Chandigarh
The National Scheduled Castes Alliance, a social organization for uplifting and reforming lives of Scheduled Castes community, today started a ‘Protest/Dharna’ and indefinite symbolic Hunger Strike at the Rally Ground, Sector 25 Chandigarh. Paramjit Singh Kainth, President, National Scheduled Castes Alliance said, “The National Scheduled Castes Alliance and other Fraternal organizations such Nav Nirman Kranti Dal, Dr. Ambedkar Mahasabha,Bhagwan Valmiki Seva Sangh, Bajigar Organiztion, Bhrischtachar Ate Atyachar Virodhi Front, Young Advocates Club, Anusuchit Jaati Vichar Manch, Valmiki-Majbhi Singh Mahansanghthan, Sahara Welfare Society, Dr. Ambedkar Welfare Society, Sabha, Dr. Ambedkar Valmiki Sena, Sudhar Welfare Society, Guru Ravidas Welfare society supported the call for Protest here today and we together have decided to stay here till our demands are met. Case of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot and the Rs 63 crore corruption in the scheme in which his name has been involved is another addition to the rising cases of diversion of funds in the scheme going on from years. More than Rs 500 crore corruption total in the scheme was well accepted even by the Government after investigation of a third party audit was conducted on the order of the government itself.” Mr. Kainth further said, “more than 3 Lakh students who registered with the Government portal have been blatantly rejected admission into the Educational institutions in Punjab and there are more than 6 Lakh students who have not been given degree/certificates from the last 3 years by these institutions due to the non-disbursal of funds by the Government of Punjab to these colleges and universities. This is one of our major demands that these students be allowed to enroll and get admission into the colleges as well as those who have not been given degree/certificates for their academic courses be given the same so that they can pursue further studies and find employment in relevant fields.”
“We also demand the resignation of Sadhu Singh Dharamsot from the Cabinet ministerial position and also a CBI inquiry be marked to investigate his role in the Post-Matric Scholarship scam. Apart from the scheme, our attention has been shared with the issue of Village Common Land, of which 1/3rd share is promised to the Scheduled caste community in each village but as seen from decades, the community has been largely ignored or coerced into forfeiting their tilling or sowing rights on these lands by the large landlords in the villages. Our demand is that the Village Common Land Act be amended and it be made legally assured that the rights of the people granted land through auction is not infringed upon and no one is forced to step down from participating in the auctions.” told the organizations.
The National Scheduled Castes Alliance as well as all the other organizations belonging to the SC and other marginalized communities decided to synergize their efforts by forming a committee called ‘Dalit Sangharsh Morcha’ which shall be the group that co-ordinates this effort on the State wide scale by visiting villages and cities, promoting our cause and garnering support for the protest. Rajesh Bagga, Ex-Chairman of Punjab Scheduled Castes Commission and Raj Kumar Atwal made a pledge to work in this protest rising above from Politics as it concerns the future of the SC community and a generation of its young students. Other leaders who were present, Gursewak Singh Mainmajri, Balwinder Singh Kumbre, Lakhvir Singh Wadala, Dilip Singh Buchre Mohit Bharadawaj, Ravi Bali, Pawan Hans, Balwinder Gill, Dr. Mahindar Pal Singh Rota, Baljraj Baddan, Johi Tahlan, Sanjeev Atwal, Mahindar Bhagat, O.P. Mehta, Kirpal Singh, Surinder Singh Behlan (Ex-Sarpanch), Sukhwinder Singh Klour and others.
Atrocities on the people belonging to the Scheduled Castes community has been rising in the recent years in Punjab, cases of rape, bonded labor, sexual and physical assault as well instances of social boycott have been witnessed on an alarming rate. Regarding such issues, the National Scheduled Castes Alliance urged the government to take strict action against the culprits as well rectify the situations in which legal action is not taken in these cases. A special committee be organized within the Cabinet which should monitor the progress into investigation of these cases and assures that justice is provided to the victims.
The group also included in their demands, the case for inclusion of Special Component Plan or the Scheduled Castes Sub Plan in the budget allocation of the state. Under this, funds are allocated for the Scheduled Castes community as per their population in the State and the money out of the funds is used exclusively for the benefit and welfare of the community within the State. Examples of such plan being implemented have been in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. “The Captain Amrinder Singh led Congress government in Punjab promised debt waiver of landless labor and marginalized workforce in the State and another election is upon us in 2022 and yet not even a single marginalized labor/worker has been provided with the relief. We demand that this debt waiver to the poorest of the poor be provided in such dire times of the pandemic. We also welcome the effort of our fraternal organizations in this endeavor for justice.” said Mr. Kainth.
