Dalit writers demand an end to manual scavenging

Delegates to the Akhila Bharat Dalit Sahitya Sammelan passed a resolution demanding a complete ban on manual scavenging across the country. The resolution demanded that the Union and State governments make it mandatory for all government and private agencies and individuals not to hire any human being for scavenging work but to use machines instead.

Delegates to the Akhila Bharat Dalit Sahitya Sammelan passed a resolution demanding a complete ban on manual scavenging across the country.

The resolution demanded that the Union and State governments make it mandatory for all government and private agencies and individuals not to hire any human being for scavenging work but to use machines instead.

The other resolutions include setting up a Dalit Sahitya Development Authority and a Dr. Ambedkar Sahitya Academy, ensuring permanent financial aid to the Dalit Sahitya Parishat and leading to the establishment of a Neo-Buddhist Development Board.

These were read out by writer Sujata Chalavadi and approved by voice vote by the attendees. It was announced that the 11th sammelan will be held in Raichur in January 2024.

The 10th edition of the two-day literary festival was held in Vijayapura on Saturday and Sunday. H.T. Pote, writer and Kannada professor from Gulbarga University, was the president of the event.

On Sunday, Heavy Industries Minister and district in-charge M.B. Patil asked young people from all communities to read Dalit literature from various languages. “Dalit literature is among the best art forms of our times, as it has helped open the eyes of the privileged classes. It should be accorded the importance it deserves,” Mr. Patil said.

In his presidential speech on Saturday, Dr. Pote demanded that the State government make it mandatory for all school and college students to study the Constitution.