Birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar

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Minister hails achievements of architect of Constitution

DH News Service
DAVANAGERE, April 14

Youth Services and Sports Minister S S Mallikarjun has said that youth should inculcate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's principles as he had strove for the uplift of the Dalits.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat and the municipality here today.

He said that Deputy Commissioner K Shivaramu had taken great pains to celebrate Buddha, Basava Jayanti along with Dr B R Ambedkar's birthday celebrations. So far, more than 6,000 Ashraya houses have been built in Davanagere city and more than 7,000 houses in the district which is an unique achievement.

He said that the Congress government was the first to introduce reservation policy for SC / ST people. The Congress government had chalked out a number of schemes for the poor and it was implemented in the district in toto, he added.

Member of Legislative Council K Mallappa said that the credit went to Dr Ambedkar for bringing the reservation policy even before independence. The country would not prosper if mankind is not united, he said and called upon the Dalits to educate their wards in order to eradicate bonded labour.

Youth urged to follow Ambedkar's ideals

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DH News Service
DAVANAGERE, April 14

Youth Services and Sports Minister S S Mallikarjun has said that youth should inculcate Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar's principles as he had strove for the uplift of the Dalits. He was speaking after inaugurating the Ambedkar Jayanti celebrations organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat and the municipality here today. He said that Deputy Commissioner K Shivaramu had taken great pains to celebrate Buddha, Basava Jayanti along with Dr B R Ambedkar's birthday celebrations.

So far, more than 6,000 Ashraya houses have been built in Davanagere city and more than 7,000 houses in the district which is an unique achievement. The minister said that the Congress government was the first to introduce reservation policy for SC / ST people. The Congress government had chalked out a number of schemes for the poor and it was implemented in the district in toto.

Member of Legislative Council K Mallappa said that the credit went to Dr Ambedkar for bringing the reservation policy even before independence. The country would not prosper if mankind is not united, he said and called upon the Dalits to educate their wards in order to eradicate bonded labour. DC K Shivaramu welcomed the guests. Zilla panchayat CEO B N Suresh proposed a vote of thanks.

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Call to practise Ambedkar's ideals

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HASSAN, April 14

The ideals of Dr Ambedkar should be practised instead of being merely spoken, said former president of garbage clearance committee Chandraprasad Tyagi today.

Inaugurating the birth anniversary programme of Dr B R Ambedkar jointly organised by district administration, Zilla Panchayat, City Municipal Council and Social Welfare departments here, he said that with the death of Dr Ambedkar, who was the beacon light of the Dalits, a majority in the community has remained illiterate He called upon the Dalits to get organised and realise that if they took to business instead opting for careers in various fields, social equality would not be achieved.

Blaming the government for the mere 32 per cent of literacy rate among the Dalits, Mr Tyagi called upon the literate Dalits and employees to ponder over why the Dalits did not get education though there were many schools.

People urged to follow Ambedkar's ideals

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DH News Service
MANGALORE, April 14

India would have become the most advanced country in various respects in the world if the caste system did not exist in the country, opined seer Sri Veerabhadra Chennamalla Mahaswamiji of Nidumamidi Math, Bangalore. He said that Dr B R Ambedkar was not only a Dalit Leader but a leader of the socially depressed classes of the society. The ideals, contributions and services of the leader spelt the success of the future generations. But the celebrations are being conducted only by Dalits, he regretted.

He was speaking at the Dr B R Ambedkar birth anniversary celebrations after inaugurating the Sri Kudmul Ranga Rao Memorial here today organised by the Dakshina Kannada District Dalit Employees Protection Committee. The seer stressed the need to implement the ideals of Dr Ambedkar, Buddha, Basavanna, Swami Vivekananda and Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. He regretted the increasing corruption in all fields including political, bureaucracy and also in religious organisations.

"Why is this country still reeling under illiteracy and poverty? They can be rooted out only when all sections of the society work together. Poverty cannot go by performing poojas," he stated. He urged the Dalits to bring in social reform and equality in the Dalit community itself by conducting inter-section marriages in the community.

Presiding over the function, District-in-charge Minister B Ramanatha Rai appealed to the people to work together for the development of the nation. He stated that Kudmul Ranga Rao, who belonged to an upper caste, sacrificed his life for the uplift of the Dalits and social equality, he added. Woman and Child Welfare Minister Motamma and MLA Yogish Bhat also spoke on the occasion. Mr Keshava Dharani, President, District Dalit Employees Protection Committee welcomed.

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Karnataka withdraws decision to sell beer and wine in shops

DH News Service BANGALORE, April 14

Bowing to pressure from the public, Chief Minister S M Krishna today withdrew the decision to permit sale of beer and wine in select departmental and grocery shops in Bangalore City from July 1 this year. Mr Krishna's announcement came as a surprise to the audience who had gathered in front of Vidhana Soudha this evening to participate in the 110th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar, organised by the Social Welfare Department.

Mr Krishna, in his budget proposals for the year 2001-2002 had expressed his intention of giving licenses to 300 shops to sell beer and wine in the State. As the proposal came under fire within and outside the state legislature, he relaxed the norm and decided to issue only 100 licenses in Bangalore City.

While adhering to his policy, the Chief Minister had said that to desist youth from taking to hard liquor, he was allowing sale of beer and wine in departmental shops. He had also pointed out that with the removal of quantitative restrictions from April 1, hard liquor from foreign countries would be easily available in Indian market.

Despite this, various voluntary organisations especially women's associations and eminent personalities continued to exert pressure on the Chief Minister not to permit the sale of beer and wine in grocery shops. At the Ambedkar Jayanti function, Mr Krishna said he was withdrawing the decision to issue licenses as the decision had created a sort of panic among the common man in particular women. "On the occasion of Dr Ambedkar birth anniversary, I would like to announce that licenses would not be given", he declared amidst applause from the public as well as dignitaries on the dais. Stating that the government was serious about implementing various programmes announced in the budget for the welfare of scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, Mr Krishna said the backlog vacancies reserved for SCs/STs in all departments would be filled up within next four months.

The State Cabinet has already directed the Chief Secretary to take steps to fill up the vacancies which were vacant from many years, he pointed out. Recently Social Welfare Minister Kagodu Thimmappa had announced that there were about 4,700 backlog vacancies.

Mr Krishna said on the lines of national SC/ST commission, the State too has decided to have a Commission for which chairperson would be appointed within May 3.

Releasing a handbook on learning skills of computers on the occasion, the Chief Minister said within this year, 5,000 SC/ST youths would be imparted computer training and 5,000 families would be covered under the Ganga-Kalyana Scheme.

He further said 5,000 SC/ST youths would be given six months training in various trades. In addition, 25,000 SC/ST people would get assistance to take up self-employment.

When some youths from the audience requested the government to eliminate bogus caste certificates, he immediately said "don't worry. We will immediately take steps in this regard".

Earlier, paying rich tributes to Dr Ambedkar the Chief Minister said Dr Ambedkar could visualise that it was illiteracy which was at the root of many problems. His life was a open book which should be emulated by all.

KHARGE HAILS CM: Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister and Dalit leader Mallikharjun Kharge while complimenting the Chief Minister for deciding to fill up the backlog posts which were vacant from past six years, said the responsibility on finding ways and means to implement the decision to fill up the posts should be fixed on the Chief Secretary. "If the decision is not carried out, then action should be taken against the officer. The DPAR should be made nodal agency to take adequate measures to fill up the posts." , he opined.

When certain youths from the gathering said the court verdicts posed hindrance for filling up the posts, Mr Kharge "You show us the way". Referring to the Ganga-Kalyana scheme, the Home Minister said the government would be spending nearly Rs 40 crore to provide irrigation facility to Dalits. This sort of schemes would make the Oppressed class financially strong, he added.

OPPN SUPPORT: Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar said the Opposition parties would extend full support to the government in implementing programmes for the benefit of poorer sections. He complimented Mr Krishna for deciding to fill up the backlog vacancies. He said though there were many schemes for the benefit of oppressed class, the benefits were not reaching the target. Officers should be held responsible for non-implementation of programmes, he felt.

Mr Shettar said if Basavanna fought against caste system in the 12th century, Dr Ambedkar did so in the 20th century. It was unfortunate that even now bonded labour system prevailed in the State, he said. Mr K H Srinivas, Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, said Mr Krishna has taken a wise decision by withdrawing the decision to permit sale of beer and wine in shops. "I had exhorted the Chief Minister to withdraw his decision and it is good that he is heeding to constructive suggestions", he said.

Mr Kharge felicitated following nine persons in recognition of their merit and service to society - C Basavalingaiah and R Thimmaiah (theatre), M N Javaraiah and Dr L Hanumanthaiah (literature), Geetha Bhanu (dance), T A Dasappa (social service), Kariappa Master (folklore), Pallavi (sports) and Bheema Rao Murgod (artiste).

Social Welfare Minister Kagodu Thimmappa welcomed the gathering and Forest Minister K H Ranganath presided. Mayor Prema Cariappa and former MLC T N Narasimha Murthy were among those present on the dais.

Suraj Bhan floats trust for dalits

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DH News Service New Delhi, April 14

In a bold step, the activist Governor of Himachal Pradesh, Suraj Bhan, has announced formation of a broad-based trust named after B R Ambedkar which would look after the upliftment of dalits and tribals in the country.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr Bhan, who was banished from Uttar Pradesh to Himachal Pradesh following his differences with the BJP leaders, said the "Baba Saheb B R Amedkar Mission of India" would collect funds from well-to-do dalits and tribals and various other sources. Within two years, he said, the trust would have resources worth Rs 100 crore every year with a matching grant from the government.

Mr Bhan would be the Chairman of the trust. Other trustees are: former Union minister B P Maurya, BJP MP and party's ST morcha chief Ramnath Kovind, Congress MP Shushil Kumar Shinde, Congress leader and former chief of SC/ST Commission H Hanumanthapa, retired IAS officer Dr R K Nayak, from Tamil Nadu T Tithan, BJP MP from Jharkhand Karia Munda, and Congress leader and former Home minister Buta Singh.

The trust would give top priority to arranging scholarships for dalits, particularly girls. It would also set up schools and colleges where preference would be given to dalit students. Besides asking the Centre to distribute surplus land to the dalits, the trust would prepare housing schemes for dalits in the country. Describing it as a "revolutionary step", Mr Bhan said that the life of at least 15 crore dalits would be uplifted by the trust.

It may be mentioned that President K R Narayanan had set up a committee of seven Governors which was asked to assess whether money earmarked for the welfare of SCs/STs remained unspent. This committee headed by Maharashtra Governor P C Alexander would submit its report to the President on April 30. Mr Suraj Bhan is the Convenor of this committee.

Mr Bhan said that the trust would ensure that Parliamentary fora are constituted to promote the welfare activities of dalits in education, land allocation and housing sectors. The trust would also act as a watch dog for the governments schemes and programmes meant for dalits in the country, he said, adding that all the MPs would be asked to spend 25 per cent of their discretionary funds for the welfare of dalits.

Replying to a question on whether his pro-active role may be liked by the party and the government, Mr Bhan said he is announcing the formation of the trust in his personal capacity. Mr Bhan, who was earlier critical of welfare measures for the dalits in Uttar Pradesh, today said that Himachal Pradesh topped the states where the dalits were being looked after very well. Other states in this respect are Mizoram and Nagaland, said Mr Dilip Singh Bhuria, Chairman of the SCs/STs Commission, adding that Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have the dubious distinction for not caring for the dalits, while Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are the front runners for the upliftment of tribals.

The patrons of the trust are: Union Labour Minister S. Jatiya, Water Resources Minister Arjun Charan Sethi, Haryana Governor Babu Parmanand, former judge Justice K Ramaswamy, Dilip Singh Bhura, former Governor of Mizoram A Padmanabhan, Punjab Assembly Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal and former Union minister G Vekatswami. The number of trustees and patrons would be increased in due course, Mr Bhan added.

110th birth anniversary of Ambedkar celebrated

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DH News Service BANGALORE, April 14

Various political and voluntary organisations today celebrated the 110th birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar in the City by recalling the crusade carried out by him against the caste system.

Speaking at the Ambedkar Jayanti function jointly organised by the Bangalore City and rural district Congress units, Chief Minister S M Krishna said the Congress would systematically fight against those political parties which are supporting priestly order apparently referring to the BJP. Addressing the party workers, Mr Krishna said, in many villages still untouchability persisted and the Congress workers have to rebel against such heinous system.

He said that hotels in rural areas still ill treat Dalits by serving them food in separate plates. But, hardly anyone gets punished for committing such crime, he added. Mr Krishna cautioned that if the basic philosophy of the Constitution was changed while reviewing it, then the country may have to face a major revolution.

DSS: The Karnataka Dalit Sagarsh Samiti, on the occasion of 110th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, had organised a seminar on 'capitalism-brahminism' in the City today. Inaugurating the seminar, Justice H G Balakrishna said brahminical order used religion to keep Dalits and other Hindus under their control in the pre-Independence era. Under the caste system, it adopted divide and rule policy, he added.

According to a press release from the DSS, Justice Balakrishna said that a Commission had been set up to review the Constitution though the Centre had no total authority to do so. The ruling party should have allowed the issue to be debated in the Parliament before going ahead with setting up of the Commission. The elected representatives would not honour the Commission or its report, he opined.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof G K Govinda Rao said society can pay respect to Dr Ambedkar by adopting the principles advocated by him. At any cost the Constitution should not be disturbed, he said and added that the Constitution review might have commenced by those belonging to upper castes.

DISTRIBUTION: At a function organised at Bhakshi Garden in Chickpet to celebrate Dr Ambedkar Jayanti, Union Minister for Tourism Ananth Kumar today distributed dhoti and sarees to about 1,000 slum-dwellers. He also distributed tricycles to physically challenged, notebooks to poor students and sewing machines to women.

Mr Ananth Kumar said that Dr Ambedkar played a crucial role in laying a sound foundation to take India into progressive path and he played the role of an architect in building this nation. He also announced that he would donate Rs 10 lakh for the construction of Ambedkar bhavan at a slum in Chickpet assembly constituency.

Legislators P C Mohan, R Ashok, Katta Subramanya Naidu, former MP M Srinivas, Corporators Gangabyaraiah, Ganesh, Katte Satya and BJP leaders Vijaya Kumar, Ashwathnarayan and others participated in the function.

Tributes paid to Ambedkar

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, April 14

Rich tributes were paid to Dr B. R. Ambedkar, the main architect of the Indian Constitution, on his 110th birth anniversary here today.

Speaking at a function organised by the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Welfare Federation in the Valmiki Bhavan in Sector 24, the local MP, Mr Pawan Kumar Bansal, asked the people to follow the teachings of Dr Ambedkar. The Mayor, Mr Raj Kumar Goyal, president of the Chandigarh Territorial Congress Committee (CTCC), Mr B.B. Bahl, and Mr Amar Nath Sarhadi, president of the federation, were prominent speakers.

At a function organised at the Congress Bhavan in Sector 35, Mr Bahl lauded the role of Dr Ambedkar in the upliftment of the downtrodden. Mr Rampal Sharma, Mr Sunil Parti, Mr Surinder Bhatia, Mr Subhash Chawla, Mr Bhupinder Singh Badheri and Mr Bimal Bitta were prominent among those present. Members of the SC\ST Cell of the CTCC distributed sweets among the inmates of the Kusht Ashram in Sector 47.

The president of the BSP, Mr Mata Ram Dhiman, urged the Chandigarh Administration to redress the grievances of residents of the labour colonies and villages on a priority basis.

Similarly, the Lok Jan Shakti Party celebrated the birthday of Dr Ambedkar at Mani Majra, Darua and Mauli Jagran under the presidentship of Mr Hem Raj. The party activists distributed sweets, books, copies and pencils among the poor persons at these places, according to Mr Amarjit Singh, spokesman of the party.

PANCHKULA

The 110th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar was celebrated at Shri Guru Ravi Dass Bhavan, here today. Speaking at the function, the Director of Primary Education, Haryana, Mr RR Banswal, said Dr Ambedkar was a messiah of the Dalits and created the much-needed awakening in society.

He added that Dr Ambedkar was of the opinion that Independence and awakening of the society could not happen without education. For this reason alone, he insisted on spreading literacy not only among the dalits but also stressed on educating the masses.

Earlier, a two-minute silence was observed as a mark of respect to the former Deputy Prime Minister Devi Lal.

SAS NAGAR

The Punjab Minister for Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Mr Swarna Ram, today called upon the oppressed to fight for their rights.

The Minister was speaking at a function on the 110th birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar in Sri Guru Ravidass Bhavan here. He said Babasaheb had to face a great deal of discrimination during his lifetime for securing the rights of the oppressed.

Mr Swarna Ram announced a grant of Rs 50,000 for the Sri Guru Ravidass Naujawan Sabha of Punjab that had organised the function.

A cultural programme was presented on the life and philosophy of Dr Ambedkar. The Minister also inaugurated the Sri Guru Ravidass Charitable Dispensary on the premises of the bhavan.