STAFF REPORTER
GUWAHATI: The Anusuchit Jati Sangrami Juba Parishad, Asom has accused the State Government of changing various rules pertaining to the Scheduled Castes (SCs) without consulting the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.
The organization's president, Sanjib Das, said on Monday that it is mandatory to acquire the approval of the State Legislative Assembly for any change in existing rules regarding SCs. Thereafter, the amendment has to be sent to the Governor and the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes for approval. Finally, if both concur, then the President of India issues the final Notification.
However, Das said, the State Government is not following this procedure and recently it has modified the modalities for issuing caste certificates to SCs. The Government is now proposing to issue SC caste certificates in schools.
Das alleged that this decision will push the SCs of the State towards disaster.
He also claimed that the State Government has allocated only Rs 90 crore for welfare of the SC community in the Budget, as against the Directorate of SC Welfare's request for Rs 300 crore. Out of the amount of Rs 90 crore, Rs 29 crore has been earmarked for development of infrastructure, Rs 35 crore for has been allocated for construction of an Ambedkar Bhawan. He questioned as to how the Government proposes to ensure the welfare of 60 lakh SCs of Assam with the remaining Rs 26 crore.
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