Members of the Madiwala (washermen) community staged a massive protest demonstration here on Thursday demanding their inclusion in the Schedule Castes (SC) category.
The protesters, after reaching in a procession from Bengaluru-Mysuru highway, staged the demonstration outside the Deputy Commissioner’s office to press their charter of demands. They urged the State government to immediately include the Madiwala community under the SC category.
The charter of demands included representation of the community in local bodies, the Assembly and Parliament; establishing educational institutions and hostels, allocating more funds for development of the community, and forming a development corporation for the comprehensive welfare of the Madiwala community.
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Speaking to the media, the agitators said the community has been fighting for “rights and justice” since 1978. Unfortunately, the community members in 15 States and many Union Territories were still remained backward socially, educationally and economically.
They also urged the government to develop all dhobi ghats across the State and to implement the recommendations of the Prof. Annapurna Community report, a study conducted to study the living conditions of the Madivala community in Karnataka.