Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (SM)

Mangalore, Oct 31: A district-level SC/ST meeting was held under the presidentship of deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao here on Tuesday October 30.

Speaking at the meeting Dalit leaders Narayana, Lolaksha and S P Anand said that the need of the hour is to start a movement so as to protect the lands owned by the Dalits.

They further said that the lands owned by Dalits are being encroached for various purposes either by forests departments or by the individuals in the district. Various buildings have come up in the lands owned by Dalits, they added.

They further urged the district administration to take initiative in order to evacuate the encroached land. 

Speaking about the title deeds, Lolaksha said that Dalits have not got the title deeds, whereas in some cases, title deeds have been distributed but the lands have not been handed over to the Dalits.

Speaking on the occasion, deputy commissioner said that the Dalits are residing in Kumki and in other government owned lands.

He further said that it will not be possible to distribute title deeds to all of them. “If any land is available in gram panchayat limits, the district administration is ready to buy the land and give it to the Dalits,” he informed.

He assured to evacuate the encroached land.

Speaking about the crematorium, Narayana said that the Dalits do not have a crematorium. He also said that they are not allowed to cremate the body in Hindu crematorium too. Hence people have to go all the way to Vamanjoor to cremate the body, he lamented.

Assuring the Dalits about crematorium Rao said that the crematorium problems will be solved soon.