Dalit Sri Shakti State convener G. Jhansi said as the government had failed to protect their rights and privileges the organisations launched the yatra to create awareness among SCs.

Demanding grants under special component plan besides protection of their rights, Ms. Jhansi said that according to official figures over 20,000 cases under SC/ST Atrocities (Protection) Act were registered between 1995 and 2006.

And the government had identified 12 districts, including Vizianagaram, as atrocity-prone in the State but the government made no effort to prevent recurrence of such incidents, she added.

In majority of cases, the police instead of registering cases under the Act would force the victims to compromise.

Welfare schemes

The government too, in the name of effecting welfare schemes, suppressing their privileges.

In fact, the amount spent on the schemes was only marginal, said D. Prakash, State DBSU organising secretary.

Of the total Rs. 1 lakh crore State Budget their share must be 16.5 per cent i.e Rs. 16,500 crores but the allocations made was only Rs. 1,500 crores, he said and added that dalits own a mere 10 per cent of 3.50 crore acres of land under cultivation in the State.