State Social Welfare and District In-charge Minister HC Mahadevappa has assured that he will make every effort to secure promotions and other benefits for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (SC/ST) employees serving in the Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR) department, after consulting the concerned minister.
He was addressing a gathering during the state-level convention of RDPR SC/ST employees and the inauguration of the RDPR SC/ST Employees Association at Senate Hall, Manasagangothri.
Mahadevappa stated that the state government has already set up a committee to handle promotion-related matters concerning government staff. He also mentioned that the Social Welfare Department’s vigilance committee is actively addressing promotional issues.
Acknowledging the vital contribution of RDPR employees in rural transformation, he emphasized that 65% of Karnataka’s population lives in villages, and the development of these areas relies heavily on grassroots workers.
He reflected on the legacy of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, who ensured voting rights for SC/STs and women through the Constitution, thereby empowering the marginalized.
The minister also credited former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi for the 74th Constitutional Amendment, which introduced a three-tier local governance system and enabled 50% reservation for women in panchayat bodies. He noted that this has helped many SC/ST women attain leadership roles across 6,200 gram panchayats in Karnataka.
The event was attended by MLC Dr. Yathindra Siddaramaiah, MLA AR Krishnamurthy, ZP CEO S Ukeshkumar, Urilingapeddi Mutt’s Jnanaprakash Swami, and former Mayor Purushottam, among others.