Education, unity are key to uplift of oppressed communities: Sivaraj Tangadagi

Ministers and dignitaries paying floral tributes to a portrait of Maharshi Valmiki during the Valmiki Jayanti celebrations in Koppal on Friday.

Education and collective organisation are essential for the progress of oppressed communities, including the Valmiki community, Minister for Backward Classes Welfare and Kannada and Culture and Koppal district in-charge Minister Sivaraj S. Tangadagi said on Friday.

Speaking after inaugurating the Sri Maharshi Valmiki community hall and the district-level Maharshi Valmiki Jayanti celebrations in Koppal, he said the construction of community halls and other physical infrastructure alone would not ensure social progress. Members of the community must come together, organise themselves and advance educationally to build a stronger society, he said.

Public Works Minister Satish Jarkiholi said the inauguration of the Valmiki community hall fulfilled a long-standing demand of the people of Koppal.

“The hall should not remain locked and be opened only when VIPs visit. Instead, it should host regular educational and social programmes, including coaching for competitive examinations such as the IAS, IPS and KAS. Members of other oppressed communities should also be allowed to use the facility so that it serves a wider social purpose,” Mr. Jarkiholi said.

On the demand for an increase in Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) reservations, he said an appeal had been filed in the Supreme Court through appointed advocates. He stressed the need for efforts by the Union government and Parliament to include the enhanced reservation provision in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution, on the lines of Tamil Nadu, to secure a permanent solution.

Minister for Scheduled Tribes Welfare T. Raghumurthy said the State government had decided to lead a delegation to the Union government, under the Chief Minister’s leadership, to press for the inclusion of the enhanced SC and ST reservation in the Ninth Schedule.

K. Raghavendra Hitnal, MLA, who presided over the programme, described the inauguration of the community hall as a historic occasion for Koppal. He urged the Ministers to consider sanctioning a separate district office of the Scheduled Tribes Welfare Department for Koppal, establishing the Gandugali Kumararama Development Authority and increasing financial assistance for the purchase of land for ST beneficiaries under the Land Ownership scheme.

Legislative Council member Hemalatha Nayak sought an increase in the financial allocations and physical targets of welfare schemes for the overall development of ST communities in Koppal district.