Members of Vishwakarma community have launched the Vishwakarma Ekikaran campaign aimed at uniting the fragmented community and secure participation in the power corridors of the State.
The community leaders gathered at Michael John auditorium at Bistupur to lead hundreds from the community on a variety of topics and further instigate them to be able to participate in the governance. The 12th campaign launched by the community members turned out to be an appropriate occasion as they voiced their opinion on a number of issues touching all members and their families.
The chief guest of the occasion was JN Vishwakarma, a former IAS officer. Addressing the gathering, he said, “The total population of the Vishwakarma community is 9.7 per cent in the country as per the Census of 2003. Despite this, the community has failed to get a decent participation in the national politics. The reason is nothing but lack of awareness among the community members and ignorance by the political parties of repute.”
Vishwamarka said there are a total of 36,800 chapters of Vishwamarka Samaj were working all over the country. The ongoing campaign is aimed at bringing together all these units and unite the various smaller sub-castes within the Vishwakarma community for collective good, he said. The Vishwakarma community includes blacksmiths, coppersmiths, goldsmiths and sculptors. Around 70 delegates from across 14 States were present during Tuesday’s programme. Other speakers too, opined on the participation of the community members in active politics and welfare activities.
The chief guest and the delegates garlanded a portrait of lord Vishwakarma at the beginning of the programme. A core committee was formed shortly thereafter. Prior to the inauguration of the programme, the community members had gathered near Voltas Building at Bistupur. A procession was taken out from there to the programme venue.