Several Lambani community leaders, who spoke at the Banjara Jana Jagruti Samavesha here on Wednesday, urged the government to drop the A.J. Sadashiva Commission report recommending proportional representation to sub-castes among Scheduled Castes, saying that it was unscientific.
P. Rajiv, MLA from Kudchi in Belagavi, described it as a ploy by vested interests to divide the Scheduled Castes that were living like brothers all these years.
“We should be cautious enough to see that the government is creating fissures between various depressed communities. It is a child of political vested interests and we should guard ourselves against it,” the police officer-turned-legislator said.
“Poverty is forcing some Lambanis to migrate and sell their children. The government should implement measures to ensure welfare of Lambani tanda residents,” he said.
He asked members of the community to realize the importance of reservation and other policies championed by Dr. Ambedkar. Umesh Jadhav, MLA and political secretary to Chief Minister, said that the State government was planning to set up a textile park in Kattahalli in Humnabad taluk at the cost of Rs. 160 crore.
The government had also sanctioned 34 acres of land for the park, he said.
Govardhan Rathod, All India Banjara Seva Samaj district unit president, asked Lambani leaders to work for the welfare of the community.
Prabhu Chauhan, MLA, Basavaraj Pawar and other leaders were present.
