Dalit leaders on Monday alleged that tender conditions for extracting sand in non-coastal regulation zones in the district pre-empt Dalits from participating in the bids as conditions favour only financially stronger persons.
Speaking at the district-level grievances redressal meeting for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes organised at the district police headquarters here, leader Narayana said Dalits who had engaged in sand extraction for over 12 years in non-CRZ areas have been ignored under the new rules. They should also be given opportunity to extract sand, he demanded.
Responding to this, Superintendent of Police B.R. Ravikanthe Gowda said he would attempt to address the issue within the legal framework in the next meeting of the Sand Monitoring Committee.
Another leader, Shekhar, rued that the common man was affected by non-availability of sand to build houses. Mr. Gowda said the issue was being addressed through sand policy while sand was available through the Public Works Department to build houses under various government schemes.
Raising the issue of short-changing salary payment to Dalit teachers in educational institutions, Balakrishna said many institutions deduct up to ₹10,000 a month from minimum wages of ₹17,500. If teachers protest, they have to face retrenchment, he said. The SP promised to look into the issue through the local police.
Mr. Gowda said though the government seriously views cases of atrocities against Dalits, majority of cases fail before courts because of lack of evidence. Police stations are observing witnesses day on nominated days to encourage them to adduce evidence in such cases.
