Dalit groups set October deadline for SC/ST land allotment, plan protests

Dalit organisations in Dakshina Kannada have warned of a series of agitations if the State government fails to begin allotting ‘DC Manna’ (Depressed Class) land to eligible Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) families by the end of October. The warning comes ahead of a Cabinet meeting scheduled in Mangaluru on September 18.

Addressing reporters in Mangaluru on Monday, Dalit leader Raghu K. Yekkar said organisations have been pressing for allotment of DC Manna land to SC/ST communities since 2008. He recalled that after a massive agitation in 2017, the then Revenue Minister Kagodu Thimmappa held talks with activists. Subsequently, the then Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner K.G. Jagadeesha wrote to the government seeking guidelines for such allotment. “So far, the government has failed to allot the land,” Mr. Yekkar said.

DC Manna land refers to government-owned land reserved for the welfare of Depressed Classes, historically meant for landless SC/ST families. The issue has remained a long-pending demand in the district, with activists citing illegal occupation and administrative delays as major hurdles.

In a recent interaction, Deputy Commissioner H.V. Darshan reportedly assured activists that allotment would begin after the State government approves a proposal to allocate five cents of DC Manna site in urban areas and one acre of cultivable DC Manna land in rural areas. However, Dalit organisations have rejected this proposal, insisting on a larger allocation.

Mr. Yekkar said the organisations are firm on their demand for ten cents of land in urban areas and two acres in rural areas. “We cannot agree with the contention of the district administration about a shortage of land. The government should take steps to reclaim DC Manna lands that are illegally occupied and allot them to SC/ST families,” he said.

The organisations have urged the State government to decide on the matter at the Cabinet meeting in Mangaluru. “If it fails to start allocation within a month of the Cabinet meeting, we will start a series of protests,” Mr. Yekkar warned.

Dalit leader Ramesh Kotian also raised a related demand: immediate commencement of work to install a statue of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar at Ambedkar Circle in Mangaluru, saying the project has been delayed for long.

The development highlights the continuing struggle for land rights among SC/ST communities in Karnataka. Activists argue that timely allotment of DC Manna land is essential to address historical inequities and fulfil constitutional promises of social justice. The district administration has not yet issued a public response to the latest deadline set by the organisations.