Actor Shashi Kumar and the former Chief Jail Superintendent Veerendra Singh being honoured during the Valmiki Jatra in Rajanahalli of Davangere district on Sunday.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Ministers participating in the Valmiki Jatra at the Maharshi Valmiki Gurupeetha in Rajanahalli near Harihar on Sunday spoke of the State government’s various social welfare schemes and reiterated the government’s commitment towards publishing the socio-economic survey.

Home Minister G. Parameshwara, who inaugurated the event, spoke of the survey.

“The survey, also known as the caste census, will be published. It is very important for all, to understand our society and to plan social welfare schemes and development programmes,” he said.

“We are committed to bringing it out and using it for planning. It has been done at an expenditure of ₹160 crore. Those people who are opposing it now were silent when it was being compiled. The opposition to it seems to have emerged only after the completion of report. He criticised H.D. Kumaraswamy who was then Chief Minister for not fulfilling the demands of the Bedar Nayak community even after seers took out a padayatra. I urge the tribal communities to support the Congress that is working for their welfare and not those who try to play politics in the name of religion,” the Home Minister said.

Dr. Parameshwara said that the State government will support the Valmiki Gurupeetha if it were to open a medical or engineering college after buying necessary land as per rules.

Social Welfare Minister H.C. Mahadevappa said that steps will be initiated to fill all backlog vacancies in the State government.

He said that Karnataka has passed laws to see that 24% of the budgetary allocation is spent on welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. As many as 50 legislators are from these communities. We should all remain united,” he said.

However, BJP MP Basavaraj Bommai criticised the delay in the implementation of the Kantharaj Commission and the Justice Sadashiva Commission reports even after several years of their submission.

“There are at least 156 Ramayanas in the country, but the Valmiki Ramayana is the greatest,” he said.

Minister Satish Jarkiholi said that the government is taking several steps towards the welfare of tribal communities in the State. He urged the seer of Maharshi Valmiki Gurupeetha to lead a movement to consolidate all the groups under Scheduled Tribes.

Union Minister Pralhad Joshi spoke of the Union government’s decision to directly transfer scholarship amounts to 32 lakh students through Direct Benefit Transfer system under various schemes.

He described the personality of Lord Rama as depicted by Valmiki. “We should never forget that it is Rama who is worshipped and not Ravana,” he said.

Actor and former MP Shashi Kumar and the former Chief Jail Superintendent Veerendra Singh were hooured with Madakari Nayaka and Valmiki Ratna awards.

Leaders of various parties participated in the event.