The Pioneer  20.10.2010

PNS | DEHRADUN

Groups of women and children begging on the roads are creating serious public nuisance around the Clock Tower in Dehradun. The beggars are known to harass tourists as well as locals until they pay money to them and even they don’t hesitate in stealing purses and mobiles of the tourists.

Such blatant anomalies are continuing in spite of the fact that begging is a punishable offence in the city. The Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) too has the authority to take legal action against beggars creating public nuisance, but has failed to do so.

Women carrying small babies in their laps and children could be seen chasing people for alms at Clock Tower, Darshan Lal Chowk and even in Paltan Bazzar.

They block the way, pull the clothes and keep on nudging the visitors and sometimes snatch purse and vanish into the labyrinths of near by localities. And if caught, these children apologised in a manner that the people have no other option but to let them off.

According to sources there is a gang active in Dehradun which force these women and children to beg against their will. This gang has its base in slums situated at the banks of Rispana and Bindal rivers within the city limits. The gang gives shelter to the beggars in the slums and asks for a share in alms from the beggars.

The police however keep an eye on each and every incident on Clock Tower with the help of close circuit camera installed there, but so far failed to curb this menace.

Local police had even caught some juveniles indulging petty thefts but that did not make any visible difference on ground.

The Hindu  13.10.2010

SC/ST beneficiaries in Kodagu to get sites soon

Staff Correspondent

Taking stock:Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda presiding over the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Committee meeting in Madikeri on Tuesday.

Madikeri: Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda said on Tuesday that steps would be taken to distribute sites and title deeds to SC/ST beneficiaries in the district soon.

He was presiding over a meeting of the District Vigilance and Monitoring Committee concerning SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities), according to a press release.

Many SCs and STs were living in Ashokapura, Ukkuda, Chamundeshwarinagar and Mangaladevinagar in the city, Mr. Gowda said, and directed the revenue officials to conduct a survey and submit a report to him.

Somwarpet tahsildar Devaraj said that a survey had been completed (when he was the Madikeri tahsildar) and a report given to the district administration some time ago.

Mr. Gowda said that the issue would be looked into and the point whether land could be handed over to the Madikeri City Municipal Council to distribute it to the beneficiaries would be examined.

He told the taluk social welfare officers to visit at least five panchayats in a month to ascertain whether funds meant for SCs and STs were being spent.

Mr. Gowda said that requests were being received from SCs and STs to reserve land for graveyards in the district.

Their requests would be considered if there was government land, he said.

He appealed to the urban local bodies and gram panchayats to provide financial help to construct Ambedkar bhavans in the three taluk centres in the district.

Superintendent of Police Manjunath Annigeri suspected that funds meant for the welfare of SCs and STs were being diverted for other purposes. Welfare activities, education, economic development and other-related activities should be taken up with the funds available, Mr. Annigeri said.

Cases were being registered against those perpetrating atrocities against SCs and STs in the district, he said.

District Social Welfare Officer Rajesh Gowda gave details regarding compensation disbursed to SCs and STs in Kodagu. Members of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Committee Raju, Veerabhadraiah and Prakash spoke.