SC/STs, OBCs and minorities across the country are still treated as untouchables and discriminated on the basis of their caste, said R N Chandolia, national president of All India Federation of SC/STs, Backward Classes and Minorities Employees’ Welfare Association, New Delhi.
He told reporters here on Sunday that with privatisation, these communities are deprived of jobs in private as well as government sectors. “Most of the employed persons are harassed in their offices over caste. The government must make reservation mandatory in the private sector and fill the 1.87 lakh vacant posts,” he said.
As only 30 per cent of the funds earmarked in the budget for the weaker sections are utilised, he demanded utilisation of the remaining amount within a set time.
“The funds allocated under different schemes are not reaching the real beneficiaries. They are either diverted or misappropriated. The officials who misuse the funds should be fined and punished severly,” he added.
“Money and muscle power play a major role in the elections and a candidate comes to power by spending crores of rupees. Politics has become a commercial activity. Merchants and rice mill owners are minting money by selling Anna Bhagya rice in the black market,” he said.