Karat urges SC/ST quota in pvt education institutions

Kochi, Aug 16 (UNI) Calling for a 'common united struggle'to protect the rights of the Dalits in the country, CPI(M) General Secretary Prakash Karat today urged the Centre to introduce a Bill in Parliament to ensure reservation for SC/ST and OBC students in private educational institutions.

Addressing a huge rally at the Dalit Convention organised by the CPI(M) here, Mr Karat said '' due to commercialisation of education sector, reservation in private educational institutions is going out of reach of the deserving students. The Bill concerned will reverse the situation.'' He also reiterated his party's demand the Centre should not compromise on reservation for SC/STs even when work at government departments were outsourced or contracted, or public sector privatised.

'' Most of the private sector industries enjoy the benefits and subsidies of the government and the administration should ensure statutory reservation for the Backward Class is adhered to,'' he noted.

Giving a clarion call for the emancipation of the Dalits and protection of their rights, Mr Karat said the first land reforms in Kerala did not benefit landless farmers as the land was distributed to tenants and middlemen.

The State Government should try to distribute surplus land to the landless SC/ST farmers across the State.

Mr Karat also alleged 'rampant imperialistic globalisation eroding the rights of the Dalits' as most of them were displaced from their traditional livelihood.

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