CPI(M) asks Centre to hold spl session on Dalit issues

CPI(M) has asked the Centre to hold a special session to discuss issues concerning members of the Dalit community, so as to draw the attention of the society towards inequality on the basis of birth and descent.
In a letter to Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu, CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said, the special session would help draw attention towards this "shameful" scourge of society and measures needed to eliminate the same.
The party, through this session also seeks to mark the 125th birth anniversary of the iconic social leader B R Ambedkar.
Yechury, in the letter issued on May 6, expressed concerns that condition of Dalits has "worsened" during the last two decades, the party said in a statement today.

He said the rate of conviction of people involved in practices such as untouchability and violence against scheduled caste communities was "on the lower side".
The Rajya Sabha MP observed laws such as the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and Manual Scavengers Act are yet to be implemented.

The leader added large sections of rural Dalits being landless workers without assets, huge backlog in filling up of reserved posts, poor implementation of development schemes and denying recognition as schedule castes to Dalit Christians and Muslims were other issues of concern.
"The CPI(M) feels that these issues need separate discussion and resolution by Parliament.

"A special session would ensure that the attention of the entire country is focused on this shameful scourge of Indian society -- inequality on the basis of birth and descent -- and on the urgent need to take comprehensive and strong measures to eliminate it," Yechury said.
The CPI (M) had adopted a resolution in this regard during its 21st Congress held in Visakhapatnam last month.
Born on April 14, 1891, country's first Union Law Minister, Ambedkar is revered by Dalit community for his work towards their empowerment. He passed away on December 6 in 1956.