Members of the Karnataka Madigara Rakshana Vedike, on Tuesday, met the Deputy Director of Social Welfare and the Deputy Commissioner in Ballari and submitted a memorandum demanding early allotment of housing sites to 101 Dalit families in Sriramarangapura village of Kampli taluk.

Leaders of the organisation said that during 2014-15, around 135 acres of land in the possession of Bhimaneni Somappa of the village were released by the Revenue Department following a sustained struggle.

During that period, members of the Dalit community in the village faced economic boycott and sought economic security measures, direct loans and housing sites from the State government, they said.

They said that though 86 families were earlier sanctioned direct loans of ₹1 lakh each through the Adi Jambava Development Corporation, no progress has been made so far regarding allotment of housing sites.

“Due to increase in population, several families in the village have been forced to live together in single houses and are facing severe hardship, especially during the rainy season. Lack of suitable residential space has pushed many families into distress,” president of the organisation Kariyappa Gudimani said after submitting the memorandum.

The villagers also informed the authorities that discussions have been held to purchase land belonging to Gurumurthy for formation of housing sites.

“It is about 3 acres and 94 cents of land and will cost around ₹2.56 crore. As the poor families cannot afford such a huge amount, the State government should intervene and facilitate allotment of housing sites,” he said.