Apr 30, 2011
PATNA: Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi on Friday reiterated the resolve of the Nitish Kumar-led NDA government to the uplift of Dalit and Mahadalit sections, since they together constituted a huge chunk of state's population.
Modi, who was delivering the inaugural address at the function organized by the state BJP at Shri Krishna Memorial Hall to celebrate the birth anniversary of folk hero of Paswan community Baba Chauharmal, said that the population of Dalit and Mahadalit sections in the state was 16 per cent, as per the 2011 Census. "Given their numerical strength in the society, it means the overall development of the state will not be meaningful, if the fruits of development do not reach them. It is necessary that they also join the mainstream," he said.
Modi cited the steps taken by the government for their uplift which included allocation of 17.66 per cent of the annual plan outlay for the uplift of scheduled caste (SC) people, earmarking of additional resources for the development of Mahadalit sections, grant of three 'dismil' of homestead land to Mahadalit families to end their state of homelessness, increase in the amount of scholarships for SC students and its timely payment, provision of school hostels for over 28,000 girl students, and Rs 10,000 worth of incentive to students who pass matriculation examinations in first division, among several other measures.
He said that when the NDA government created Dalit and Mahadalit categories in the state, the measure was interpreted as the government's bid to divide the state's Dalit or SC sections, but the Centre had now also accepted the two categories. "Bihar provided a new dimension to handle the development and uplift of SC sections more imaginatively. The Planning Commission has also issued a directive to all the state governments in this regard," Modi added.
According to Modi, it was due to the committed response of the state's NDA government to their uplift in its first term (2005-10) that the SC sections voted overwhelmingly for the candidates of the NDA in the 2010 assembly polls. Of the total 38 assembly seats reserved for the SC and scheduled tribe people in the state, 37 went to the NDA -- 18 to BJP and 19 to JD(U) -- and only one to the RJD. The SC and ST voters rejected both RJD chief Lalu Prasad and LJP chief Ram Vilas Paswan, he said.
Earlier, party's two national general secretaries Thawar Chand Gehlot and Dharmendra Pradhan, along with former state BJP chief Radha Mohan Singh, also maintained that the track record of both Paswan and Lalu had been anti-Dalits, as they showed more commitment to the uplift of their families. They also said that the Congress, too, had ignored the welfare interests of Dalit sections.
On the other hand, state BJP chief Dr C P Thakur and ministers Nand Kishore Yadav and Ashwini Kumar Choubey, in their deliberations, said that the BJP believed in the development of every section of society. Choubey said that the health department would provide free medical aid to chowkidars. Bihar SC & ST Commission vice-chairman Yogendra Paswan conducted the proceedings.
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