Silvester D'Souza

Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (EP)

Kundapur, Oct 5: Karnataka Rajya Dalit Sangharsha Samiti recently held protests in Gujjadi gram panchayat alleging misuse of funds approved for the development of scheduled caste and scheduled tribe.

Dalit Sangharsha Samiti alleged that 25% of the amount approved for the year 2017-18 is misused instead of using it for creative projects. “Taluk panchayat executive has bowed to political pressure, held an emergency meeting on January 18 and used funds for personal projects instead of government projects and the education of dalits,” they alleged.

“Items are distributed without obtaining approvals and Sintex water tanks that are provided are of inferior quality. There are irregularities in purchase of Sintex tanks. Quotations that are required before purchases are not obtained and there were percentage deals. No facilities are provided for ten students who are pursuing higher studies. 25% of the amount set aside was to be used for education. Facilities are given three times to people belonging to one family. These are violations of the rules,” they said.

“Gujjadi gram panchayat development officer and Kundapur taluk panchayat executive officer should be suspended and disciplinary action should be taken against them immediately failing which violent protests will be held in future,” they warned.

Standing committee president Gujjadi Narayana Gujjadi, municipal councilor Prabhaker, T Manjunath Giliar, Vasudev Mudooru, Raju Bettinamane, Geetha Suresh and Arun Kumar Gujjadi took part in the protests.