Mangaluru: The long-pending issue concerning the distribution of DC Manna land among landless people in Dakshina Kannada will be resolved soon, Deputy Commissioner Darshan HV said.
He was speaking at a district-level grievance meeting of Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) leaders held at Nethravati Hall of the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat.
The Deputy Commissioner said discussions on the distribution of DC Manna land had already been held at the taluk level and that the matter had also been taken up with the Revenue Minister.
190 acres currently available
According to Darshan, around 190 acres of DC Manna land is currently available in Dakshina Kannada.
He said the government needs to take a decision on prioritising the distribution of the available land among landless people. Where the existing land is insufficient, additional land could also be purchased for distribution, he added.
“Providing agricultural land will help improve the livelihood of the applicants. Therefore, landless people must be given priority,” Darshan said.
He added that a proposal in this regard had already been submitted to the government and correspondence on the matter had been under way since September last year.
The administration is now hopeful that a decision will be taken soon, bringing relief to applicants who have been waiting for land allotment for several years.
2,222 applications received from Dalits
The Deputy Commissioner said 2,222 applications had been received from Dalit applicants seeking agricultural land and house sites.
Of these, 1,977 applicants had sought agricultural land, while 245 people from Mangaluru had applied for house sites.
As many as 1,268 applications had been submitted by landless applicants, making their demand a significant component of the pending applications.
Darshan said priority should be given to landless applicants as agricultural land could provide them with a means of livelihood and improve their economic conditions.
According to the DC, 7,377 acres of DC Manna land have already been distributed in Dakshina Kannada.
Dalit leaders seek details and early action
Dalit leader Ramesh Kotian urged the district administration to provide comprehensive details about the DC Manna land currently available in the district.
He recalled that Dalit organisations had staged a protest in 2017 and demanded that 10 cents of land be allotted to eligible beneficiaries in urban areas and at least one acre of agricultural land be provided to beneficiaries in rural areas.
Kotian said several Deputy Commissioners had assumed office since the demand was raised, but the issue had remained unresolved.
He urged the administration to address the matter on priority this time and ensure that eligible landless people benefit from the available land.
The demand comes amid a large number of pending applications from people seeking agricultural land and house sites.
Action sought on leased cashew land
During the meeting, leaders also raised the issue of land leased to the Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation in Sullia, Belthangady and Puttur.
They demanded that such land be taken back and considered for distribution to eligible beneficiaries.
Responding to the demand, the Deputy Commissioner directed the Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) to examine the matter and initiate appropriate action.
The administration’s decision will depend on the status of the land, the terms of the existing lease arrangements and applicable regulations.
Demand to strengthen civil rights enforcement unit
Several Dalit leaders also sought the strengthening of the District Civil Rights Enforcement (DCRE) unit.
The leaders highlighted the need for an effective mechanism to address complaints concerning the rights and welfare of Scheduled Caste communities.
Strengthening the enforcement machinery, they said, would help ensure that grievances are addressed promptly and that eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits and protections available under government schemes and laws.
The district administration heard the concerns raised by the representatives and discussed measures to address the issues.
Sanitation workers’ wages raised
Shekar Laila raised concerns regarding sanitation workers appointed through the Sanjivini federation in gram panchayat areas.
He said some of the workers were reportedly earning less than Rs 2,000 a month and urged the administration to reform the existing system.
The issue highlighted concerns over the wages and working conditions of sanitation workers engaged in rural local bodies.
When leader SP Anand raised issues concerning civic workers, the Deputy Commissioner said a separate meeting would be convened to discuss their concerns.
The proposed meeting is expected to provide a dedicated platform to examine issues faced by civic workers and consider possible measures for improving their working conditions.
Tribal food kit supply delayed
A Dalit leader also raised the issue of food kits meant for Koraga and Malekudiya tribal families in Dakshina Kannada.
According to the leader, the food kits had not been supplied for the past six months, causing difficulties for the beneficiary families.
Darshan attributed the delay to the state-level tender process. He assured the participants that the issue would be resolved soon.
The delay in supplying essential support to vulnerable tribal communities was among the concerns brought before the district administration during the grievance meeting.
Ambedkar Circle project to move forward
The delay in constructing Ambedkar Circle in Mangaluru was also discussed during the meeting.
Mangaluru City Corporation Commissioner Rahul Ratnam Pandey said a site inspection had already been conducted.
He said an action plan would be prepared within a month, after which the project would be put out to tender.
The proposed development has been pending, and the latest assurance indicates that the civic body is moving towards preparing a formal plan and initiating the tender process.
The district-level grievance meeting provided SC and ST representatives with an opportunity to raise a range of concerns related to land distribution, livelihoods, civic employment, tribal welfare and community infrastructure.
The administration’s assurances on DC Manna land, tribal food kits, leased land and the Ambedkar Circle project are expected to be followed by further action in the coming weeks.