Bengaluru: Minister for Social Welfare H Anjaneya has promised that the caste of the youth named Raghu, son of a mute, mentally challenged rape victim will be decided within a month.
Newskarnataka.com, on January 7, 2016 had reported about the ordeals of 22-year-old Raghu, a resident of Mandya, who was born to a rape victim in 1991. After spending his entire life in government run homes, Raghu recently started his fight for a caste certificate as he wants to pursue his education and become an IAS officer. After running from pillar to post, Raghu later landed up at Vidhana Soudha too to get the same. However, nothing yielded fruit for him.
In the first place, Raghu is unaware of his caste and while speaking to newskarnataka.com, he had said that since his mother was taken care by Dalit of Kolegere, after she underwent the gruesome assault, he wishes to be classified as a Dalit.
On Tuesday, Jan 12, the officials of Department of Social Welfare and Chairman of Backward Communities Commission held a meeting and decided that the youth would be housed in the government hostel till his caste is ascertained.
It was pointed out that Mandya DC and Tahshildar had in the past rejected the plea of the youth to issue him caste certificate notifying him as a Dalit.
Commissioner President Kantharaju told that Kolegere, where Raghu’s mother lived after the incident is primarily housed by the Dalits and Adi-Dravidas. Hence, if even one person from Kolegere comes forth and says that Raghu’s mother belongs to their community, then a caste certificate can be issued immediately.
However, Raghu’s wait for caste certificate continues and only time will tell if his dreams would ever see light of the day.
