ST SC UNIONs DEMAND SCP / TSP LEGISLATION IN CURRENT PARLIAMENT SESSION
New Delhi: Dalits and Adivasis displayed remarkable strength of unity at Jantar Mantar today to claim what is rightfully theirs.Thousands of ST SC Employees and Unions from across the country arrived here to demand Special Component Plan and Tribal Sub Plan Legislation. Addressing the gathering, S Krishnan, IAS (Retd) and Advisor of NACSTL, CPIM leader Srinivas Rao, Ashok Bharti of National Confederation of Dalit Organizations and Dr. Udit Raj, veteran dalit leader and president of All India Confederation of ST SC Organizations stated that if the Govt speaks of SC ST community development the Govt should prove by passing this Legislation during ongoing parliament winter session. Dr Udit Raj appreciated Mr Anand Rao, the organizer of today’s dharna for awakening the community on economic rights and strengthening this campaign in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and across the country. All the leaders demanded central SCP TSP legislation stronger than A.P. and Karnataka. Dr Udit Raj also informed that lacs of people from across the country will gather on 16th December in Delhi and will demand legislation.
Member of Dalit Dasta Virodhi Andolan from Punjab presented condition of dalit labours and life sketch of Baba Saheb Dr Ambedkar through theatre and music.
Under the banner of National Coalition on SCP–TSP Legislation (NACSTL) as part of the campaign for Dalit and Adivasi Economic Rights, a weeklong protest has been launched from 5th December, demanding SCP TSP Legislation. The coalition comprises of more than 300 Dalit and Adivasi organizations from across country.
SCP and TSP were instituted in the year 1978-79, these are the two plans which form an integral part of the SC/STs and Tribal welfare fund, where the government had decided that out of every 100 rupees spent by the government, Rs.16/- will be spent for Dalits and Rs.8/- spent for Adivasis every year; AND that the funds would be used for such schemes that will directly benefit SC/ST individuals/households or SC/ST bastis/tolas/localities. The government has instead, very conveniently, diverted a large share of this money to general schemes, hardly benefitting the Dalits and the Adivasis. One of the recent examples being diversion and misappropriation of funds which happened during the common wealth games where a large sum of money was spent on building the stadia and other such infrastructure, thus weaning the rights of the SC/ST’s and Dalits. This act on government’s part is utterly shameful. It demeans the importance of govt. budgetary planning and sense of justice.
Today’s Dharna was jointly organized by All India Confederation of SC-ST Organization, All India Dalit Rights Federation, Rashtriya Soshit Parishad Delhi in Association with All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association, All India SC/ST/BC/Minorities Employees Welfare Associations, All India SC ST Employees Welfare Associations (ONGC), All India SC/ST/Buddhists’ LIC Employees Welfare Association, National Confederation of Dalit Organizations, National Action Forum for Social Justice, Safai Karamchari Andolan (SKA), SC/ST Employees Welfare Association of BSNL, Delhi Scheduled Castes Welfare Association, Uttar Pradesh Dalit Intellectuals Forum, A. P. Bhavan SC/ST Employees Welfare Association Forum for National Issue, Canara Bank SC/ST Employees Welfare Association, Awareness Society for International Assistance (ASIA), All India Federation of Churches, Dalit Christian Society Delhi, Delhi Domestic Workers Forum.
Source: All Voice
