Dalits threaten State-wide campaign, protests against government

Dalit leaders have threatened a state-wide campaign and protests against the government's failure to deliver on promises of guidelines for the allocation of 'DC Manna' land to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). The Dalit Samanvaya Samiti's Ramesh Kotiyan, Raghu K. Yekkar, and Ashok Konchady spoke to reporters, accusing the state government of persisting with anti-Dalit policies.

For the past nine years, the government has consistently given false promises of drafting rules for the allotment of 'DC Manna' land but has failed to take action against individuals who have illegally occupied such land. Recently, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan assured Dalits that the allotment would commence following approval for the proposed allocation of 5 cents of 'DC Manna' sites in urban areas and one acre of cultivable land in rural areas.

However, the Dalit leaders expressed disappointment over the district In-charge Minister U.T. Khader's failure to secure approval for the allotment during the Mangaluru cabinet meeting on September 18.

The leaders claim that the government's lack of action towards allotting the land suggests an effort to protect wealthy individuals who have unlawfully occupied 'DC Manna' land. Dalit leaders plan to carry out protests in front of venues where Deputy Minister Khader is scheduled to appear.