Make Karnataka a 'Devadasi free' state: Kumaraswamy

Raichur, Apr 28 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy today exhorted officials and organisations to free the state from Devadasi system and announced various welfare measures to help the unfortunate women get rid of the evil home based sex worker tag.

Addressing a 'Devadasi convention' here, in which more than 15 thousand women, many of them were who had left the practice due to awareness created by various organisations, the Chief Minister regretted that even in the modern age the age old practice of devadasi was in vogue.

He said that the government was committed to ensure that the devadasi practice was eliminated and make Karnataka a devadasi free state.

Announcing various benefits to the devadasis, he said the government would build houses to devadasis while loans and subsidies would be provided to others in an effort to uplift them and help them lead a respectable life in the society. "During the current year, more than 12,000 houses would be build at a cost of Rs 30,000 for each to be allotted to devadasis, widows and destitute women.

He informed that the Woman a Development Corporation had released Rs 6.35 crore to take up various welfare measures. To put an end to confusion about the exact number of devadasis, the government would order for a fresh survey, he said.

He said a pension of Rs 400 would be given to the devadasi who were above the age of 40 years and had eschewed from the bad practice.

Criticising the previous Congress government for not conducting any survey to know the exact number of devadasis, the Chief Minister accused that Congress did nothing to uplift these hapless women.

UNI