Members of Dalit samaj observe hunger strike

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 3

The activists of Vishav Valmiki Kaumi Ekta Dharam Samaj observed a hunger strike on Bhandari Bridge here today, demanding an end to the exploitation of Scheduled Castes. The organiser of the protest, Balbir Singh Gumtala, said members of the community were being exploited as instead of regular jobs, the government had initiated contractual employment for safai sevaks and drivers.

He said deprived of educational facilities, the members of the community cannot compete for highly paid jobs in other categories. He said most of the Class IV posts had been filled under the contractual- employment schemes.

State president of the samaj Sukhwinder Singh Raju said most of the members of the community do not have ownership deeds of their homes because they cannot afford to pay the government fee for these.

“Due to lack of ownership deeds, they cannot even pledge their properties for bank loans. Even if a member of a family is entangled in a legal case, they do not have anything to attach with a bail bond,” said Sukhwinder Singh. He said the government should create more jobs in various departments to provide employment to members of the community.