Lok Satta Party President Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan today spelt out a six-point agenda to eradicate the scourge of casteism in India.
Taking part in the 156th birth anniversary celebrations of social and educational reformer Narayan Guru, organized by Sarvajana Satta, Dr. JP said the first prerequisite is quality education to every child irrespective of its accident of its birth in a certain caste or religion. Unfortunately no political leader from the Prime Minister downwards since the dawn of Independence has talked of this.
Secondly, we have to promote the dignity of labor and impart job-oriented skills. We have been merely producing unemployable graduates. Caste barriers will crumble if people are enabled to earn Rs.500 to Rs.1000 a day with skill enhancement.
Thirdly, the Government has to help raise agricultural incomes. In the last two generations, people belonging to Dalit and backward castes have become the real land tillers with upper caste people migrating to urban areas in search of greener pastures.
Fourthly, considering that the private sector and not the public sector is the generator of employment, the Government should promote equal employment opportunities to the deprived sections by providing training and ensuring there is no discrimination.
Fifthly, the society must promote clean and corruption-free politics. Society can witness transformation only if it ensures election of representatives based on their personal credibility and agenda.
Sixthly, proportional system of representation in place of the present first-past-the-post system will ensure justice to all sections in society.
Mrs. Satyabai Sivadas of Narayana Guru educational group, Mr. Kaki Madhava Rao, former Chief Secretary, AP Government, Prof. Vinod Kumar of PG College of Law, Osmania University, Mr. J. B. Raju, President, Dalit Sena and Mr. Syed Khurshid Ahmed, Chairman, Medak Engineering College recalled that Narayana Guru transformed society in his lifetime.
