Proposal for land allocation to SCs/STs and others awaiting govt. approval: Deputy Commissioner

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Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan speaking at a meeting, in Mangaluru on Thursday. | Photo Credit: H.S. MANJUNATH

The proposal for the allocation of ‘DC Manna’ land (Depressed Class reserved land) for SCs and STs, and land for ex-servicemen and others in Dakshina Kannada is awaiting approval of the State government, said Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan here on Thursday.

To the demand made by activists during the SC/ST grievance redressal meeting, Mr. Darshan said presently the district administration has around 190 acres of revenue land. Apart from allocating lands for ‘DC Manna’, the administration has to allocate land for ex-servicemen and others. “Hence we have sent proposal and sought guidelines for the land allocation. We are awaiting directions of the State government,” he said.

The administration has proposed the allocation of five cents of ‘DC Manna’ site in urban area for a SC/ST family, and one acre of cultivable land in rural area. With the paucity of government land meant to be allocated for cultivation, the district has proposed buying it (from private parties).

Mr. Darshan said he was in favour of the allocation of ‘DC Manna’ site and land only for landless SCs and STs.

The district administration was taking action to vacate non-SCs/STs from ‘DC Manna’ lands. Where government offices or anganwadis have come up on the ‘DC Manna’ land, they will be vacated after shifting them to other sites. If a convention or community hall of SCs and STs have come up on the land, then the same will not be removed, the Deputy Commissioner said.

Action was being taken to vacate Karnataka Cashew Development Corporation’s office in Sullia taluk from ‘DC Manna’ land, he said.

He said the administration has gone on an appeal against 32 civil court orders that have gone against the government action to vacate ‘unauthorised’ occupation of the government land. They have also gone for vacating stay orders too, he said.

When a Dalit activist pointed out at the stoppage of distribution of food kits to Koragas for two years, who are among two tribes in the ‘Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups’ in the State, Mr. Darshan said it was a State-wide issue. “Unfortunately, it has been stopped. It will begin shortly and work in the same way as it was before,” he said.

On caste certificates for Adi Dravida and other sub-castes, the Deputy Commissioner said the certificates were being given by clearly mentioning the sub-caste, in addition to mentioning the SC category that they belong to.

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