Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (DV)

Mangaluru, Apr 6: State revenue minister Srinivas Prasad on Monday April 6 launched the social and educational survey vehicle at Circuit House here. The statewide census will be held from April 11 to April 30.

Addressing the gathering, he said, "The state government has taken this initiative under the motto of 'sarvarigu sama paalu, sarvarigu sama baalu' to provide equal social justice for all. This is being done for the first time in the state.

"This programme (census) should be strictly implemented and followed. There are 55 questioned that are prepared scientificlly and intellectually. Let this survey be useful to common man. People should make use of this opportunity," he added.

Asked about exclusion of Roman Catholic caste in the suvey form, the minister could not give a clear answer and said the 55 questions cover all aspects, but MLA J R Lobo who accompanied him said, "Christianity is a religion and Roman Catholics and Protestants are not sub-castes but classifications within the religion. This survey is of socially backward classes and of castes, and not survey of religions."

About the proposal by Beary Sahitya Academy to include subcastes that exist among Muslims, the minister said, "There are 82 sub-castes and you can write Muslim under religion and mention the sub-caste in brackets."

To a question on formation of new taluks, Srinivas Prasad said, "Several discussions are going on regarding this issus. Earier the Jagadish Shettar government in its final days had announced the formation of 43 new taluks. We also want new taluks and the proposal has been sent to the state government and it is under review. We also want 120 new hoblis and 11 sub-divisions, but there is a little problem with finances. To form one hobli it requires Rs 1 crore, one sub-division requires Rs 7 crore and one taluk requires Rs 25 crore. Tahsildars also have to be appointed, for which we have already given the nod. The proposal in discussion stage. We did not drop the plan."

On a question about land acquisition for runway extension at Mangaluru airport, he said, "Discussion is on about land acquisition. Recently the central government passed land acquisition ordinance which was opposed by many parties. The erstwhile UPA government too had passed Land Acquisition Act which was pro-farmer and allowed land acquisition only after consent from farmers. We are discussng whether to acccept the new land ordinanace or the Act enforced by the UPA. The Prime Minister in 'Mann Ki Baat' had said that it was up to the state governments to accept the new ordinance or not, so we are discussing it."

Asked to comment on alleged corruption and disappearance of files in the revenue department, he said, "After I assumed power as revenue minister, several changes took place in the department and 1.62 lac RTCS were done throught Kandaya Adalats. Earlier there used to be many mistakes and documents were handwritten. We brought in computerisation of records and launched pilot projects in Tumakuru and Kolar districts, wherein a person has to just file the application about corrections in RTC and we see to it that the corrected RTC reaches the applicant's home. The applicant need not go to tahsildar or assistant commissioner. Each district should hold 40 Kandaya Adalats yearly with active participation of village accountants and the DCs. Already we have conducted 6,000 such Adalats and done 8 lac corrections. Regarding missing files, we will take strict action against such indiscipline."

Health minister U T Khadar, MLC Ivan D'Souza, MLA N A Haris and others were present.