Madiwalas plan demo to seek SC status

The Members of the Madiwala community (Dhobis) will stage a demonstration on August 8 demanding the State Government to include them under the SC category.

Speaking to reporters, B P Kariyappa, President of the  Dhobhighat Association,  said, three years ago, the Social Welfare Department had asked anthropologist Prof Annapoorna to study the conditions of Madiwala community. She had recommended to include the community under SC category from the present 2A status. After she submitted the report, former MLA N Shankarappa wrote to former chief minister Sadananda Gowda, who asked the authorities concerned to resubmit the report to the cabinet. So far, however, the authorities have failed to do so.

Further, Kariyappa said 17 states in the country have categorised dhobi community under SC.