AP Dalits, tribes pass Bejawada Declaration

Vijayawada: The Dalit Girijana Joint Action Committee (DGJAC), which held its state-level meeting here on Sunday, demanded restoration of all 27 welfare schemes meant for welfare of SC and ST communities that have since been cancelled.

Releasing the Bejawada Declaration, DGJAC chairman T. Gopala Rao, a retired IAS officer, alleged that Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy government has diverted funds meant for SCs and STs, thereby discriminating against the two communities. He accused governments in power both in the state and country of undermining the constitutional rights, funds, schemes and special laws for protection of Dalits and tribals.

Gopala Rao appealed to people of these communities to unite for protecting their constitutional rights and ensuring their survival. He underlined that the goal of DGJAC is to protect rights, sub-plan funds, schemes and special laws for protection of Dalit and tribal communities.

Dalit Bahujan Front national president Korivi Vinaya Kumar announced that the main demands of Bejawada Declaration are revival of 27 welfare schemes, laws protecting comprehensive development of SCs and STs, implementation of sub-plans without specifying any time limit, scholarships for SCs and STs, implementation of Koneru Ranga Rao committee recommendations and reservation in contract and outsourcing jobs.

Former IRS officer Uppleti Devi Prasad took a dig at leaders of major political parties. In particular, he ridiculed Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy as a hero who has cancelled a the large number of schemes that benefitted SCs and STs.
DGJAC executive chairman Panabaka Krishnaiah expressed concern that funds allocated in the budget are being diverted to other schemes. He maintained that the political and economic policies followed by central government are destroying the lives of Dalits and tribals.

Congress state working president Janga Gautam accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of doing serious injustice to Dalits and tribes by not spending the funds allocated to them.

DGJAC state coordinator Melam Bhagya Rao and several other leaders addressed the gathering of representatives from all districts of AP state.