The Asprusya Dalita Sanrakshyana Surakshya Samiti, Odisha organised its annual function at Buddha Vihar here on Monday. Bandhu Sethi presided over the programme.
Former Minister Bhajaman Behera, Er Alekh Chandra Mallick and Samiti general secretary Pravakar Mallick attended, among others.
Various resolutions to place demands before the State Government were passed on the occasion. The demands include exclusion of sub-castes titled Keuta, Kaibarta, Dhibara, Radhi, Niari, Niaree, Ghani, Tiar, Girigira, Girigiria and Jinjira from the SC category and inclusion of Mehentar, Kalandi Baishnab, Bauri Baishnab and Pana Baishnab in the category. They too demanded inclusion of sub-castes like Deva, Saara and Saura in the ST category.
The Samiti also demanded that investigations into all incidents of atrocities against Dalit minor girls and women expedited and culprits punished at the earliest.
Other demands include construction of an Ambedkar Bhawan in city, free eduction to SC and ST students and reservations for promotion in regular posts and appointment in contractual posts and provision of homestead land for houses for the landless.
Stating that 70 lakh ST and SC people are being deprived of Government facilities due inclusion of aforementioned sub-casters in the two categories, Mallick said they would be forced to take to the streets and gherao the Assembly and Naveen Niwas if the demands are not met
soon.
