The Dalit Human Rights Protection Service (DHRPS) wants the Kerala Government to constitute an SC/ST Commission in line with the National SC/ST Commission to bring an end to the problems faced by citizens of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

DHRPS office-bearers allege that the State Government is engaged in double play about setting up SC/ST commission. “There is a lobby working against such a move,” they said.

Although the Government decided to set up such a commission way back in 1997, the decision had not been realised yet. The State Government gave a statement in the High Court that setting up such a commission was being considered seriously and action would be taken soon.

According to DHRPS chief coordinator NT Prabhakaran, "Four years has passed since that statement was issued." Fed up with the inaction of the State Government, DHRPS office-bearers met Congress President Sonia Gandhi and submitted a memorandum to the effect on 14 July 2005. They also forwarded copies of the memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Former Chief Minister AK Antony and Speaker Therambil Ramakrishnan.

DHRPS office-bearers said all the leaders neglected their memorandum demanding setting up of a State-level SC/ST Commission. Prabhakaran said SC and ST citizens had been denied of their rights in all parts of the State and the setting up of a commission with the power to look into these matters would be a major step in the development of backward communities.

Moreover, Public Service Commission failed to report vacancies in the SC/ST category promptly. This resulted in considerable job loss for these communities, Prabhakaran said. “The educational facilities for SC/ST students are also very limited. SC/ST students are not able to avail good education facilities and there aren’t good hostel facilities for them," he explained.