Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 16: Even Though the country is heading to celebrate the diamond jubilee of its independence, atrocities on scheduled castes and tribes have not stopped. Often we hear about incidents of denying access to drinking water, entry into temples, and services at salons to the people belonging to lower castes and communities. The social welfare department, which has considered this, has come up with a unique proposal.

The plan is to open a salon by the government in each gram panchayat level. Final seal of approval is needed for this purpose. The department plans to solidly support people from scheduled castes and tribes by opening these salons in every gram panchayats. Senior officials of the department noted that there have been cases where salons located in villages and revenue divisions hesitate from serving people belonging to scheduled castes and tribes. They said that the proposal has been prepared as the salons cater to the needs of these people.

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Detailed debate on the pros and cons of the new system are yet to be held. The chief minister has been alerted about such a move, and the idea will be implemented only after detailed discussions. As per the proposal, the gram panchayats will be entrusted with the work of identifying barbers to whom the social welfare department can sanction grants. It is yet to be decided whether the existing barbers can be used for the purpose, or new units have to be established.

The government also is considering the muzrai department, police and revenue officials to work with mutual understanding to see that incidents of refusing entry for scheduled castes and tribes into temples do not happen. In the past, the government had planned to set up special courts in nine districts where Dalit atrocity cases are on the rise. But the proposal was rejected by the high court. Now the government wants to move this proposal again for these nine districts.