Dalit MLAs plan Bill to ensure SC/ST funds not squandered on other projects

Dalit organisations, leaders, and MLAs belonging to the community will take part in an andolan on August 7 in an effort to convince BJP MLAs to join hands with them for a Dalit cause.

MLA Naushad Solanki said at a press conference following a meeting of various Dalit leaders in the city that they would soon be introducing a Bill in the Assembly which would make it mandatory for SC/ST funds to be used only for their benefits and not other purposes.

If this Bill gets passed, Rs 4 lakh crore will be available for the community and you can uplift them in a matter of just a decade, he said. "At present, what is happening is that although the budget makes an allocation for SC/STs, a substantial part of it is used for things that don't benefit the communities. Take for example, the statue of unity. Some part of the funds for the project have come from those reserved for SC/STs. How does the statue benefit the community? How does it uplift them?" asked Solanki.

He said that even the advertisement expenses of the Gujarat government come from funds meant for the SCs/STs. Solanki said as of now they have the support of 80 MLAs for the Bill, most of whom are from the Congress or are independents. "Since Dalit BJP MLAs refuse to help us we will hold protests in each Assembly seat and go to their houses to convince them to support our Bill," the MLA said.