Belgaum: Even after 76 years of independence, not everyone got social justice. Still many castes cannot climb the steps of the Vidhana Soudha. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah lamented that such a situation still exists in the country and in Karnataka and without coming into the mainstream, it is not possible to build an egalitarian society.
He was speaking at the 9th National Convention of Shepherd India International held at District Sports Ground, Nehru Nagar, Belgaum on September 3.
CM Siddaramaiah said, It is our duty to understand the reality of the caste system in the society and act accordingly. From this point of view, such organization and conventions are very necessary. Gandhiji had said that as a decentralization of power, there should be a village swaraj.
The Kuruba society has done a good job of organizing. Political power should grow and everyone should have a share in power. Political representation is essential for the progress of any society. When you don’t have someone to speak up for you, that community falls behind. He said that we should organize and develop the power to grow politically.
I pray to God to give me the strength to run the government inclusive of all castes. In many states, the Kuruba community belongs to SC, ST, backward class and general category as well. In Gulbarga, Bidar, Yadgiri Gond and Rajgonda shepherd communities belong to ST, while in Kodagu district all shepherds belong to ST. In Gulbarga, Bidar, Yadgiri, the Kurubas and Gond communities are the same and it has been recommended to the Center that these communities should be included in ST. Now this matter is in the court of the central government. The Chief Minister said that he would urge the central government to include various societies including Gollars, Kurubas and Koli Samaj into the ST community.