DH News Service

Deputy Commissioner S G Hegde has urged officials here to create awareness in the gram sabhas and public grievance meetings on atrocities being committed against people belonging to SC/ST and said punitive measures will have to be taken to prevent such incidents from occurring again.

Presiding over the meeting of the SC/ST Welfare Committee which was held at his office on Tuesday, he called upon the officials of Social Welfare Department and the tahsildar to look into the matter during their visits. The tahsildar, sub-inspector concerned and the departmental officials should hold meetings at sensitive areas and create awareness in this regard, he added.

Legislator M Chandrappa said that the officials of Social Welfare Department should understand the problems of SC/ST communities and give them proper advice and guidance. He further said that a peaceful settlement to the problem of atrocities against SC/STs should be brought through discussions instead of allowing matters to worsen by filing criminal cases.

He said that officials of Labour Department should take strict action against those who encouraged child labour. The district administration should make serious attempts to stop illegal sale of liquor, he urged.

MLC B T Channabasappa, District Social Welfare officer Basavaraj, committee members D Borappa, G Chandrappa, lawyer Sharanappa and others were present at the meeting.