Members of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Gazetted Officers Charitable Foundation have urged the State government to set up a Buddhist Development Corporation to support the growing Buddhist community in the State.
At a recent meeting, members decided to meet Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and other Ministers and leaders and officers with this demand.
They also resolved to appeal to the Union government to pass a law to enable members of the deprived communities, especially Dalits and tribals, to embrace Buddhism, remove hurdles for neo-Buddhists to avail themselves of reservation and other benefits and to seek institutional financial support.
They resolved to urge the State government to establish a Buddhist Development Corporation on the lines of the various community development corporations already in existence in the State.
They have urged the State government to set aside a significant sum of money to be spent on the development of all Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities.
“We have sent a memorandum to the Chief Minister’s office and to other Ministers, with our demands. We are hoping for the best,” president of the foundation S.R. Khokate told The Hindu.
“It is our understanding that the establishment of such a corporation is urgently required as it will provide a unique identity to Buddhists, increase their numbers and pull them out of poverty. It will also help reduce the frequency and severity of atrocities being heaped on the deprived classes. We are of the opinion that the social revolution begun by B.R. Ambedkar with his conversion to Buddhism remains an unfinished task. When completed, it will help us achieve his dream of annihilation of caste,” he said.
“If Dr. Ambedkar were to live for another decade, the conversion of all Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to Buddhism would have been completed. But this work got delayed due to the lack of foresight of our Dalit leaders who came after him. We should also not forget that Buddhism has been able to grow exponentially in the Indian sub-continent due to the royal support offered by Kings like Samrat Ashoka,” Mr. Khokate said.
Foundation secretary L.R. Kamble said that it will not be less than new history being created.
“The Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities account for a total population of about 20 crore-30 crore in the country. A progressive and legally valid conversion of these communities will be considered a major social revolution in the country. One of its implications will be that all the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes communities will come together under the umbrella of Buddhism. This will definitely reduce the injustice being committed by communities with social clout, against us,” Mr. Kamble said.
“Apart from drafting the Constitution, the greatest achievement of Dr. Ambedkar was to ensure a dignified life for the poor and marginalised. He used Constitutional and legal provisions to ensure this. He declared that with great difficulty, he had brought this caravan where it is and urged his lieutenants to take it forward. Enabling universal conversion and establishment of a corporation for Buddhists will help us take the caravan forward,” Mr. Kamble said.
Mr. Khokate, Mr. Kamble and other office-bearers have signed the memorandum.
The State-level organisation, which has its headquarters in Belagavi, has been founded by retired gazetted officers of the Central and State governments.
Published - January 16, 2025 07:34 pm IST
