MYSORE, Aug 27: Primary and Secondary Education Minister H Vishwanath here today said the State government has decided to withdraw reservation benefits to the children of those who availed reservation by producing fake Scheduled Tribe caste certificates.

Speaking after inaugurating the 86th birth anniversary of the late chief minister D Devaraj Urs organised by the District Administration, the Mysore Zilla Panchayat and the Department of Backward Classes and Minorities, Mysore, the minister, who was referring to the confusion over reservation among the Nayaka community, said reservation to Nayakas, Jenukurubas, Soligas, Rajagonda and Gonda will not be withdrawn as it is their Constitutional right.

However, he said some persons who belonged to the higher sections among the above said castes have availed reservation by producing fake ST caste certificates. Mr Vishwanath said many such persons are enjoying the State and Central government jobs by misusing the caste certificates. There are over 3,700 such persons in the State who have been found misusing the ST caste certificates, he informed.

Nevertheless, the minister said the government has no plans to withdraw the reservation availed by such people. "They will be allowed to continue in the present jobs until their retirement. Henceforth, they cannot misuse the certificates and children of these people will not be allowed to avail reservation under the category," Mr Vishwanath clarified. Commending the contributions of the late Devaraj Urs, Mr Vishwanath said he was the first person to coin "hostel concept" for the students belonging to backward class and minority communities in the State. He made education within the reach of rural students with his path breaking programmes. Calling him a pioneer in social reforms, the minister said the late Devaraj Urs established the Directorate of Backward Classes and the Directorate of Social Welfare to help the community people get government facilities without any hindrance. He introduced scholarships and welfare schemes for students during his tenure as the chief minister. Applauding his revolutionary programmes, he said the late Devaraj Urs was the first chief minister in the country to introduce pension for senior citizens. He also took some bold steps while implementing the Havanur panel report. He made the slum dwellers lead a respectful life by setting up the Slum Clearance Board. He realised most of his dreams of bringing common people to the mainstream.

Mysore Zilla Panchayat President Nagaraj explained the programmes undertaken by the zilla panchayat for the welfare of the backward classes and minorities. He also gave away hearing aid kids and stretchers to beneficiaries under the schemes of the Backward Classes and Minorities Development Corporations. Mayor B K Prakash presided over the function.

Hunsur MLA V Papanna, Mysore ZP Standing Committee on Social Justice President Puttabasavaiah, Leader of Opposition in ZP Sunitha Veerappa Gowda, Taluk Panch ayat Chairperson Kalavathi, and several ZP members attended the function.