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Goa govt institutes Dalit Ratna & Dalit Mitra awards Digital Goa News Service Panaji, April 14 - Chief Minister Shri Digambar Kamat announced today that the Government will institute a Dalit Ratna and Dalit Mitra state awards from this year for the persons who dedicate their services for the betterment of Dalit people in the state. Shri Kamat was speaking at the State level function organized by Directorate of Social Welfare and Goa State SC and OBC Finance and Development Corporation on the occasion 119 Birth Anniversary of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in the city. The function was presided by the Minister for Social Welfare Shri Ramkrishna Dhavlikar, Shri Manohar Ajagaonkar, Minister for Sports was guest of honour. Shri Vishnu Wagh, Chairman of Goa State SC and OBC Finance and Development Corporation was key note speaker of the function. Earlier Chief Minister Shri Digambar Kamat lead the people of Goa paying tribute to Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar on his 119th birth anniversary by offering garland to the Statue of Dr. Ambedkar. He was followed by Minister for Social Welfare Shri Ramkrishna Dhavlikar, Minister for Panchayat Shri Manohar Ajgaonkar and other dignitaries. Speaking further, Chief Minister said, today Science has advanced tremendously but great personalities can not be put to birth with the help of Science. Dr. Ambedkar's work has made him great and champion of down trodden people of India he added. He said, Dr. Ambedkar dedicated his life for the upliftment of Dalit Community and make them strong. The people of all communities should emulate Dr. Ambedkar to work for the welfare of poorest poor in the society. This will make India strong in real sense, the Chief Minister said. Chief Minister assured that the Government will look in to the demands of Dalit community regarding reservation percentage and beautification of Dr. Ambedkar parles. Transport Minister Shri Ramkrishna Davlikar highlighted the work of Dr. Ambedkar for the humanity he said, he made special provision in our constitution that gave an opportunities to the Dalit communities to stand on their own feets. He said, all Indian's should respect the Indian constitution and provision therein for the upliftment of Dalit communities. This will make India united, strong and prosperous , he added. Minister for Sports Shri, Manohar Azgaonkar paid rich tributes to the memory of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and his dedicated work towards welfare of the Dalit Communities in India. He said, Dr. Ambedkar has protected the interest of Dalit communities while preparing the Indian constitutions. He said, Hindu organisations should come forward to protect the interest of Dalit communities. They should fight for entry to temples, crematoriums for Dalit such action of Hindu organizations will help implementation of various provisions in Indian constitutions for the betterment of Dalit communities. He also demanded that the Government should consider the demand to increase in reservation for SC communities in the State. Shri Shambhu Bhau Babdekar Former Dy. Speaker and Leader of Dalit community in his address stated that Dr. Ambedkar work was not limited to the upliftment of Dalit communities but also was to make India politically and economically strong . He was famous in America and other Countries as economist this idea and thoughts of social reforms should be emulated by the present generation to make India united and superpower, he said. Shri Chandrakant Jadhav, President of Andhashradha Nirmulan Samiti demanded increase in percentage in reservation for SC community and crematorium in every village in the state for SC community. Shri Vishnu Surya Wagh while delivering keynote address said, Dr. Ambedkar and Goa had a special relation. He was aware political and social conditions of the people of Goa. He visited Goa in the year 1925 and stayes for two days in Goa an invitation of his friend. After Independence to India in the year 1954, he wrote to Indian Government about Goa's liberation. He told the Indian Government to liberate Goa from the clutches of Portuguese. He also wrote a letter to the Portuguese Governor in the year 1935 and demanded to stop the harassment of Masurashram Swami and his followers, who were harassed by the Portuguese Government in connection with reconversion of Hindu people in Goa. Referring to the quality, work and life of Dr. Ambedkar, Shri Wagh said, he suffered lot due to social order of his time and therefore decided to fight against this social order and establish a new social order where all Indian can live with equal Status and equal opportunities for their progress. He said, Dr. Ambedkar was great in many ways. There are many leaders and Social reformers in world's history of last ten thousand years. But there is no single leader who experienced the suffering of social order of his own society and fought against it. He said, to earn more and more knowledge is a real tribute to the memory of this great leader. The function was attended by Mayor of CCP, Smt. Corolina Po, Secretary Shri Ganesh Koyu, Director of Information and Publicity Shri Menino Peres, President of Konkani Academy Shri N. Shivdas, Freedom fighter Shri Bhayya Desai and large number of people. Shri J.B. Bhingi, Joint Secretary welcomed the guest and Shri Santan Fernandes, Dy. Director Social Welfare proposed a vote of thanks. Artist of Kala Academy presented invocation Song, Shri Govind Bhagat compared the function
