Dalits on Monday launched a 24-hour dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner's office here against what they described as the “anti-Dalit attitude” of the officials of the Mangalore City Corporation. It was staged under the banner of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Commissioner of the corporation K.N. Vijayprakash also spoke and accepted a memorandum from the protesters.
Krishnappa Konchady, member of the district unit of the CPI(M), alleged that many applications with the civic body were pending action for several months. He urged the corporation to process all applications from Dalits for construction or repair of houses within a month.
Demanding that the grants for the construction of toilets be increased to Rs. 20,000 from Rs. 10,000, he said that Dalits in Mulky, Belthangady and Sullia, had been given Rs. 15,000 for the purpose.
The memorandum demanded that the grants for the construction of houses be raised to Rs. 3 lakh. Their another demand was to double the amount of scholarships being given to Dalit students and to disburse it at the beginning of the academic year.
Maruti Manpade, State secretariat member of the CPI(M), spoke.
