Chennai 11 August : In a study that was conducted by the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) It was shocking to discover that many Dalit panchayat heads in the state were denied chairs in their office.The survey revealed that in 22 out of the 386 panchayats that were surveyed Dalit presidents weren’t given chairs. The survey, which was carried out in 24 districts of the state showed that a lot of Dalit panchayat leaders were not even allowed to fly the flag of India.In some instances the panchayat leaders were not allowed access to the local body offices.
And in some instances they were not even allowed to the right to examine documents.
In a press conference following the release of the report Thursday TNUEF’s K.Samuel Raj who was the lead in the survey, stated, “The outcome of the survey is shocking and sad.Panchayat presidents aren’t even permitted to sit in chairs, and they are not permitted to raise the flag of the nation as the country gets ready to celebrate its 75th Independence Day.This kind of situation is common in 20 panchayats.”
He declared it sad to learn that caste discrimination is a common occurrence in Tamil Nadu, a state that supports the principle of Periyar, who fought against discrimination based on caste.Samuel Raj said, “We demand that the government establish an exclusive mechanism to address the grievances of the Dalit panchayath’s leaders.”
The TNUEF leader stated that they would present their report to the government, and enjoin them to appoint special officers to help the panchayat chiefs as they unfurl the national flag on the 15th of August.
He also demanded that the government to prosecute the Chinna Salem tahsildar, under the laws of the SC/ST Atrocities Act for arranging an illegal peace conference and for compel the Dalit female panchayat leader of Eduthavainatham in Kallakurichi district V.Sudha to accept that the headmaster of the local school to fly the flag of the nation during Independence Day instead of her.
Samuel Raj said that a couple of days ago, Sudha had petitioned the Kallakurichi Superintendent of Police and asked for police protection in order to help her in raising the flag of the nation during Independence Day.
He added that Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar and ST Commission were inactive and expressed his shock and disappointment over this.
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