The Anantapur district administration took baby steps in correcting the situation in which Dalits in hundreds of villages didn’t have burial grounds to bury their dead, even as protestors on fast unto death were forcibly evicted by the police on Saturday.
The Hindu had carried an article on the plight of Dalits in several villages of the district in which they were forced to either bury their dead one over the other or bury them on the roadsides. The CPI(M) launched a protest on the issue. As the protest evoked little response, a fast unto death was started.
As the issue started gathering widespread attention, the district administration, in a press release, said that it had identified 157.98 acres of land to be allotted as burial grounds in various villages across the district where complaints of lack of burial grounds for Dalits were being raised.
As an immediate measure, the press release said, the Collector had already given his assent for allotment of 36.75 acres of land in Guntakal, Yadiki, Somandepalli and Penukonda mandals while the rest would be allotted on a war-footing.
While there was 541.30 acres of land currently being used as burial grounds for Dalits in the district, the press release said, more lands would be allotted on a saturation basis as per extant government orders.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) district secretary Rambhoopal said that their fight for the welfare of Dalits in the district would continue until the district administration makes good on its promise.
The district administration says 157.98 acres identified to be allotted as burial grounds in various villages
