GOVERNMENT TO ARRANGE ADMISSION IN
PUBLIC SCHOOLS FOR MERITORIOUS DALIT STUDENTS
The government will
arrange admission in public schools for meritorious dalit students.
This was stated by the Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment
Dr. Satyanarayan Jatiya while presiding over a function on the
occasion of the Social Empowerment Day here today. He said that
the government will spend up to fifty thousand rupees per annum
for each student in this regard. Dr. Jatiya added that, if need
be, this amount can be further increased. The Minister said that
education is one of the major tools in empowering the marginalised
sections of society and bringing them social justice. He said
that the Centre has started National Scholarship Scheme for meritorious
dalit students all over the country. Dr. Jatiya said the goal
of bringing social, economic and political justice to all as envisaged
in the Constitution is yet to be fully realized. He urged the
people to follow the path shown by Baba Sahib Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
for creating an equitable and just social order based on equality
and fraternity.
Several Dalit leaders
and scholars participated in the function.
March 20 is being
observed as Social Empowerment Day to commorate Mahad Satyagrah
undertaken by Dr. Baba Sahib Ambedkar in Kolaba District in Maharashtra
76 years ago. The Satyagrah was launched to end untouchability
and press for implementation of the order by Mahad Municipality
allowing the `untouchables’ to collect water from Chavdar Tank.
The Municipality had passed the order in1924 to this effect but
it had not be implemented. Baba Sahib also fought the battle in
law courts for several years and ultimately won it with Bombay
High Court giving a verdict in favour of Dalits in March 1936.
It was a historic victory for Dalits both on the moral and the
legal grounds.
