The one-day seminar, to be attended by 150 representatives from different organisations, including experts from economic and social fields, would formulate ‘separate and exclusive proposals,’ for SC/STs, Dr K Krishnasamy, founder president of Puthiya Tamizhakam, a Dalit political party in Tamil Nadu and the organiser, told reporters here today.
The association has sought an audience with union finance minister, P Chidambaram, to submit the proposals and to be included in the budget, since only 1.25 per cent of the total budget was being allocated for SC/STs under the Social Welfare ministry Krishnasamy said.
There was no other allocation to the SC/STs under any special component plans, he claimed.
Claiming that the demand was just as the SC/ST population was 22.5 per cent of India, he said that if the government failed to heed to the demand of announcing a ‘separate budget for SC/STs,’ the association would form a National movement and agitate till the goal was achieved. The seminar, to be chaired by R S Gawai, chairman of SC/ST MPs forum, would be attended by leaders like Ramdas Athwale, Suraj Bhan, Chairman, National SC Commission and Yogendra Makwana, Krishnasamy said.
