http://www.siasat.com/english/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=210855&Itemid=63&cattitle=Andhra%20Pradesh
Mala employees to fight 'victimisation' Monday, 01 October 2007 Kadapa, October 01: Mala Mahanadu formed Mala Employees Association on Sunday to protect the interests of employees of the community in the movement against classification of Scheduled Castes, Mala Mahanadu State general secretary J.V. Ramana said on Sunday. Political forces were dividing SCs in order to bring about disunity and employees of Mala community were being victimised by their Madiga counterparts, Mr. Ramana alleged at a meeting here. Those demanding classification of SCs should foresee the threat of foregoing their constitutional rights, he cautioned. He charged political leaders with usurping crores of rupees earmarked for uplift of SCs. Administration's indifference to recognise Dalits in cases of atrocities against SC/STs and reluctance to issue caste certificates to genuine Dalits posed problems, he said. He alleged victimisation of Mala employees in the Treasury Department, suspensions, cut in increments and stoppage of promotions at the behest of Madiga employees. Madiga community should realise their folly in demanding classification of SCs, Mala Mahanadu district president R. Ramachandraiah said. Officials and upper castes subjected SCs to attacks and they would be countered, he said. Mala Employees Association district president D. Satyanand Babu announced election of a 39-member body for the association with K. Suresh Babu as working president, seven vice-presidents, six general secretaries, seven secretaries, four organising secretaries, five joint secretaries, a treasurer and six honorary advisors. --Agencies
