BELLARY: Gonal, Belagallu, Bathri and Karekal villages in Bellary taluk (all 5 to 30 km from here) besides being known for summer heat, are also notorious for practising untouchability. Even to this day, dalits are treated as untouchables in these villages and the district administration is maintaining a stony silence. Except appointing a committee with dalit representatives and officers of the revenue and police departments, there has been no progress in eradicating the social evil

On January 24, dalits led by D. Yerri Swamy, Mundargi Nagaraj, zilla panchayat member Manaiah and State Safai karmachari Sangharsha Samiti president S. Arun Kumar declared that they would stage dharna on the Republic Day when the minister arrives to unfurl the national flag. The district administration conducted a meeting and formed the SC/ST Safeguard Committee which was asked to submit a report. The committee has not met even once.

In these villages, separate paper plates and plastic cups (use and throw) are kept in the hotels and dalits are served separately.

Untouchability is still in vogue

BELLARY: Gonal, Belagallu, Bathri and Karekal villages in Bellary taluk (all 5 to 30 km from here) besides being known for summer heat, are also notorious for practising untouchability. Even to this day, dalits are treated as untouchables in these villages and the district administration is maintaining a stony silence. Except appointing a committee with dalit representatives and officers of the revenue and police departments, there has been no progress in eradicating the social evil

On January 24, dalits led by D. Yerri Swamy, Mundargi Nagaraj, zilla panchayat member Manaiah and State Safai karmachari Sangharsha Samiti president S. Arun Kumar declared that they would stage dharna on the Republic Day when the minister arrives to unfurl the nation flag. The district administration conducted a meeting and formed the SC ST Safeguard Committee which was asked to submit a report. The committee has not met even once.

In these villages, separate paper plates and plastic cups (use and throw) are kept in the hotels and dalits are served separately. After consuming food or tea, they are to clean up the space themselves.

Arun Kumar said dalits are not permitted to draw water from the common tap. If a ground-level mini tank has four taps on four sides, one side is for dalit.

He cannot touch the other three sides. Similarly, dalits are not allowed to enter the flour-mills.

Arun Kumar who is a member of the SC ST Safeguard Committee said he had requested the Deputy Commissioner to conduct its meeting at the earliest.

The district administration is yet to receive the preliminary report from the officers’ committee.

Whenever cases of atrocities on dalits are reported, the district administration responds swiftly.

Committees are appointed and senior officers visit the place. They make suggestions. There ends the matter.