Mangaluru: The Dalit Sanghatanegala Samanvaya Samithi has warned of intensified protests against the State government and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister U T Khader over the continued delay in resolving the long-pending issue of allotting DC Manna land to eligible beneficiaries.
Dalit leader Ashok Konchadi alleged that Khader had assured a delegation of Dalit organisations that the issue would be resolved during the State Cabinet meeting held in Mangaluru. However, he said the issue remained unresolved even after the meeting, describing the development as a betrayal of the Dalit community.
Organisations demand allotment of DC Manna land
According to Konchadi, Dalit organisations in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have been pursuing the issue of DC Manna land for nearly 30 years.
The land is intended to be allotted as sites to eligible members of the Dalit community. Konchadi alleged that despite repeated representations and assurances over the years, a final solution has not been reached.
He further alleged that Dalit organisations had been receiving assurances regarding the matter for the past nine years. He held Khader responsible for the issue not being resolved at the Cabinet level and questioned whether influential individuals allegedly involved in encroaching upon land meant for Dalits were being protected.
“We will stage protests against the minister wherever he attends public programmes in the coming days,” Konchadi warned.
Series of protests planned
Konchadi said the Samithi would launch a series of agitations to press for the implementation of its demands.
The proposed protests include a district-wide public awareness campaign, distribution of leaflets, padayatras and large-scale demonstrations. The Samithi said the programmes would highlight what it described as the State government’s anti-Dalit policies and its failure to address the land issue.
“We will teach a lesson to U T Khader in the next Assembly elections for betraying the Dalits,” Konchadi said.
Around 6,000 applicants seeking sites
Samithi chief convener Ramesh Kotian said Dalit organisations have been demanding the allotment of DC Manna land to around 6,000 applicants who had applied for sites in the district.
He said the issue had been repeatedly raised during meetings with the district administration. According to Kotian, officials have cited the need to amend the Draft Rules-2017 before proceeding with the allotment.
“Whenever the issue is raised during meetings with the district administration, authorities cite the need to amend the Draft Rules-2017. Ministers and elected representatives have failed to demonstrate the political will to allot land to eligible beneficiaries,” he said.
The organisations have maintained that eligible applicants should be identified and the allotment process taken forward without further delay.
Leaders question government priorities
Samithi convener Raghu K Ekkar alleged that the government had allocated crores of rupees for coastal development, temple projects and initiatives benefiting industrialists, while failing to resolve the longstanding demands of Dalits.
“Congress used our votes to come to power. Now, we will show our strength to the Congress for failing to fulfil our demands,” he said.
Ekkar also referred to a recent meeting between Dalit representatives and Chief Minister D K Shivakumar during his visit to Mangaluru.
According to Ekkar, Shivakumar was unaware of the DC Manna land issue when the representatives brought it to his notice. He alleged that this indicated that the District In-charge Minister had not apprised the Chief Minister of the longstanding demand.
“This clearly shows that the District In-charge Minister had not apprised him of the long-pending issue,” Ekkar alleged.
Protest plans to intensify
The Samithi has said it will intensify its campaign in the coming days if the government does not take steps to resolve the issue. The planned programmes are expected to focus on mobilising beneficiaries and creating awareness about the demand for allotment of DC Manna land.
The organisations have reiterated that the demand has remained pending for decades and have called for the government to take a decision on allotting sites to eligible applicants.