Several Dalit leaders expressed anguish over the fact that dalits and weaker sections are still being discriminated after 65 years of independence.
Speaking at a seminar on 'Inequalities in Independent India' organised by the Dalit Stree Sakthi here on Wednesday, they said, "Untouchability is still there, refusing to die down."
Calling upon them to fight for the right to equality in all aspects, the leaders expressed anguish over the dalits, tribals and weaker sections having no financial, political or sociological freedom.
Advisor to supreme court appointed National Commissioners on Right to Food case Rama Melkote said that 46 percent of children in India, a majority of whom are from SC and ST community, are suffering from ill-health due to lack of access to nutritious food. She said government should provide nutritious food to children in Anganwadi centres for proper physical and mental growth.
She alleged that because of allocation of fertile lands to corporates, agricultural production would be hit which in turn would lead to scarcity of food for dalits and weaker sections.
Republican party president Bojja Tarakam alleged that people from other castes were cornering the benefits that legitimately belong to the SCs. Satish Chander, socio-analyst and Dalit Sthree Sakthi state convener G Jhansi were among those who spoke.