Untouchability Still Persistent in Society a Disgrace – Pramod Madhwaraj
Udupi: It is a disgrace that untouchability is still persistent in society even after 70 years after Independence said Minister for sports, youth affairs, fisheries and Minster in-charge District Pramod Madhwaraj. He was speaking after inaugurating the Untouchability Awareness Programme at the Bannanje Narayana Guru Auditorium here on February 3.
The Constitution of India aims at uplifting the poor, Dalits and the backward classes but we have failed in promoting equality in the society, Dalits still face the stigma of inequality. There is still an opposition for the Dalits drawing water from wells belonging to the upper castes.
The Koraga community earlier were rulers, but today we have neglected them in the society. They are isolated during religious programmes and rituals. Babu Jagjeevan Ram strived hard for the development of Dalits, he was denied the prime minister’s post for being a Dalit. Meira Kumar daughter of Babu Jagjeevan Ram led the parliament effectively during the UPA rule, she was the first women speaker of the Lok Sabha.
Just speeches do not promote the development of the Koraga community, we should have respect and the will of developing the community. CM Siddaramaiah has reserved 25% of the total budget to the welfare of Dalits, it is an effective move in promoting social justice in the society. The people who oppose reservation should first visit the Dalit colonies and assess their hardships and poverty. We should change our mindsets to realise the dreams of Babu Jag Jeevan Ram and B R Ambedkar, he added.
Dinakar Babu president, Udupi ZP; Sheela K Shetty vice president ZP; Meenakshi Madhava Bannaje president CMC; Nalini Pradeep president Udupi TP; Anuradha ADC and others were present