Malekudiyas look for police jobs

UDUPI: Home minister K J George's announcement in Madikeri on Tuesday that 8,000 personnel will be recruited in the police department across the state has rekindled hope in the youths in Malekudiya community in Udupi district.
There are several Malekudiya families residing in villages Amasebail, Nadpalu, Kabbinale, Maala, Mudradi, Kervashe, Shirlalu, Edu and Renjala among others.However, it is not yet known as to how many postings will be allotted to Udupi district. There are about 3,000 Malekudiyas in 400 families in Udupi district and about 30 of them are graduates. These youths have been demanding jobs preferably in the police department. An appeal letter in this regard was handed over to the home minister by the Zilla Malekudiya Sangha, Udupi, in June this year.
Sadananda, a Malekudiya graduate in Edu village of Karkala taluk, told TOI that he had completed his B.A course in 2006 and he had been working with APMC Karkala on a contract basis. He said that he is interested in working as a police personnel and expressed his hope that leniency in physical examination (fitness) will be provided to the youths of Malekudiya community.
Like many other Malekudiyas, U Sudarshan, a resident of Durga village in Karkala taluk who is pursuing his final year M.Com, and his youngest brother Sumanth Kumar who has done his ITI (electrician) need jobs which match their qualification.
Sridhar Gowda, president of Zilla Malekudiya Sangha, Udupi, told TOI that the home minister had assured their delegation in June that youths who were graduates in Malekudiya community would be recruited in the police department by giving some leniency in age limit and physical examination during the recruitment process. ''We hope our demands will be met,'' he added.
There are about 80 Malekudiyas who have done their PUC and another 100 Malekudiyas who have done their SSLC. They too should be given some jobs in the government departments which suit their educational qualification, he said.
It is to be noted that there is scarcity of 19,000 police personnel in the state and 8,000 posts are planned to be filled. Gowda pointed out that the home ministry should be extra considerate while recruitment is done for the posts in Udupi district and said that the most vulnerable section of people to Maoists are Malekudiyas in Udupi, Dakshina Kannada and Chikamagalur districts. Basic facilities and job opportunities will improve our life, he said.