Dalit outfit, the Viduthalai Chiruthaikal Katchi (VCK), has sought creation of an “exclusive bank for Dalits” to ensure hassle-free flow of assistance for their socio-economic development, besides calling for reservation in the judiciary and in the Rajya Sabha.
Releasing the VCK’s manifesto for the coming Lok Sabha elections on Wednesday, party leader Thol. Thirumavalavan said the VCK would press for creation of a separate bank for Dalits as “regular commercial banks without a proper social outlook remain stumbling blocks to welfare schemes” for their uplift.
Mr. Thirumavalavan, whose party is part of the DMK-led alliance, will contest again from the Chidambaram (Reserved) constituency, while another former VCK MLA, D. Ravikumar, has been allotted the Tiruvallur (Reserved) constituency. The DMK had earmarked these two seats to the VCK in its poll alliance.
The VCK’s manifesto demanded reservation of seats for Dalits in the Rajya Sabha and in Legislative Councils at the State level, besides in the appointment of judges. The latter was to help set right what it called “skewed” judgments in cases involving Dalits.
While making a strong case for implementation of the recommendations of the Justice Ranganath Misra Commission and the Sachar Committee to improve the socio-economic conditions of minorities in the country, the VCK’s manifesto said it would strive to get the ‘Communal Violence Bill’ passed by Parliament. The Bill, aimed at protecting the minorities, had been allowed to gather dust, said Mr. Thirumavalavan, speaking to the media.
The VCK further sought measures to grant more autonomy to government departments which were responsible for implementing welfare schemes for the Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
Free education to SCs/STs
The VCK demanded full free education to SCs and STs up to the professional degree courses level and reservation in the private sector.
Reiterating its stand that a separate ‘Tamil Eelam’ alone could be a solution to problems of the Sri Lankan Tamils, the VCK’s manifesto called for a change in India’s foreign policy. It contended that the present policy impeded India from intervening in Sri Lanka to help the island Tamils on the ground that it could not interfere with the internal affairs of a neighbouring country.