Displaced Dalits of Devarapalli village, near Parchur, in Prakasam district can expect some relief with National Commission for Scheduled Castes member K. Ramulu asking officials to restore land which had been enjoyed by them for long back to them.
“With a view to empower Dalits, large tracts of land lying in disuse were given to them by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to eradicate poverty. It is unfair to take back such land under one pretext or the other by those in power subsequently.
“I will inquire into each and every incident and ensure justice for aggrieved Dalits,” he told reporters after receiving petitions from a large number of aggrieved Dalits on various issues, including inaction on the part of the district administration in cases registered under the SC/ST (PoA) Act.
‘Black pearl granite’
Mr. Ramulu said it was not so just in Prakasam district.
The money spinning racket of depriving the Dalits of land enjoyed by them for a few generations for the sake of precious ‘black pearl granite’ by a senior Minister in Guntur district had come to his notice, he said.
Contractors and officials
It was unfortunate land pattas for small pieces of land issued during the Congress regime to Dalits had been cancelled subsequently with an eye on the fertile fine silt and make a quick money allegedly by “some erring contractors in collusion with some corrupt officials,” he said.
The Commission would intervene to ensure return of all such land to the Dalits.“
There is no change in the position of Dalits even after 70 years of Independence in the State.
A good number of atrocity cases is pending resolution across the State as also usurpation of their land by upper caste Hindus,” he lamented.
He expressed anger over the absence of senior revenue and police officials in the review meeting on atrocity cases.
He said, after his return to New Delhi, summons would be served on them.
