![Leaders of SC Welfare Association addressing a press conference at Jammu on Thursday. —Excelsior/Rakesh Leaders of SC Welfare Association addressing a press conference at Jammu on Thursday. —Excelsior/Rakesh](https://cdndailyexcelsior.b-cdn.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/page5-58.jpg)
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: All J&K Scheduled Castes Welfare Association has appealed the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to ensure safety and security of Dalits across the country and also urged the J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti to enact SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act or get the Central Act extended to Jammu and Kashmir to protect
In this regard, the Association has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, copy of which has also been forwarded to the J&K Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel.
In the memorandum, the Association has particularly drawn attention towards recent incident in Gujarat when four members of the SC community were brutally beaten up for skinning a dead cow.
“We appeal the Prime Minister to save Dalits from brutal hands of castiests in the country who are not only anti-social but also anti-humanity,” said Ruplal Bharti, president of the Association while addressing a press conference, here today.
He stressed that India can become a Super Power only if poverty is eradicated and Dalits are upgraded socially and economically. “For all this, Government must provide free education to all SC/ST in Government as well as private educational institutions,” he added and demanded that the Uniform Civil Code and annihilation of Caste system, initiated by Dr B R Ambedkar must be framed as early as possible.
Pointing out that SC/ST population in the State of Jammu and Kashmir comprises about 20 percent of total population of the State, Ruplal Bharti said that the atrocities on the community members do occur in this State also but in absence of the SC/ST (POA) Act 1989, all such incident go unheard.