Valmiki Gurukula Peeta seer Brahmananda Valmiki Guruji has opposed inclusion of castes that have an advantage in education and are also well-off in the list of Scheduled Tribe.
Though Valmiki community is included in ST category since 1991, the reservation benefit has not been utilised effectively by the community. It is not right to include upper castes in ST category to avail the benefits of the reservation, he told mediapersons at Patrika Bhavan in the city.
If many castes are included in ST category, then genuine beneficiaries will suffer. Though Nagmohan Das Commission in the report had recommended on increasing reservation for ST community to 7.5 per cent to government, no steps have been initiated in this regard, he alleged.
To protest against the inclusion of upper castes in ST category, a padayatra will be held from Doddaballapura to CM’s official residence from March 24 to 26, he said.
Guruji said there are 6,000 people hailing from Valmiki community in Dakshina Kannada district. The community has been demanding land for construction of Maharshi Valmiki Dhyana Kendra, Valmiki Ramayana Adhyayana Kendra and a Valmiki Bhavana. The demand has not been fulfilled so far, he regretted and urged district administration to grant land immediately.
Welcoming the construction of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya, he said a temple dedicated to Valmiki Guru should be constructed in the Ram Mandira complex at
Ayodhya.
Dakshina Kannada Valmiki Nayaka Vividdhodesha Seva Sangha Vice President Yogesh urged the district administration to invite Valmiki community members to SC/ST grievance meeting convened at DC’s office.
Ambedkar and Maharshi Valmiki Abhivridhi Nigama should also convene a meting every month to redress the grievances of members.