Employment scheme for Gowaris on the anvil

Gadkari was speaking at a programme organised to pay homage to the victims of Gowari stampede tragedy. He reiterated that the alliance government was committed to uplifting the backward Gowari community. Listing measures being initiated for the welfare of Gowari community, he said ashram schools and hostels would be constructed for the community students.

Speaking about the Gowari memorial, he said the second stage work has been taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 17 lakh. This is in addition to the welfare schemes being planned for them, he added.

Finance Minister Mahadevrao Shivankar assured that budgetary provisions would be made during the Winter session of the Legislature for implementation of welfare schemes. He termed as baseless reports indicating that the State Government was facing a serious financial crunch. “Far from facing any crisis, the State is in good financial health,” he said pointing out that bonus amount was distributed in cash to government employees, a provision for Rs 800 crore was made for district planning schemes, special assistance to Nagpur city was hiked and an ambitious scheme was undertaken for construction of 5 lakh public toilets in rural areas.

Gowari community leader and Chairman of DCVL, Sudhakar Gajbe and Mana Community leader Dr Ramesh Gajbe, who also addressed the gathering demanded scrapping of the controversial government resolution dated April 24, 1984, which imposes certain restrictions on issuing caste certificates to students of Gowari and other communities.