PRAGOTI

Thanks to P.Esakkimuthu for sending this to us. Podcast of speech by Prakash Karat, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in the first conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradiction Front, held at Pudukottai, Tamil Nadu on 29th May 2010. The recording contains the speech by Karat in English and translation in Tamil. 

Tamil Nadu “accepts in principle” a 3 per cent quota for a few sub-sects within the existing 18 per cent reservation for the Scheduled Castes,writes S. Viswanathan.

CPI(M) spearheaded the agitation of Arunthathiyar community,which is one among the most marginalized sections among the lower castes in Tamil Nadu.A significant section of Arunthathiyars still work as night soil removers and underground sewer cleaners,for whom the exclusive reservations would certainly be a respite,though the lingering upper class stigma against the "untouchables" in Tamil Nadu and the resultant social exclusion points out the need for more affirmative measures from the authorities.