The State is planning to introduce a slew of welfare and development schemes for empowerment of scheduled castes and economically deprived sections.
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that no regime has honoured Dr BR Ambedkar like his, the state's BJP government — which has been tacking Dalit dissidence for a while — decided on Thursday to celebrate a social equality week from April 8 to 14, ending with Ambedkar Jayanti.
The State is planning to introduce a slew of welfare and development schemes for empowerment of scheduled castes and economically deprived sections. The week-long Dalit outreach calendar includes distribution of land holdings and scholarship certificates, blood donation camps and cleanliness drive, besides public lectures on Dr Ambedkar's contributions and his writings and awareness campaigns for the Social Justice Department's schemes aimed at backward classes.
"The government wants to reiterate its resolve to protect the interests of schedule castes and deprived sections, especially from exploitation," a state government official told DNA, adding that the state government has issued strict directives to follow the election code of conduct during the week, in view of the local body polls currently underway in some parts of the state.
The official noted that the government will undertake publicity campaigns for its schemes such as Stand Up India, Swadhar Scheme, Ramai Awas Yojana, Krishi Svavalamban Yojana, as well as scholarship schemes for students pursuing education abroad.
The government's move comes as the fault lines between Marathas and Dalits lay exposed. At the beginning of this year, a clash between 'right-wing' groups and Dalits who had gathered at Koregaon-Bhima had turned violent, leading to one death.
Dalits constitute 13% of the state's population. In 2014, the BJP managed to win 15 of the 29 reserved seats in the 288-member Legislative Assembly, and now, the party wants to retain this crucial electorate by all means.
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