Tamil Nadu: Untouchability is still prevalent

“Dalits are not allowed to travel in buses. Dalit students are not allowed to occupy the bus seats. A dalit woman aboard the bus is usually teased. These are indicators that even today untouchability is prevalent in government buses in Cuddalore district,” said Latha Priyakumar, member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes.

On Wednesday, a three-member team from National Commission for Scheduled Castes visited the Pacharapalayam village, which was affected by violence.

Addressing the mediapersons Latha Priyakumar said, “In a land where Periyar had started the self-respect movement, untouchability is still prevalent. Our team has visited the village and inquired on the residents, post the violence. Residents have been complaining about the atrocities being inflicted on them.

Dalit girls are even afraid of going to schools or colleges by buses. Education of these girls should not be affected owing to the prevailing social circumstances. I have asked the district administration to take steps in this regard.”

She further said that Pacharapalayam violence was similar to the Dharmapuri violence.

“Economic development of the dalits of this village was one of the reasons for the riot. The mob particularly attacked eight houses, of them four houses belonged to persons who are in police department. This violence aimed at curbing the empowerment of the marginalised group,” she added.

Latha further said, “Since Cuddalore is a caste-sensitive district, political leaders should not give provocative speeches here. If the leaders continue to give instigating speeches, action should be taken against them.”

“Dalits live in island-like settlements with other caste people surrounding these, forcing dalits to walk a long distance to avail public transport facility. Hence, I have asked the administration to arrange special access for them, to enable them to reach the main road and get buses. I have suggested that the administration arrange separate ration shops, separate anganwadi and an Adi Dravidar Welfare School for the dalits of Pacharapalayam,” she further said.

http://newindianexpress.com/states/tamil_nadu/article1359253.ece

Eight houses of a Dalit colony at Pacharapalayam in Kurinjipadi block were ransacked and set on fire by a mob on Tuesday. While three houses were completely burnt, five others were partially scorched.

The steel almirahs in the houses were pierced open and gold jewellery and other valuables stolen. Two minivans and 10 two-wheelers were damaged in the attack.

In the ensuing clash, scores of people from Dalit and intermediate communities were injured. Superintendent of Police A. Radhika said both sides had filled complaints.

Soon after violence broke out, a strong police force brought the situation immediately under control. SPs A. Radhika (Cuddalore) and Prabhakaran (Ariyalur) are camping there.

D. Kathiresan and his wife Jothimani, two of the victims, told TheHindu that in the morning a gang barged into their house, broke a kerosene lamp and sprinkled fuel all over the place before setting it on fire.

Supporters of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi staged a road roko, condemning the attacks at Kurinjipadi, Cuddalore, Reddichavadi, Kondur and Marudhadu.

Two versions are doing the rounds about the motive behind the attack. One was eve teasing of a girl, which created a tense situation and another being torn up posters on Dharmapuri incident.

About 20 persons from both sides had been detained.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/eight-houses-of-dalits-ransacked-set-afire/article4140936.ece

Three Dalit villages that showed phenomenal socio-economic development in Tamil Nadu's Dharmapuri district today stand gutted and ruined. More than 200 houses were burnt and looted here on November 7, allegedly by upper caste Vanniar community; their belongings, tools and vehicles reduced to ashes.

These villages were once under the grip of the Naxals. But now, the Vanniars, Dalits allege, are unleashing a reign of terror as they couldn't stand their economic development.

The trouble began with a love marriage between a Dalit man and a Vanniar woman over a month ago in the Natham village. The bride refused to return home and her embarrassed father committed suicide. The Dalits allege this enraged the Vanniars who then set the houses on fire and looted their cash and jewellery.

Dalits say their economic prosperity was the real target of attack. In the past the community served the Vanniars; now thanks to social justice reforms, many are entrepreneurs, employed in government and private sector. Duraisamy, a Dalit ex-serviceman who is also the uncle of the bridegroom, has lost all his property. He told NDTV, "For three generations our family has been sending our men to the Army. We had a huge collection of artefacts from all the places we had served, and all are gone now." He adds, "In education, economy and cleanliness we are much better now, that's a reason. We no longer go to them to work as slaves. We don't know why this casteist fanaticism."

Mr G Ramakrishnan, CPM state president, who visited the affected families, told NDTV, "The casteist forces are not able to tolerate the economic development of Dalits. It's a pre-planned attack to destroy their valuables."

Police have so far arrested around 200 Vanniar men and the district administration has recommended suspension of a few police officials for allegedly colluding with the dominant community. But there's an uneasy calm in the Vanniar dominant areas. The women here say without their men folk they remain confined to the village.

Thenmozhi, the mother of the bride, is in tears. She argues, "Dalits lure our Vanniar women into marriages. For them marrying our women is a mark of social upliftment. Why can't they marry any poor or abandoned women? Why should they target non-Dalit women alone? They lie and marry our women."

In the same village, another Vanniar woman, Gauri, fell in love and married a Dalit carpenter Ravi 25 years ago, defying opposition. Now the couple's workshop and property worth Rs. 17 lakh have been destroyed. She says the government is perpetuating casteism. "There are only two castes," she says, adding, "male and female. We should change their heart. But the government is not doing that. It is only dividing people in the name of castes."

The Vanniars deny these charges. The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) that champions their cause has already launched a campaign to stop Dalits from marrying non-Dalits. PMK chief Dr Ramadoss who recently convened a meeting of leaders from non-Dalit communities has sought a "probe by a former High Court Judge into such staged love marriages and make it public how young women and their families have been affected".

The Viduthalai Chirtuthaigal Katchi, the political face of Dalits, refutes Dr Ramadoss' allegations. Party chief Mr Thol Thirumavalavan said, "Love between two people of different castes is natural, no reasons can be ascribed. In fact the police should file a case against Dr Ramadoss for saying that Dalit boys sporting t-shirts, jeans and fancy glasses lure Vanniar women into marriages that don't work. He doesn't want Dalits to dress this way."

The Tamil Nadu government has ordered a probe by the state CB-CID, but Dalits are demanding a CBI probe. The state has awarded a compensation of Rs. 50,000 for each Dalit family but they say they've suffered huge losses and there should be a through compensation that would help them rebuild their lives.

Certainly the very social transformation of Dalits is turning them into targets of attack by non-Dalits. Caste based political parties too seem to be fueling fresh divisions for political gains.

http://www.ndtv.com/article/south/caste-wars-in-tamil-nadu-200-dalit-houses-burnt-in-dharmapuri-303431

Seva, please comment on the role of inter-caste marriages in eliminating this problem.