Special status for backward areas needed: Activits

New Delhi, Mar 28: Activists of Hyderabad-Karnataka region today staged a protest here demanding special status for the backward districts of the area.

Their demands included amendment of the article 371 of the Constitution to balance the development in health, education, housing and agriculture sectors, besides others.

In their memorandum to Union Minister Shivraj Patil, the Gulbarga based forum activists said the backward districts of Gulbarga, Bidar, Raichur, Bellary and Koppal districts faced many problems despite being bestowed with natural resources.

The region faced acute unemployment and the recommendations of late D M Nanjundappa committee had accepted there was regional imbalance and and sought special package for the area's development.

The region required implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme.

Blaming the elected representatives for neglecting the region, the forum cautioned the people to be careful in choosing their representatives.

The signatories included Mr Ambanna Arolikar, Akkamahadevi Patil and Dattatreya Ikkalki.

UNI