While 40 per cent of the State’s populations belong to the SC and ST category, the State Government has not taken any remarkable steps for their security, development and participation at various levels, said CPI leader and former MlA Narayan Reddy here on Tuesday. “Basic necessities like sanitation, homestead land, drinking water, Pakka house, permanent road to slum areas, electricity, primary education, health service, employment are still inaccessible to many poor and hapless dalit people at various places in the State,” he said while addressing a State-level public meeting and Dharana, organised by the Odisha Dalit Adhikar Manch (ODAM) at the lower PMG here.
Several numbers of poor dalit people from different parts of State participated in the meeting to draw the State Government’s attention towards these key problems related to their life and livelihood. later, a team of delegation led by ODAM president Prasant Mallick submitted a memorandum containing demands like land to poor landless families, safe drinking water, implementation of basic services and enactment of the SCSP and TSP Act in the State, to the Governor, the Chief Minister and Ministers of Finance, Revenue and SC and ST Departments.
“The Government should also set up a Commission for STs and SCs in the State and a cell at every block and Tehsil for development of dalit people in the State,” said the ODAM president. Among others, former Union Minister Bhajaman Behera, former MlA Radhakant Sethi, Madhusudan Yadav and rights activist Manas Jena were present.