Mangaluru: Dalita Seva Samiti Members, who are protesting demanding the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan and help to their families, withdrew their protest after MLA Sanjeeva Matandoor assured them.
The protest was led by Dakshina Kannada District Dalita Seva Samiti Founder President B. K. Sesappa Bedrakadu.
A sum of Rs 10 Crore has been sanctioned for the construction of Ambedkar Bhavan at Bannur in Puttur Assembly Constituency and Rs. 2 Crore for Ambedkar Bhavan under Vittal Kasba Town Panchayat. A sum of Rs. 10 Lakh has also been sanctioned in the wake of the death of a student named Atmeeka of Kanyana Village. They were protesting demanding that the promises made to them have not been fulfilled.
On February 27, they went on a day-long satyagraha and on March 13, they were protesting to press for their demands.
MLA Sanjeev Matandoor who reached the spot, addressed the protesters and said, “As you all know, four Gram Panchayats have been allotted 4 Ambedkar Bhavans. A sum of Rs. 20 Lakh each has been sanctioned for this purpose. The Government will sanction Rs. 50 Lakh for the Taluk-level Ambedkar Bhavan. This grant has been sanctioned and it is our dream to build a well-organised Ambedkar Bhavan in Puttur. Parking arrangements are also required for this. If all these arrangements are to be made, a big grant is required. A request has already been made to Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary. Talks are also underway at the Government level. The process is slowing down a bit as the elections are approaching,” he said.
“There is no problem with the Ambedkar Bhavan which is proposed to be constructed at Vittal. Grants have also been sanctioned. I will add some grant to it,” he said and added that he would suggest fixing a date within a week to lay the foundation stone or if possible at the earliest.
District Dalita Seva Samiti Founder President Sesappa Bedrakadu said, “We want Ambedkar Bhavan to be inaugurated by the MLA. In this context, we have staged a protest with a view to pressurise the Administration.”
The protest was later called off.
