http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/23/stories/2007042311350400.htm
Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad Financial empowerment can check social discrimination: Suravaram Special Correspondent Suravaram for implementing `Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedyam' only in temples allowing Dalits HYDERABAD: Communist Party of India Central Secretariat member Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy has urged the State Government to implement `Dhoopa, Deepa, Naivedyam' scheme only in such temples where entry for Dalits is permitted. "This should be one of the pre-conditions to extend financial assistance to temples covered under the scheme," he said, adding it would enable unhindered entry of Dalits into hundreds of temples, where they were hitherto not allowed. Participating in the first meeting of Andhra Pradesh Dalita Hakkula Porata Samiti here on Sunday, he wanted the newly constituted State SC/ST Commission to concentrate on issues pertaining to discrimination of Dalits, for tackling them effectively. In addition to practices like untouchability, Dalits were not provided with proper bank linkages. This was evident that banks were not giving sufficient assistance to Dalits and other oppressed sections. Organisations working for Dalits' cause should evolve ways to empower them financially, as it was the only way to check their social discrimination. OBC quota Expressing concern over the Supreme Court's comments on OBC quota issue, he said equating India with other countries was not proper on the part of the apex court, as the caste system was in practice only here. K.Yesuratnam, vice-president of the samiti, presided. G. Mallesh, president, and others spoke.
