Govt. to modify ST list, 3 castes to be dropped

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, AUG. 11. The State Government on Friday decided to modify the list specifying the castes included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category in accordance with the Centre's list and decided to delete three castes - Kuruba, Maleru and Maaleru - from the list.

The Minister of State for Information, Prof. B. K. Chandrashekar, briefing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting, said that in the wake of objections by the Centre against the State Government including castes such as Maleru, Maaleru and Kuruba, the names of which were not found in its list, the Government decided to delete them. Communities such as the Kadu Kuruba and Jenu Kuruba would continue to enjoy reservation benefits applicable to the STs.

He said the Cabinet meeting debated on the issue of people belonging to Valmiki, Bedaru and Parivara castes availing the benefits being extended to STs although they were not included in the Centre's list. No decision was taken on the action to be initiated by the Government.

He said that during 1984-85 the State Government issued a list of ST categories including some castes. However, the Centre wrote to the State declaring that inclusion or deletion of any caste from the ST list was the prerogative of the Centre and not that of the State administration.

`Stree Shakti' programme

The Minister said the ``Stree Shakti'' programme announced by the Government in the budget to help women entrepreneurs with the assistance of self-help groups would be launched on September 1.

The Minister for Labour and Wakfs, Mr. A. M. Hindasgeri, said the Cabinet had approved a Rs. 44.48-crore drinking water supply scheme to the twin cities of Hubli-Dharwad.

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Section  : Southern States
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