NGO demands effective monitoring of Rajasthan panchayat polls

JAIPUR: Highlighting the plight of Dalits in Rajasthan, an organisation here has demanded effective monitoring of panchayat elections in sensitive areas and strict action against those threatening Dalit candidates.

Chief patron of Centre for Dalit Rights P L Mimroth said that Dalit leaders who want to work for the upliftment of the community face difficulties in elections as "influential people field their dummy candidates on SC seats and give diktat to voters to elect their candidates only".

"This makes the situation worse. Candidates backed by influential leaders get elected due to the influence and those who raise Dalit voice are defeated. Such elected candidates promote corruption and the voice of Dalit is unheard," Mimroth said at a press conference here today.

He said that his organisation had submitted a memorandum to the state EC Ramlubhaya on January 2 with seven demands which included effective monitoring of sensitive panchayats, action against those who threaten Dalit candidates, check on fake voting, complete ban on liquor shops from the date of notification to the announcement of the result.