KOCHI: Demanding the inclusion of the Dheevara community in the SC category, the Kerala Dheevara Maha Sabha is planning to submit a memorandum to the Prime Minister.
A meeting in this regard will by held at the Bhagavathy Vilasam School Hall at Nayarambalam at 3 pm on August 24. The meeting will be inaugurated by BJP State general secretary A N Radhakrishnan. “The Dheevara community comprises fishermen belonging to 10 sub-casts under the Hindu religion. The Kaka Kalelkar Commission and the Mandal Commission had recommended that the Dheevara community be given special consideration, and steps be taken to protect them.
After much hue and cry, in 1984, the Kerala Institute for Research Training and Development Studies on SC/ST was entrusted with the task of conducting a study on the backwardness of the community in the state.
Following the study, the institute concluded that the community was eligible to be included in the SC category.
Following this, the State Government sent a proposal to the Central Government on October 14, 1986. However, the proposal has not been implemented yet,” said Kerala Dheevara Maha Sabha district secretary K A Bahuleyan.
“The current stand of the State Government isthat though it agreed on the eligibility of the community the issue had been set aside as there was no consensus, which is highly unfortunate,” he said. “ We will visit the PM to submit the memorandum soon,” he added.