Chairman of the Karnataka State Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes L. Murthy on Tuesday said that 12 fake caste certificates have been cancelled in Vijayanagara district and those who secured jobs using those certificates have been terminated from service.

Addressing a press conference after holding a grievance redressal and progress review meeting with community leaders, members of the public and district-level officials at the Zilla Panchayat Hall in Hosapete, Mr. Murthy said that the commission is committed to protecting the interests of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and also, ensuring speedy disposal of their grievances.

He said that strict action is being taken against ineligible persons who have obtained government jobs using fake caste certificates.

After touring 15 districts in the last six-and-a-half months, the commission has come to the 16th district Vijayanagara, he added.

Mr. Murthy expressed concern over delay in payment of salaries to pourakarmikas in some municipalities saying that workers have not been paid for 11 to 15 months in certain places.

He directed officials to ensure timely payment of salaries ranging from ₹15,000 to ₹16,000 to outsourced civic workers and to formulate special welfare measures for their children using municipal tax funds.

The commission chairman said that directions will be issued at the government level to ensure employment opportunities in private companies for educated youth from landless and displaced Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes families whose land has been acquired by industries in the district.

He also stressed that Corporate Social Responsibility funds of such companies should be utilised for development of these communities.

Highlighting the lack of basic infrastructure in slums across all six taluks of the district, including Harapanahalli and Kudligi, he said that women have complained about rainwater entering their houses.

The district administration has been directed to identify suitable land and provide housing sites under a special package, he added.

Stressing transparency in the utilisation of SCP and TSP funds, he said that name boards displaying details of works, departments and funds used should be installed compulsorily to prevent mixing of funds and ensuring public accountability.

The chairman said that nomadic families and Scheduled Tribes cultivating forest land for a long period should not be evicted until a SIT report is submitted. In case of eviction, they should be provided alternative facilities and also, access to corpus funds, he added.

He also said that the commission has taken note of atrocities cases arising out of denial of burial grounds to marginalised communities in villages.

Revenue villages will be identified and cremation grounds and access roads provided wherever necessary, he said.

Mr. Murthy announced that a fully online grievance redressal system will soon be introduced. Help desks will be set up at Social Welfare Department offices in every taluk to assist rural people in submitting complaints online, he said.

Of the nearly 4,100 cases received by the commission, more than 800 have been examined through court processes in the last six-and-a-half months and 500 to 600 cases have been successfully resolved, he said and added that over 60 petitions have been received during the grievance meeting in Vijayanagara district.