R.V. Babu, the state president of Hindu Aikya Vedi, alleged in Kochi on May 21 that the CPM-led Left Democratic Front government in Kerala, led by Chief Minister and CPM supremo Pinarayi Vijayan, is betraying Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities by systematically denying them their due benefits. He claimed the government has curtailed and allowed funds earmarked for SC/ST welfare to lapse, even as it splurges on government anniversary celebrations.
Speaking to media and supporters, Babu pointed out that the government, which came to power in 2016 and was re-elected in 2021 as self-styled saviours of the poor, is now engaging in the cruelest form of betrayal of SC/ST sections. He cited the 2024–2025 Economic Review Report, which showed that Rs 22,817.39 crore was allocated for Scheduled Caste welfare between 2017 and 2024, but Rs 6,458 crore was unspent and lapsed at the level of Local Self-Governments and autonomous bodies. A similar fate befell funds meant for Scheduled Tribe welfare. Crucial schemes such as Fellowships for higher education research students and Lump Sum Grants are frequently missing, he said.
Babu further alleged that Rs 1,370 crore was allocated in the budget for about 20 schemes for the Scheduled sections, but Rs 500 crore was curtailed under the pretext of a financial crunch. He stated that Rs 180 crore out of Rs 300 crore allocated for the Life Mission House Construction Scheme has been slashed. The entire Rs 10 crore allocated under the Valsalyam scheme for girls’ education and skill development has been withdrawn, he said, labelling the move as part of an anti-SC/ST stance by the government.
These allegations were made during the inauguration of a dharna organised by the Hindu Aikyavedi Samoohyaneeti Karmma Samiti (Action Council for Social Justice) in front of the Ernakulam District Collectorate. The protest was held against what the organisation described as the state government’s deliberate negligence of SC/ST communities’ rights and benefits.
Babu affirmed that the Hindu Aikya Vedi would continue relentless agitations for the rights of SC and ST students.
Several leaders of SC/ST community organisations addressed the gathering, including Kerala Mannan Sabha State General Secretary Prof. Gopinath, Kerala Kudumbi Federation State General Secretary S. Sudheer, Kerala Vishwakarma State Secretary Vijayanath, All India Veerashaiva Sabha State General Secretary K.V. Sivan, Kerala Kshathriya Sabha Leader Vishwambharan, Kerala Pulaya Maha Sabha Leader K.N. Subramanian, along with A.V. Kalesan and Govindankutty.
Meanwhile, Hindu Aikyavedi State Working President Valsan Thillankerry addressed a parallel meeting in front of the Secretariat at Thiruvananthapuram, where several other Hindu community leaders also spoke. Similar dharnas were held in front of all district collectorates across the state.
Communists often claim to work for the underprivileged, particularly for the welfare of SC/ST communities. However, this case exposes their true face when in power — consistently failing to walk the talk on all public platforms. Yet, the Communists continue to deploy all manner of deceptive tactics to shield their hypocrisy
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