Congress steps up efforts to strengthen reach in SC areas
Ranchi: Congress, which is part of the ruling coalition govt in the state, is now focusing on consolidating its base in the Scheduled Caste dominated regions.
Days after state finance minister and Chatterpur MLA Radhakrishana Kishore shot a letter to chief minister Hemant Soren to urge formation of an SC commission and a panel on the lines of Tribes Advisory Council (TAC), the grand old party is now gearing up to hold a mega convention on June 11 in Ranchi to ponder over the condition of Scheduled Caste in the state.
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Talking to the media persons on Monday, Kishore said that the upcoming meet would have representatives from AICC's SC wing besides others from the community. "The idea is to deliberate on the condition of the Harijan community in the state, and chalk out future plan for their welfare. Based on the resolutions taken at the meeting, we will apprise CM with the demands," said Kishore.
As per the estimates, around 50 lakh SC population exists in Jharkhand.
The minister, however, said that since formation of Jharkhand, there hasn't been any focused approach to uplift their socio-economic conditions.
"I believe the condition of Harijan (SC) community is no less better than the PVTGs. While for tribal welfare, we have TAC, a body to recommend about their welfare schemes to the govt and other interventions, SCs continue to lag behind," he said, adding that recently he had also written a letter to the CM in this regard.
"In 2018, previous BJP govt had formed SC commission before 2019 assembly elections, but it largely remained defunct. It was BJP's ploy to garner SC votes. However, our alliance govt will now work towards them," he said, referring to a proposal for SC welfare in this year's state budget.
He also demanded installation of a statue of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar be installed in the new assembly and high court premises, and hostels for Scheduled Caste students on the lines of the one that exists for tribals.
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