PRAGOTI

A collection of reports on the discrimination against Dalits in Tamil Nadu and the growing resistance led by CPI(M).

Wall of bias

A sinister electrical device attached to a wall that segregates Dalits from caste Hindus was removed by government officials at Uthapuram village in Madurai district on April 17. The device, it is said, was meant to warn Dalits against crossing the wall.

While the 10-foot-high (three metres) Uthapuram wall, symbolising untouchability in one of its worst forms, is nearly 20 years old, the dangerous device, a sort of electric fence connecting the overhead live wire to iron rods positioned at the top of the wall, was just a fortnight old when it was removed.

TNUEF REPORT

The existence of the dividing wall was brought to light by a study group of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Elimination Forum (TNUEF) in March (Frontline, March 28). This was identified as one of the many forms of untouchability still practised by caste Hindus in many districts of Tamil Nadu. Located in a region known for rigid casteism, Uthapuram in Peraiyur taluk has seen several incidents of caste-related violence.

In the early 1990s, after a series of clashes between caste Hindus and Dalits, sections of the aggressive caste-Hindu group erected the wall to deny Dalits access to public places and facilities in the village. The raising of the wall was only one of the many forms of untouchability practised in the village.

When the TNUEF gave wide publicity to the report and pressed the District Collector to take action against those who practised untouchability, some caste Hindus could not tolerate it. They made the wall even more threatening by electrifying the fence on top of it.

They have constructed another wall in the village with the intention of preventing the authorities from providing, in response to a representation from the TNUEF, a bus shelter for Dalits. When The Hindu, in its issue dated April 17, exposed the threat to the lives of Dalits, the matter was raised in the State Legislative Assembly by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) member N. Nanmaran.

Electricity Minister Arcot Veerasamy told the House that the power line above the wall would be shifted to a distant place and that the government would see to it that no harm comes to anybody because of it.

Welcoming the government’s prompt response, P. Sampath, TNEUF State convener, told Frontline that the government should also take steps to remove the wall itself as it symbolised untouchability. He also called for a thorough inquiry into the electrification of the wall.

The irony of it all is that about 2,000 Dalit families live in the village and the village panchayat is headed by a Dalit.

Source : Frontline

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Demolish wall dividing people on caste lines: CPI (M)

Party to hold State-wide protest on May 15

MADURAI: Cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and hundreds of Dalits gathered at the Peraiyur Revenue Divisional Office near here on Tuesday demanding the demolition of the wall preventing the entry of Dalits into caste Hindu areas at Uthapuram village near Ezhumalai.

P. Sampath, State executive member of the party and president of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, who led the protest, said untouchability, in various forms, had entered public spaces. The wall bore testimony to this.

He claimed that empowerment of Dalits always came with increased oppression. In recent times, the dominant forces had resorted to violent forms of control. This had to be opposed strongly.

The Left parties, along with Dalit parties and other secular organisations, would fight them tooth and nail.

A State-wide protest, to be led by CPI (M) State secretary N. Varadarajan, would be held on May 15. N. Nanmaran, Madurai East MLA, asked democratic forces to join hands to demolish the wall, as it was shameful to divide people on caste lines

Source : The Hindu

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Struggles On Dalit Issues Continue

P Sampath

THE CPI(M)'s continuous struggles and interventions on Arundhathiar issues, the most affected section of dalits have forced the Tamilnadu government to concede their main demands. The CPI(M) conducted a rally of Arundhathiars in which twenty thousand people participated in Chennai, dharnas in 100 places all over the state involving several thousands of people, six district level rallies and conferences were held and picketing before state government offices in forty centers led by state leaders of the Party involving 10,000 people was held on 4th November 2007. The massive response and support for these struggles has forced the Tamilnadu government to accept some of the main demands of Arundhathiar community. In the governor's address to the Tamilnadu assembly session this year, the state government has accepted to take steps to provide reservation within 18 percent state reservation for SCs for Arundhathiars in education and employment in consultation with all the political parties. They are socially and economically very much backward among dalits. This is a major policy decision of the state government which was welcomed by the CPI (M), Arundhathiar organizations, some dalit organizations and various political parties. This announcement has raised the enthusiasm of Arundhathiar people and they have congratulated the CPI (M) for having initiated steps and struggles by organising meetings and campaign all over Tamilnadu.

Almost all Arundhathiar organizations in Tamilnadu have stood up with CPI (M) in the struggles. It is to be noted that the state government has already formed one welfare board for scavengers (mainly Arundhathiars). It has also announced that the name of burial ground workers would be changed as burial assistants from Vettiyans and all of them would be accepted as government employees and orders to this effect have been issued to 178 workers in the Chennai corporation. According to another announcement, the road side shoe and chappal stitchers would be included in the welfare board for leather workers and benefits would be given. The government has also accepted to construct memorials for Ondi Veeran, Kandan Pagadai, Muthan Pagadai, Potti Pagadai, freedom fighters belonging to the Arundhathiar community. These are all the demands included in the charter of demands submitted to the chief minister of Tamilnadu by the CPI (M) state committee along with the leaders of Arundhathiar organizations. He agreed to consider other demands also such as distribution of land and house pattas etc., in due course.

The CPI(M) and the Arundhathiar organizations have decided to firm up their unity and continue the struggles until all the demands are achieved.

UNTOUCHABILITY ERADICATION FRONT

The Untouchability Eradication Front which was formed in August 2007 in Tamilnadu has strengthened its activities. The Front has affiliations of more than sixty mass organisations such as CITU, AIKS, AIAWU, DYFI, AIDWA, SFI, central and state government employees and teachers associations etc., and dalit organizations.

Recently the Front has expanded its organizational setup and initiated some agitations and programmes. The district level organizing committees have been formed in seven districts - Trichy, Tirunelveli, Sivagangai, Chennai (North), Chennai (South), Madurai, and Dindugul. Some district level dalit organizations and SC/ST associations also have affiliated with district level Fronts.

CPI(M) and mass organizations conducted survey in 1868 villages of 18 districts on the socio economic conditions of dalits and the forms of untouchability. Recently, an effective survey was done by Madurai district unit of Untouchability Eradication Front. Apart from the forms of untouchability in tea stalls, temple festivals, public roads, drinking water taps, water tanks, community halls, kalyana mandapams, burial grounds, dobhi ghats, saloons, bus stops, village panchayat muts etc., some new forms have been identified. In Uthapuram village, there is a big wall of 0.5 kilometers length between residential areas of caste Hindus and dalits. In two villages, Andar Kottaram and Thaniamanagalam postman does not deliver post to dalits and will inform them through some body to come and collect post from the post office. In some villages, ration items are given to dalits on a particular day only and if they do not purchase on that day, they will not get ration items. In some villages, lesser quantity of ration items only will be given to them. In a school at Muthulingapuram village, the teacher will not touch dalit students for beating, but will use a stick or ask some other dalit student to beat the co- dalit student. In Kottampatti village dalit Hostel plus 1, plus 2 students are not admitted. The survey was held in 47 villages and no village is spared from untouchablity.

Generally, the government and police officials deny the practice of untouchability in their districts. But the truth is entirely different. The details of the survey have been exposed in a press meeting in Madurai, addressed by P Sampath, state convener, Untouchability Eradication front and P Mohan, MP. Swaminathan, district convener and Ilango, joint convener also were present. The survey details and forms of untouchability prevailing in Madurai district have been widely exposed in media. The district unit of Untouchabilility Eradication Front has decided to submit the survey report to the district collector in a mass procession to be organized shortly. If government does not take any steps to eradicate these forms of untouchability, the Front will launch direct action.

DEMONSTRATIONS AGAINST ATROCITIES

There were some assaults and atrocities against dalits in Erode and Coimbatore districts. In Nambiyur of Erode district one kalyana mandapam was booked by a person who belongs to dalit community for holding a family function. But the management of the trust, knowing he is a dalit cancelled the booking which caused tension. The dalit family lodged a police complaint but there was no action taken. So, the family function was held in front of the mandapam, on the public road. This incident led to clashes between dalits and caste Hindus. Demonstrations and rallies were held by dalit organizations. CPI(M) Erode district committee organized a strong demonstration in which the leaders of Untouchablity Eradication Front and dalit organizations also participated.

Likewise, in Salarapatti of Coimbatore district, dalits were denied permission to hold functions in the community hall which was constructed by MP's funds. Two tumbler system also is prevalent in all tea shops. Police complaints were made on these issues. Protest actions were organized by dalit masses. The police and revenue officials negotiated some compromise for removing untouchability in tea shops and community hall. But the caste Hindus instead of honoring the settlements unleashed atrocities and assaults on dalits. Houses of dalits were damaged and some portions of their huts were burnt. Two dalit youth were beaten up seriously. Many people were injured in the clash. Condemning this incident, statements were issued by P Sampath, convener Untouchability Eradication Front and Kamraj, district secretary of CPI(M). C Govindasamy, MLA, leader of CPI(M) group in the state assembly visited the village along with district leaders immediately and wrote a letter to the chief minister for immediate intervention to render justice to dalits and also to take firm action against those who assaulted dalits and damaged their houses. He also demanded compensation for assaulted dalit families.

Condemning this attack against dalits, a powerful demonstration was held at Udumalaipettai which was led by Kamaraj and addressed by leaders of other mass organisations.

CONVENTION ON ISSUES OF SCAVENGERS

A special convention organised by Untouchability Eradication front and CITU affiliated local body employees union was held in Chennai on February 23, 2008 involving more than 1000 scavengers. The convention was led by P Sampath. A Soundrarajan, general secretary, CITU, K R Ganesan, general secretary, local body employees union, Athiyaman, Jakkian, leaders of Arundhathiar organisation and Chennai North and South district CITU leaders participated in the convention. Various resolutions were passed in the convention including eradication of manual scavenging of human soil, welcoming the decision of the Tamilnadu government on reservation for Arundhathiars within SCs and demanding its early implementation, effective functioning of welfare board for scavengers with power and funds, construction of houses for scavengers and issue of land to them etc. The convention was widely covered by the media

ART AND LITERATURE NIGHT ON DALIT ISSUES

The Untouchability Eradication Front and Tamilnadu Progressive Writers Association jointly organized an art and literature night on dalit issues on January 4, 2008 at Trichy. More than 2000 people participated. Various programmes such as elocution, drama, dance, songs and music, villupattu and thappattam were performed. The function began at 6 pm and concluded at 4 am next day. P Sampath, Tamilselvan (secretary) Adavan Thikshanya, Nandalala (other office bearers) of Tamilnadu Progressive Writers Association, Ram (Cine Director), district level mass organization functionaries, prominent stalwarts of art and literature participated in the function. The socio economic conditions of dalits and various forms of untouchability, awakening democratic and human rights sentiments were inbuilt in the programmes.

ON SPECIAL COMPONENT PLAN

The Untouchability Eradication Front had decided to organize a special convention at Chennai on proper planning and utilization of special component plan funds for the welfare and development of SC and STs in the month of April 2008 in which various leaders of political parties and dalit organizations, intellectuals and economists would participate.

Source : People's Democracy