SC-ST forum members call on PM Modi

New Delhi: A delegation of members of the Forum of SC and ST Legislators and Parliamentarians today met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and handed a memorandum to him relating to welfare issues of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

The delegation led by Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly, Charnjit Singh Atwal, and comprising Union ministers, MPs, ministers from different states, former ministers, chairpersons of corporations and other leaders of Dalit communities also invited Modi to inaugurate the 3rd International SC and ST Convention-2016 in New Delhi.

The main demands of the delegation related to the reservation policy, right education along with the Right to Education, International Day of Equality, stopping outsourced contract system, strengthening the implementation of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, Special Component Plan (SCP) and Tribal Sub Plan (TSP).

They also requested the prime minister to withdraw the review petition filed by the Centre against a recent Supreme Court judgement directing all nationalised banks that principles of reservation be followed while effecting promotion up to Grade-VI officers.

It was also pointed out that there are certain obstacles created by various judicial decisions with regard to reservation in promotion which should be removed.

The forum also sought the implementation of the 85th Constitutional Amendment and requested that relevant directions be issued for clearing all backlog. Provisions should be made for representation of the SC and ST communities in the Rajya Sabha and state legislative councils, it said.

It also emphasised the need of right education along with Right to Education and said there should be equal syllabus in every school.

Loan facility with lower rate of interest should be provided to children of these communities. It was also requested that all central universities establish chairs in the name of Bharat Ratna Dr BR Ambedkar on diverse subjects.