An Emphatic Victory for TNUEF’s Direct Action Programme

IN a customary way, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) conducts direct action programmes on September 30, the death anniversary day of Comrade B Srinivasa Rao, whose tireless work against untouchability and atrocities on dalits in erstwhile Thanjavur has left indelible mark.

Although the struggle against untouchability in the state goes on almost 24x7, there is an emotional touch to this direct action programme since it is attached to this great leader’s name. TNUEF takes inspiration from the past achievements that were gained by the Left movement under the leadership of Comrade B Srinivasa Rao. In fact, his unfinished agenda is being carried forward further by the TNUEF.

This year, the direct action programme was planned in seven places. Prior to this, field surveys were undertaken at the state level. Last time, the survey was conducted in 2007. Several struggles were undertaken based on the reports of that survey. In its last meeting, the state committee of the TNUEF had decided to conduct a fresh survey to analyse the latest scenario. The work of compiling these survey reports is underway. Meanwhile, some of the untouchability practices that have come out from this survey were earmarked for direct action programme.

Hundred Years Dream Comes True in Erode

IN Erode district, Ezhumathur village, for more than 100 years, dalits were not allowed to enter the Chathiswaran Temple. This was revealed during the field survey that was done by the TNUEF. As part of the direct action programme, the TNUEF had announced that dalit people will go to the temple and worship under the leadership of P Sampath, TNUEF president, K Thangavel, MLA, N Amirtham, state president of AIDWA and others.

Sensing the mood among the people and the firmness of the TNUEF, the dDistrict administration was forced to call for talks. The talks were held on September 28. The TNUEF insisted during the talks that not just the entry into the temple, the community hall that is being occupied should also be available for dalits. The administration had to concede the demands. On the same day, at 5.30 PM, dalit people from Kootapalli, Sivananda Colony, Selvan Nagar, Anna Nagar, Ponvizha Nagar and other villages walked into the temple and worshipped.

During this temple entry, K Durairaj, CPI(M) state committee member, P Mari Muthu, CPI(M) district secretary, M Annadurai, TNUEF district president, PP Palani Samy, TNUEF district secretary and others took part.  The dalit people thanked the TNUEF and the CPI(M) for having enabled the dream since hundred years to come true.

Successful Temple Entry in Tiruvannamalai

IN Tiruvannamalai district, Kalasapakkam Panchayat Union, Siruvallur village, dalits were not allowed into Narayana Perumal Temple. Also, in this village, two tumbler system in the tea stalls, denial of road to cremation ground etc existed.  As planned, the direct action programme was conducted on September 30. Hundreds of dalit people led by K Balakrishnan, MLA, K Samuel Raj, TNUEF general secretary, R Velmurugan, DYFI state secretary, had proceeded towards the temple. The casteist elements had assembled on the road that leads to the temple. 

The district administration and the police that intervened, told the leaders and the dalits that there is no denial of entry into the temple. But the leaders insisted that the people should be taken into the temple immediately. With the leaders and the people standing firm, the entry was allowed.  The seventy-year old untouchability practice was put to an end.

Right to Enter the Own Land in Dindigul

IN Dindigul district, Oddanchanthiram town, Kudalingapuram, pattas were given to 48 dalit Arunthathiyar families, 32 years back. Though the land was measured as per the area allotted to them, it was not handed over to them. Years gone, the value of the land ran into crores of rupees. Repeated petitioning by the people did not settle the issue. Hence, they decided to undertake a direct action programme under the leadership of the TNUEF. The Front has also announced that this programme would be part of the direct action day programmes that will be conducted on September 30.

The talks that were arranged prior to the action day did not yield any result. On 30th, more than a thousand people took part in the rally and the siege. It was led by  P Sampath, R Jayaraman, TNUEF treasurer, K Bala Bharathi, MLA, N Pandi, CPI(M) district secretary, K Chinna Karuppan, TNUEF district president, M R Muthu Samy, TNUEF district secretary and others. The administration held talks with the leaders and agreed to hand over the land to the dalit Arunthathiyars.

Untouchability Gate Demolished in Ooty

IN Ooty (Niligiris), Coonoor, Gandhipuram, the dalit Arunthathiyars were denied entry through the common road. A private company had put up a gate to block the way. The TNUEF saw it as an untouchability practice. Many demonstrations were held to draw the attention of the administration. They kept repeating the promises that were never fulfilled. Hence, a decision was taken to go for direct action programme under the leadership of the TNUEF and the CPI(M).

On September 30, the dalit Arunthiyars led by P Dilli Babu, MLA, U K Sivagnanam, TNUEF state secretary, R Badri, CPI(M) district secretary,  L Thiyagarajan, CITU district secretary and others proceeded towards the untouchability gate. Talks were held for four hours and no decision was forthcoming. The leaders saw it as a delaying tactic. They had informed the administration that they would demolish the gate themselves.

With this, the administration had no other alternative except to demolish the gate. Finally, the gate was broken in front of jubilant dalit people who were denied entry for the last 50 years.

“First time” hair cuts and tea in Thanjavur

IT was for the first time that dalit people could get a hair cut and tea in their village. In Thanjavur district, Orathanadu, Echankottai village, two tumbler system and denial of haircut existed for many years. Dalits had to go miles away for having a hair cut. Separate tumblers have kept them discriminated for years together. The announcement of direct action programme led by Nagai Mali, MLA, had put the administration on alert.

Timely intervention by the administration had helped to put an end to the untouchability practice. It was decided that the dalit people will be served in the common tumblers and will have hair cuts at the local saloons on September 29. Enthusiastic local dalits led by Ganesh, TNUEF state secretary,  J Rajmohan, SFI state secretary,  G Neelamegam, CPI(M) district secretary, Abhi Mannan, TNUEF district president, Chinnai Pandian, TNUEF district secretary, proceeded  to the saloons and the tea stalls at 12 PM.

Tehsildar and local police had played a vital role in bringing some non-dalits to take part in the event. They made it sure that dalits had hair cuts in two saloons in that area. This was the first time that dalits had hair cut in those saloons. Also, they were served with tea in all the three tea stalls. These actions have put an end to the vicious untouchability practices in that area.

Hair Dressing in Madurai

IN Madurai district, Vadipatti town panchayat, dalits were not allowed to have hair cut in the saloons. This was also revealed during the survey conducted by the TNUEF in August. The TNUEF had listed out the saloons that were refusing cut hair for dalits and handed over to the district administration. Sensing that the administration is hesitating to act, it was decided to conduct direct action programme under the leadership of P Shanmugam, AIKS state secretary, on September 30. 

Talks were held by the administration with the Hair Dressers Association and finally the Association had to agree to the demands of the dalits. The leaders and the dalit people were firm in having hair cut on September 30. But the administration said that this would be done on September 29 itself. They also assured that the untouchability practice would be put to an end with this.

On September 20, dalit people under the leadership of M Thangaraj, TNUEF state secretary, S K Ponnuthai, TNUEF state secretary, C Ramakrishnan, CPI(M) district secretary, D Chellakannu, Boominathan, N P Ramesh Kannan, district leaders of the TNUEF, Thamizhalan, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi’s state assistant secretary, Viduthalai Veeran, state  joint general secretary, Athi Thamizhar Peravai and others, went to the saloons. In all the three saloons, hair cut was done to dalits.

Successful Bath by Dalits in Virudhunagar

THIS was the first victory in the direct action programme. In Virudhunagar district, V Muthulingapuram, the dalit Arunthathiyars were denied permission to take bath in the common water tank. Here, 70 Arunthathiyar families are residing. The petitions to the administration yielded no result. Hence, the decision for direct action programme led by A Lazar, MLA.  There were other issues also like, denial of path to the cremation ground, non-filling up of drinking water tank, making the dalit students to clean the toilets in the school etc.

The water tank was built in 2011-12.  When the Arunthathiyar youth tried to take bath, the casteist elements resisted them. During another attempt, they made the tank empty by releasing out the water. The announcement that the direct action will be held on September 30 had unnerved the district administration.  They came forward for the talks.

During the talks, under the insistence of the TNUEF leaders, the district administration had to agree for all the demands regarding the untouchability practices. On September 21, the dalit Arunthathiyars took bath in the common water tank. C Murugesan, TNUEF district president, S Gnana Guru, TNUEF district secretary, M C Pandian, CPI(M) area committee secretary, along with the leaders of various organisations took part in this.

In the direct action programme that was conducted across the state, leaders and activists of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Athi Thamizhar Peravai, CITU, DYFI, SFI, AIDWA, AIKS, AIAWU, AIIEA have taken part in the talks and direct action programmes. The state committee of the TNUEF has congratulated and appreciated the achievements and the efforts put in by all. These events will have its echo in many parts of the state. Also, the momentum gained by this emphatic victory, will also be intensified further.

A Spark That Lights Many Lamps!

"Sir, I have cleared the exam...” This was the joyous voice which was received by the co-ordinators of Dr Ambedkar Education and Employment Coaching Centre, Tamilnadu in the last few days. The results of the Bank clerical written exam that was conducted by the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS) were released few days back. Eighty two students who had undergone the training for the written exam have cleared the exam. More results are expected, since the candidates have just started receiving the score card. It is likely that the centre will score a hundred.

That was in July 2009. A TNUEF (Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front) team in Coimbatore was on a mission to create awareness among the dalits about the existing employment opportunities. At a place, there were sixty young faces keenly watching us. Our team member was explaining, "...There is an employment opportunity now. The educational qualification for the applicant is just tenth standard..." After lecturing for thirty minutes, we asked how many are going to apply. Just ten people raised their hands. When enquired about others, we were shocked to know that they did not even complete tenth standard.

This had happened not in some remote area or rural area. It was in the heart of Coimbatore, which is nicknamed as South India's Manchester. Almost coincidentally, the TNUEF was taking a decision to set-up up education and employment coaching centres to facilitate the dalits in availing the opportunities. Coimbatore is the first place to initiate the action. It was in December 2009 that the centre was inaugurated. It was named as Dr Ambedkar Education and Employment Coaching Centre.

At the same time, an advertisement for selection of Group II officers was released by the Tamilnadu Public Service Commission. Hence, the classes were started in January 2010. Since then, the centre did not look back. After the class for Group II exam, Spoken English class was conducted. Then, the classes for VAO (village administrative officer) exam and other exams were held. Except for a brief period, there was no long break for the aspirants. Results were slowly showing. Due to the special attention given for Mathematics, Kalpana could clear the co-operative bank exam. Surya Prabha had cleared the Group II examination. After clearing the exam, she said the spark was provided by the centre. Three were selected for Tamilnadu State Police. Spoken English class had its effect. Some candidates had informed the centre that the class had given them the confidence in their work. Some said they did better in interviews.

OFFICIAL

RECOGNITION!

Some sort of an official recognition came to the centre, when Repco Bank contacted us for conducting classes for repatriate candidates. Without any hesitation, the centre took up this task and conducted classes at two places, in Coimbatore and Tiruchirappalli. Three candidates who had attended the classes got through in the written test. Also these three have got the appointment order after clearing the interview. Punithavathi has joined in Yelahanka (Karnataka), Magesh Prabhu has joined in Gudalur (Nilgiris district, Tamilnadu) and Dayanidhi has joined in Tiruvannamalai (Tamilnadu).

Moorthy, who has been selected for the post of sanitary inspector, attributes the credit to the Centre. Apart from all this, like icing on the cake, Jegan who took almost ten months training at our Centre had cleared the Civil Services Prelims Exam. 

AN IMPORTANT

ROLE OF AIIEA

When the classes began, the main task was to give coaching material to the candidates. We had to photocopy the material and give them. The cost was gradually increasing since we had to cater them for about four to five months. The All India Insurance Employees Association, Coimbatore had taken a decision, which nobody would have ever imagined. A brand new photocopy machine costing around Rs 55,000 was bought. Every class, the candidates are offered tea in both the sessions. The meeting hall at the new Union Office building has virtually turned into a permanent class room.

Other places drew inspiration from the Coimbatore centre.  Madurai, Virudhunagar and Tiruchengode centres followed.  It was the advertisement for Bank Clerical Exam that prompted many other places to start such centres. Classes were conducted in Coimbatore, Chennai, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Tiruchirappalli, Tiruchengode, Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Mannargudi, Pudukkottai and Sivagangai. An important feature to be noted is that except for two centres, all the other centres are being managed by the AIIEA. Chennai Centre is being run by the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI) and the Centre at Madurai is being run by Tamilnadu State Transport Employees Federation. In these two centres too, the AIIEA comrades are playing an important role.

A GREAT

FILLIP

The latest results of Bank clerical written exam have come like a great fillip. The centres have taken care of the students from the beginning itself. Few centres like Chennai, Madurai, Tiruchengode and Tirunelveli went one step further. The candidates were given assistance to online registration too. Computers along with internet connections were arranged for this purpose. In fact, this has increased the number of applicants among the dalits. Among these, many of them could not register online for the officers' examination earlier.

The classes are conducted according to the area's nature. At some places, daily classes were conducted. Few centres had conducted classes on Saturdays and Sundays. Some centres like Coimbatore are doing it only on Sundays. But, a regular contact is established with the candidates through the SMS. Questions are being sent to the candidates through SMS almost everyday. Tests and model examinations were conducted to allay the exam fear. Apart from the syllabus, students are introduced to time management, personality development etc., through special classes.

RESOURCE

CENTRE

To provide all the centres with the exam materials, a resource centre has been set-up at Salem. It was a sort of recognition, when Arunthathiyar Co-ordination Committee (a dalit organisation) gave Rao Sahib LC Gurusamy Memorial Award to the Centre for its services. This had sent a message to the dalit masses that the Centre has come to stay.

FUTURE

TASKS

Presently, the classes have already started for SBI, RBI, EPFO, ESIC exams and for the forthcoming IBPS exam. More districts are likely to start the coaching centres in the coming months. Apart from consolidating the gains, the Centre has also decided to concentrate on school students. Some places have been identified in Coimbatore and Madurai already. English, Maths and Computer classes are likely to be taken up at these places.

Victory in Uthapuram

THE sustained struggles and efforts by the CPI(M) and Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front(TNUEF) have led to the success achieved by the dalits of Uthapuram village, Madurai district in Tamilnadu. On November 11, the dalits of this village had entered the Muthalamman temple that was "out of bound" for them for almost 22 years.

BACKGROUND

The presence of an untouchability wall came to light in Uthapuram village in a survey conducted by the TNUEF in 2007. In the subsequent interactions, it was found that there are many untouchability practices existing there. The CPI(M) and the TNUEF had decided to take up these issues and made it clear that the movement will end only after accomplishing the task. On May 6, 2008 the untouchability wall was demolished as Prakash Karat, general secretary of the CPI(M) was scheduled to visit Uthapuram on May 7. A common path was created there for public use. The visit of Prakash Karat had set the tone for further social struggles not only in Uthapuram, but in the entire state.

Even after the breaking of the wall and securing the public passage, the Uthapuram dalits have not been allowed to use the passage freely by the caste Hindus. They have obstructed the free movement of dalits by laying their household belongings, stones, sand and rubble on the public passage. When a complaint was lodged against the upper caste groups with the police, it was the dalits who had to face enquiry and harassment. Eventually there was brutal lathicharge on the dalits injuring the women, children and the elderly. There were plans to arrest hundreds of dalits. The TNUEF and the CPI (M) organised powerful protests demanding a judicial enquiry into the incident.

Thereafter, the Madurai unit of the AIDWA filed a writ petition in the Madurai bench of Tamilnadu High Court, demanding a judicial enquiry into police atrocities on Uthapuram dalits and sought compensation to the victims and punishment to the culprits under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The High Court appointed a commission consisting of two judges to inquire into the incidents and directed to report its findings to the High Court. The commission in its report indicted the police for excesses against the Uthapuram dalits and recommended Rs 15 lakhs compensation for the victims. While the Tamilnadu government objected to the findings of the report, the High Court has passed an interim order to pay compensation to the victims to the tune of Rs 10 lakhs. This interim order has come as a notable victory in the legal battle.

Although demolishing the wall was an important development, other issues like denial to go around Peepul tree, refusing to erect a shelter at bus stop, the false cases foisted on dalits by the police, diversion of the ditch that was coming towards the dalit area and so on. People were organising struggles under the leadership of the CPI(M) and the TNUEF. Last year, the TNUEF had organised a picketing of Madurai Collector Office. The police had resorted to lathicharge on the leaders and the dalits. T K Rengarajan, MP, P Sampath, president, TNUEF, K Samuel Raj, general secretary, TNUEF and other leaders were injured in the attack. Protest demonstrations were organised all over the state.

Then came the temple entry movement, in which the leaders of the TNUEF had made some heroic attempts. The entire village was looking like fortress which was under the firm control of police. They did not allow anybody from outside. G Ramakrishnan, state secretary, CPI(M) was leading the temple entry movement. But he was arrested in Madurai itself. The surprise came from within the Uthapuram village. The government machinery was stunned to see some of the leaders in front of a procession that was proceeding towards the temple. They were also arrested.

Madurai(rural) district secretary of AIDWA, S K Ponnuthai had to enter the village at night time. It took four hours for her to cross just four kilometres. Despite the heavy posse of policemen, K Samuel Raj, S K Mahendran and S K Ponnuthai had sneaked into the village. This had given the dalits a great confidence and these events greatly enthused them. On the same day, they were getting ready for further struggles.

AGREEMENT

After the temple entry movement, the temple was closed. Before the struggle, only caste Hindus were allowed to enter the temple. The struggle has made the temple a disputed one. The melting point was this. Some of the caste Hindus had started feeling the pinch. Hence, they were ready for the compromise when the superintendent of police Asra Garg made an attempt to resolve the issue. On October 20, there was an agreement between the dalits and caste Hindus. According to the agreement, dalits can enter the temple and worship the deity, they can worship by going around Peepul tree, bus stop shelter would come up and the cases will be withdrawn etc. It was also agreed that the path that was laid after the demolition of the untouchability wall will be widened.

A first step was taken in implementing the agreement. On November 11, the dalits entered the temple and offered pujas. They were in tears when they stepped into the temple. They offered coconuts and fruits to the deity. Some people from caste Hindus had welcomed the dalits at the entrance of the temple. Sankaralingam of Uthapuram village had to say this, "We are happy to enter temple after a long time. Hereafter, there will be no problem between the two communities. We will live together and in peace".

The CPI(M) and the TNUEF have welcomed the agreement and the entry of dalits into the temple. R Annadurai, CPI(M) MLA, Madurai(South), M Thangaraj, Madurai district secretary, TNUEF, S K Ponnuthai, state secretary, TNUEF and district secretary, AIDWA, U Nirmala Rani, Lawyer reached Uthapuram and greeted the dalits when they were proceeding to the temple.

CPI(M) & TNUEF

HAIL THE DEVELOPMENT

Social harmony will be prevalent only when the atrocities are brought to an end, CPI(M) state secretary, G Ramakrishnan said in a statement. The statement also insisted on fulfilling the other promises made in the agreement. Further, developmental activities should be carried out in the village. The state and district administration should gear upto this, he demanded.

Since there are more promises that have to be fulfilled, the TNUEF had exhorted the people of Uthapuram to further the struggles for achieving the democratic rights. It has also pointed out that the unity among the dalits and working class will pave the way for success.

Dalits Enter Temple After 25 Years

THE dalit people’s struggle to assert their rights is continuing in Tamilnadu. It is a fact that there are in the state hundreds of temples which the Dalits could not enter for a long time. Among them is Vanniyakumarasamy temple at Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, in Coimbatore district. For the past 25 years, dalits were not allowed to offer prayers in the temple.

This temple is managed by the state government under the aegis of Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment Department. The dalits kept petitioning for a long time for permission to offer prayers and worship. But all their attempts went in vain. Hence the decision by the leadership of Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front and (TNUEF) and Adi Thamizhar Viduthalai Munnani (ATVM, which is also a part of the TNUEF) to enter the temple on June 12, 2011.

It was about three weeks ago that ATVM leaders submitted a memorandum to the district administration, seeking permission to enter the temple. It is notable that with the struggles growing in Coimbatore district since the inception of the TNUEF, the district administration has been constrained to allow the dalits entry into several temples.

On June 12, Ravi Kumar (convenor, ATVM and vice president of the TNUEF) and V Perumal (secretary, TNUEF) led the dalits into the temple. Though the police force was meant to facilitate the dalits’ entry into the temple, it in fact tried to stop them. In the end, it was agreed that dalits would go inside through an alternative path. They were thrilled to offer a special puja there.

After the successful entry, leaders addressed the press and thanked the district administration. But they said the struggle to eradicate untouchability would continue since many forms of untouchability are practised in the district. They also urged the new government to address the dalits’ problems of Dalits.

The recently held TNUEF state committee meeting has decided to take forward the struggle ahead. It has decided to draft a charter of demands regarding the SC/ST sub-plan in the month of June. To retrieve the panchami lands, the Front has decided to launch a movement in four districts. Various forms of agitation have been announced.

At the organisational level, it decided to complete the district level conferences by the end of December 2011.

Untouchability Unmasked in "Singaara" Chennai!

THE word "Singaara (Beautiful) Chennai” was coined when the present deputy chief minister and the so-called choice for the future chief minister, M K Stalin, took over the reins in Chennai Corporation as mayor. That was really a dream for every Chennai-ite, and that remains a mere dream even now. The myth like "there is no untouchability in cities" was disproved by the existence of Untouchability Walls in urban areas.

Though concrete information remained for long elusive regarding the capital city, the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) has brought out the realty by surveying Chennai, thus exposing the ugly side of the "Singaara" City. For this purpose, the TNUEF had deputed 80 volunteers to carry out the survey. As many as 31 locations in the city were selected and the volunteers met 775 people. This was carried out in October 2010. The survey report was released to the press on December 29. P Sampath (president of the TNUEF), K Samuel Raj (general secretary, TNUEF), R Jayaraman (treasurer, TNUEF), K Swaminathan (state secretary, TNUEF) and R Krishnamoorthy (convenor, TNUEF in South Chennai) were present at the press meet.

The detailed questionnaire meant for the survey incorporated issues like land patta, toilet facilities in houses, maintenance of public conveniences, health hazards, maintenance of houses of the Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board (TNSCB), availability of ration shops, social welfare schemes, school education, playgrounds, roads, drinking water and hospital facilities etc.

The general belief that no oppression in the name of caste takes place in the city was then belied. The city has its own story of caste discriminations. The censuses of 1991 and 2001 have earlier presented a bleak scenario. It was claimed that, post-1991, dalits have got jobs and their share in the middle class population has increased. It is, therefore, surprising to note that the ratio of dalits in the city population has come down between 1991 and 2001.

In 1991, dalit population in Chennai was 13.78 per cent but it got reduced to 13.76 per cent in 2001. "This is because of the eviction of dalits from their areas in the name of development," said P Sampath while releasing the survey report. Also, most of these dalits are living in the Chennai slums. This in itself proves that discrimination is alive and kicking in the Chennai metro.

About 60 per cent of these dalits are living in places where there is no water, nor ditches or litter bins. They are staying on the banks of Koovam and Adyar rivers and of Buckingham Canal. In the past 38 years, the Tamilnadu Slum Clearance Board has built only 72,000 houses. In fact, an ambitious plan has been announced to make Chennai hut free by 2013. The real intention seems to be to throw the dalits out of the city rather than rehabilitating them.

The discrimination in the casteist sense gets reflected in the jobs they perform. They are doing the "demeaning" jobs in which manual work is involved. Many streets are named after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, but these have remained as the dalits-only residential areas. Dalits are not welcomed in posh areas like West Mambalam, T Nagar, Kodambakkam, Triplicane and Mylapore. Even those who are in coveted government posts do not get a house on rent to stay here.

There are places where dalits are living for the last 80 years but they have not yet get the pattas for their plots. Likewise, there are various other places where dalits have been living for the last 50 to 60 years but have been denied pattas. Everyday, they live in the fear of eviction. Even when the TNUEF volunteers went to these areas with their job of survey, the residents though that government officials had come and were perplexed that their fears of eviction had come true. However, when the intentions of the surveyors became clear, they briefed them in detail.

Most of the dalit students are studying in government schools and municipal corporation schools. As far as their general health is concerned, they live in such places as can be described as health hazardous only. Safe drinking water remains a distant dream for dalits in almost all of the dalit areas. Most of these places have no hospital facilities. Even if there is any, doctors are not regular. Dalits hardly get any medicines in these places. Many dalits are not aware of the social welfare schemes that are supposedly being implemented for them.

In the name of development, dalits are being thrown out of the city. This act had devastated their economic conditions. Many of them have lost their jobs and some of them have left since they cannot go all the way from outskirts to the city. The conditions of their women are still worse. Their girls are being married off at very early ages. Their bad economic conditions have making them sex workers.

Dalits have no place in the temple administration. Conversion to Christianity has not been a balm to the disease. In CSI churches too, dalits remained outside of the administration. They are not allowed to contest the church elections.

What happened in Lalgarh?

In yet another brutal attack six people were killed and 15 others seriously injured when Maoists and Trinamool Congress activists jointly opened fire on a group of villagers at Netai at Lalgarh under Binpur block in West Midnapore district of West Bengal January 7 morning. Scared by the growing people’s resistance against Maoist-Trinamool terrorism and violence the Maoists have resorted to a reign of terror with the help of Trinamool activists.

It was on December 31 a massive rally was held at Lalgarh in which participation of local villagers was spontaneous to voice against Maoist-Trinamool violence and for restoration of peace in Jangalmahal. It created wrath among the Maoists who in retaliatory measures have started terrorizing the innocent village people.

With this in mind a group of armed Maoist cadres under the leadership of Tanmoy Roy, who was once a secretary of the pro-Maoist Janaganer Committee (PCPA) but now a Trinamool leader, swung into armed action in the morning of January 7 and started indiscriminate firing on villagers protesting against the Maoist menaces. As a result 6 villagers were killed and 15 others seriously injured.

Deepak Sarkar, secretary of West Midnapore district CPI(M), in a statement, demanded immediate arrest of those who were responsible for the murder. The CPIM) brought out processions in Lalgarah on January 8 to condemn the incident.

Untouchability Modernised!

UNTOUCHABILITY practices are going "modern" now. This was evident from the recent exposure in Nagarajapuram, a village that is there in the outskirts ofCoimbatore city. In the name of resettling the dalits, they were driven to almost no man's land years ago. But the expansion of the city and its sub-urban areas brought them near again. So the profit minded real estate companies have resorted to a new strategy to keep dalits away from their area. Blocking the way for dalits to have access to the area, they expect the value of the land to remain high.

This has happened in many places and Nagarajapuram was no different. In this place, hundreds of dalit families are living since 1976. The real estate promoters have built a wall that was measuring 10 feet in height and 2 feet in width and the length is close to a kilometre. To have direct access to the main road, therefore, most of the people had to take many extra steps. The building of the wall did not happen overnight. But the landowners of the other side did it clandestinely. It was carried out during the last two years. Dalit people on the other side woke up only when the last 30 metres length of the path was closed.

A team led by U K Sivagnanam, district convenor of the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) recently visited the spot. When the team was convinced that this is an untouchability wall indeed, TNUEF decided to take up the issue. Next day, Tamil daily Theekkathir prominently published the news and that created tremors in the administration. At the very first sight, the officials were convinced that the wall was unlawful. The sketch for the plots also showed a 30 metres path. The people also complained to the officials that the closure of the path had made them feel like imprisoned. The only hitch was that the wall itself was on the border of not only for two panchayats but of two taluks as well. This did not deter the TNUEF to press for the demolition of the wall. A series of agitations was planned.

Expecting a backlash, the district administration acted fast lest there was some mass action. On December 25, revenue officials demolished two portions of the untouchability wall. These two stretches of 30 feet and 23 feet now provide the dalit people direct access to the main road. Though the structure has remained largely intact, the purpose of the land promoter has been defeated. Just after the demolition, one could find joyful women and children walking through the newly restored path.

Uthapuram was just a beginning in of exposing the untouchability walls in Tamilnadu. Somebody sought to belittle its impact by saying that villages are yet to be radicalised. Another wall in Periyar Nagar, that is in the heart of "South India's Manchester," i.e. Coimbatore city, exposed that too. One more wall was found in the municipal limits of Trichy. Now in the news is Udumalpet, a small town in Tirupur district. A wall has been raised by a realtor to block the way for dalits.

The world is getting modernised. Yet the caste oriented society somehow finds space to land its feet. The landing is atrocious. The TNUEF, through its well oiled machinery, has conducted many surveys. In its first state conference, a list of atrocities was released. But the recent problems have brought new varieties of atrocities. In another village near Coimbatore, a Dalit cannot talk on his cellphone in front of a caste Hindu. He has to switch off his phone or cut the call. When this came up, A Raja of the "spectrum" notoriety was the union telecom minister. This village falls in his constituency.

"SOFTWARE" FOR UNTOUCHABILITY

Another incident of untouchability has crossed all the limits. One Mr Jayan had registered himself with tamilmatrimony.com in order to find a life partner. He is a Christian and was registered in that category. When a few proposals came for him, he surfed some of the profiles. In one profile, “caste no bar” was mentioned. He was happy to see that. But his happiness did not last for more than a moment. The very next column said "SC/ST excuse." Jayan was furious to see that. He did not stop there.

He called up the contact number and blasted them. His argument was: people may prefer one or another particular caste in the matrimony ads, but how come these people could say, "we do not want these and these castes." He rang up a few newspaper offices to give vent to his anger. He said, “This is untouchability modernised. In fact, the website that offers this service should pull up its socks. The software that serves the purpose of casteist requirements should be thrown away by thetamilmatrimony.com.”

The TNUEF had listed around 85 types of atrocities committed upon dalits in Tamilnadu. In the states where the survey has been done, Gujarat stands first. As many as 99 types of atrocities have been listed by the Navsarjan, a non-profit voluntary organisation. It seems that Tamilnadu is now poised to take Gujarat over by creating new, "modern" types of atrocities.

The impact of the agitations run by the TNUEF is being felt. The people have started looking up to the TNUEF for solving their problems concerning social issues. Uthapuram is leading from the front. Wherever an untouchability wall is found, people take inspiration from Uthapuram. The unsolved problems in Uthapuram make the people more steely. The TNUEF has announced a series of programmes for the next year. The year 2011 is going to be an eventful year for the TNUEF.