People without sites led by the Udupi district unit of All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) began an indefinite dharna in front of the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Monday demanding that they should be provided with sites.
Speaking on the occasion, Thirunavukkarasu, president of AIAWU, said that it was the responsibility of the government to provide sites to those without sites. But neither the Congress nor the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) governments had given any importance to it. The Narendra Modi government was in favour of the corporate sector. Its policies had affected the social security of the poor who had now to struggle to get foodgrains and other essential items under the Public Distribution System.
The government should provide 280 acres of land to 985 poor persons in 25 villages coming under Udupi hobli. It should provide 687.73 acres of land to 1,937 poor persons in 55 villages coming under Kaup hobli. The land in Kaup hobli had been encroached upon and the authorities should clear the encroachment, he said.
About 1,000 persons had not been given sites in the area under the Udupi Urban Development Authority, though a deposit of ₹ 500 was collected from them 19 years ago. Layouts should be created in the 115.66 acres of land identified at Korangrapady, Puttur, Kelarkalabettu and Yembattu Badagabettu and the sites should be distributed.
As many as 816 poor persons should be given sites in Saligrama Town Panchayat. The land earmarked to provide sites for the 224 poor persons in Kundapur should be cleared of encroachment. The poor people living on government lands marked as deemed forests should be given title deeds, he said.
