Atrocities on Arunthathiyers

Online video interview

2012-01-24T00:59:00.001-08:00

http://vimeo.com/35500012

READ Karuppusamy interviw in online .Please watch

Manual scavenging programme photos and report

2011-12-27T04:49:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

Greetings from READ!!!

We had the Erode dt level consulataion for manual scavening eradication at Erode on 26th Dec .

above 70 participants participated from different backround .

Some Key people :

Mr.Narayanan editor Paadam monthly magzine
Dr.Jeevanandam
Mr.Samuvel Safai karamachari andolen(SKA)
Ms.Palaniyammal Peoples watch
Mr.Balamurugan Advocate : AIYF
Mr.Marimuthu CITU
Mr.Annadurai Untouchability eradication front
Mr.Saminathan Advocate
Mr.Thangavel Vizhuthugal
Mr.Satchidanadam Reseacher
Mr.Gowthamsakthivel SDF
Ms.Pattamal Sakkiyar women federation

We had inagaral session

Three panel discussion on Act 1993

Manual scavening research presentation

Government schemes

and Manual scavening documentry film release

Final : Action plan for followup at Erode district level

Also we will give the programme photos:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.325534080799659.84106.100000292101514&type=1&l=cfb8b29f42

Invaitation for consulataion on Eradication of Manual scavening

2011-12-17T22:18:00.000-08:00

Dear Sir/Madam

Greetings from rights education and development centre(READ)

READ and Scavengers Dignity Forum(SDF) jointly organizes a consultation for eradication of Manual scavenging at Erode.dt level .We done a data collection manual scavenging at our Erode district level ,Also we will share this with you .Therefore Even in the computer era still existing this inhuman practice in our area .We like to end this and ensure the human rights with dignity .So, we invite you ,to join this Nobel cause .

Venue:

Sakthi Karaikudi complex

Royal theatre opposite road

Arasan eye hospital opp

Erode .

Date:26^th Dec 2011

Time:10Am to 3Pm

Contact number: 9842090035,9865571125

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy

Director

Manual scavengers posters

2011-11-28T08:24:00.001-08:00

Dear Sir/ Madam

Vanakkam!!!

READ published three poster on Manual scavenging eradication .

We would like to share with you .Also printed copies sented your office .I given web link to you .

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=225048624233862&set=a.225034104235314.55426.194704317268293&type=3&theater

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=225038080901583&set=a.225034104235314.55426.194704317268293&type=1&theater

http://www.facebook.com/#!/photo.php?fbid=225054864233238&set=a.225034104235314.55426.194704317268293&type=3&theater

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar(Dalit) songs

2011-09-25T04:29:00.001-07:00

Dear FatherGreetings from rights education and development centre(READ)READ is a non profit volunteer rights based organisation working with Dalit(Arunthathiyar) children women and youthWho are the Arunthathiyar ( Locally negalacted,Globally unknown,We are dalits among dalits Arunthathiyer- The Arundhatiar people (also known as Chakiliar) are one of the most marginalized people, even among the Dalits, and are exploited by the dominant communities in India. There are 60 lakhs Arunthathiars in Tamilnadu, mostly residing in the western districts. They can be called Dalit among Dalits. They are often compelled to do very menial, undignified jobs such as manual scavenging.)Our mails tone we brought out a awerness songs for Arunthathiyar community ,which 8 songs ,all songs by Arunthathiyar youths ,written ,lyrics,singing.Therefore we would like to share all songs in youtube with English sub title .This songs about children ,women and youth
Hear Our story All songs
Song 1 Erimalai http://youtu.be/m3mzwTco_Mk
Song 2 Chinnam siru vayasula http://youtu.be/E1NaSfK3GpY
Song 3 Athi Tamila http://youtu.be/1hTNEWLTmhg
Song 4 Reddai Jadai pottukitu http://youtu.be/rHQgtuEZPkk
Song 5 Arunthathiya makkalae http://youtu.be/qFJpddZFVtk
Song 6 Pallikudam pogum http://youtu.be/AgeWZ3VMfTA
Song 7 Namma kada kelunga http://youtu.be/xI4Jw1R1u4k
Song 8 Puyalena purappadu http://youtu.be/Myhqf_OBoCA

Thanking youWith regardsR.KaruppusamyDirectorCell: 9842090035Email.ksamy2005@gmail.com

Mediya training for Dalit children

2011-08-26T20:19:00.000-07:00

READ organisation working with most marginalized community children and women .We had alternative mediya training for Dalit(Arunthathiyar) children ,Tamil news famous book published our news .

published a book on school discrimination on Arunthathiyar children ,experience at Sathyamangalam ,Erode.Dt .

2011-08-14T03:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

Greetings!!!

READ organisation published a book on school discrimination on Arunthathiyar children ,experience at Sathyamangalam ,Erode.Dt .

This books says " 15 years in the name of caste discrimination Arunthathiyar children not getting admission in the near by school .Every day 32 children walking 9 Km for school .Now the issue came to end .

This book says this issue .If you want we would like to share with you .

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar awerness songs

2011-07-23T00:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends!!!

In the name of Dalit we are discriminating since 2000 years .In various forms of attrocities .Among the dalits one of the majar caste Arunthathiyar .They are in Tamilnadu manual scavengers.Their children also become tradionaly sacevngers .We need to eradicate this caste based occupation .First genaration youth from Arunthathiyar bring out the audio CD with songs for empowerment of Arunthathiyars .

Friends ...audio music with song.if you want please contact us .Thanking you with solidarity R.Karuppusamy

Dalit(Arunthathiyar) awerness songs

2011-07-02T03:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

Greetings from READ(rights education and development centre)

READ is a non profit Arunthathiyar headed organisation working with Arunthathiyar children education ,Arunthathiyar women development ,Since 2001 at Erode.Dt .

Recently READ team recorded awerness songs about Arunthathiyar education,rights etc..

This song CD has 8 songs .Written by Mr.Bannan ,

Therefore ,If you want song CD .Please contact Mr.Karuppusamy cell.9842090035

We will sent post donation Rs.100 if you want give more please

Song link :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oegklu8fVQM&feature=BFa&list=ULT1xtTNqlIso&index=5

Thanking you

Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar election manifesto -2011

2011-06-26T09:26:00.001-07:00

Dalit-Adivasi film festival video link

2011-06-22T03:21:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

Vanakkam!!!

Recently we had Dalit-Adivasi film festival at Erode.Dt,Tamilnadu .Organized by READ and Marupakkam media group and solidarity with local organizations.

It was two days for open public .

Several people and different background participated .

Here i am happy to share the vedio link to you .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ms-d0PiBiLg

Please sent your comments to us .

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy

Dalit,Adivasi film festival @ Appeal

2011-05-30T07:02:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir/Madam

Vanakkam!!!

Dalit ,Adivasi film festival on 28th ,29th May 2011 at Sathyamangalam ,Erode.Dt ...,Tamilnadu,Conducted by READ & Maruppakam media group ,We start with "Peenachi" tribal traditional dance ,Inagrated by Mr.Ramasamy leader of tribal movement ,We had 10 films screening on Dalit and Adivasi issues ,We had guest speech,Discussion with participants, and cultural programmes .This film festival participants from various back round .We sensitize the issue on Dalit and Adivasi human rights issues .

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.219576491395419.63349.100000292101514&l=313a85b7a1

Also month of jun we have the plan to do school enrollment campaign for Dalit(Arunthathiyars) and traibal children education enrollment we looking for donation .If you can support donation ,it will be support and help to many Dalit and tribal children life .Therefore through this mail i am appeal to every one to donate dalit and traibal children education .

If you want change many lives

Donation for :
Enrollment campaign

Rs.100 ....
Rs.250...
Rs.500...
Rs.750...
Rs.1000...
Rs.1000 above

Your donation will reach to

Rights education and development centre (READ)
27/1-Muniyappar.st
Rangasamuthiram
Sathyamangalam.638402
Erode.dt
Tamilnadu
Tel.04295-224313
Cell.9842090035

If you want more details we can ready to sent

Your small donation will make many lives

Thanking you

Karuppusamy

Dalit ,Adivasi Film festival -28th ,29th May 2011

2011-05-27T03:06:00.000-07:00

Invitation -Dalit-Adivasi film festivel

2011-05-23T03:23:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends :

Greetings!!!

We are going to conduct the Dalit,Adivasi film festival at Sathyamangalam Erode.Dt,Tamilnadu, This film festival has screening Document ,Guest speech ,discussion .Therefore we will invite to you for this film festival.

Date: 28th ,29th May 2011

Venue: Sathyamangalam ,Municipality hall

Contact :+91-9842090035

Thanking you

Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar election stand

2011-05-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

Dear Viewers

Please see this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywZ54gnysHY

Ksamy

School discrimination ON Dalit(Arunthathiyar) children

2011-04-27T00:25:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends!!!!

Vanakkam!!!

Erode.Dist,Sathyamangalam,block,Kuttai mettur village
Dalit(Arunthathiyar) school children discrimination .Childrens are walking 9Km .But near they have 1Km school .This school not allow the Dalit children .There are 40 children in this village .To day we have Right to education Act .But in the Name of caste our children affected .We sent complaints by our children parliment
Please see the Erode Kalaikadir news Link :

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.211526935533708.60398.100000292101514&l=81d775b8c5

Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar election manifesto-2011

2011-04-25T23:01:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends!!!

Vanakkam!!!

You knew the Arunthathiyar political participation status .Till they are less .Last election there are three MLA .Even though till in the name of caste ,Arunthathiyars are exploiting socio ,economic ,education and political ,even they are manual scavengers

Therefore ,AHRF(Arunthathiyar human rights forum) decided 1 day consultation at Madurai on 1st March .We invite Arunthathiyar movements ,NGOS and supporters .

After that 16th we released chennai in press club .

This election manifesto we reached different political parties .

This election election manifesto in including demands of education,manual scavening eradication ,rehabilitation etc....

I am given below some of photos link

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/fbx/?set=a.211074708912264.59497.100000292101514&l=554a174c11

Thanking you

Karuppusamy

Arunthathiyar children parliment news

2011-03-31T22:33:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

READ is gross rout organization working with Dalit(Arunthathiyar children and women ) for their education and human rights ,Since 2001 .In this regarding Ananda vikkadan is famous monthly book covered our children parliment news .This community children are most marinlized and most vulnerable group .I am attached here .Please .

Arunthathiyar election manifesto

2011-03-17T00:54:00.001-07:00

ஜனநாயக அனாதைகள்…

அது ஒரு பத்திரிகையாளர் சந்திப்பு நிகழ்ச்சி.

இந்த சமூகத்திற்கு முன்பாக தங்கள் தரப்பைச் சொல்ல நீண்ட நேரமாக அவர்கள் சென்னை பத்திரிகையாளர்கள் மன்றத்தில் காத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.
யார் அவர்கள்?

ஒடுக்கப்பட்ட பிரிவினரிலும் ஒடுக்கப்பட்டவர்களாக, தங்களுக்கு நேர்ந்த அவலத்தை வெளிப்படுத்தும் திறனோ, தெம்போ இன்றி நாள்தோறும் நலிந்து நைந்து கிடக்கும் அப்பாவி அருந்ததி இன மக்களின் பிரதிநிதிகள்.

காலம்காலமாக தீர்க்கப்படாமல் தொடரும் தங்களின் நீண்ட கொடுந்துயரப் பட்டியலை, இந்த சமூகத்தின் முன்பாகப் பதிவு செய்ய, ஜனநாயகத்தின் நான்கு தூண்களில் ஒன்றான ஊடகங்களை நம்பி அவர்கள் காத்திருந்தார்கள்.

ஆனால், குறித்த நேரம் தாண்டியும் பத்திரிகையாளர்கள் என்று அறியப்பட்ட யாருமே அங்கு வரவில்லை.

நட்பு ரீதியாகவோ அல்லது கருத்து ரீதியாகவோ அக்கறை உள்ள, பத்திரிகை அல்லது ஊடகத்துறை சார்ந்த ஒன்றிரண்டு பேர் வந்து தலைகாட்டிச் சென்றார்கள்.

ஒரு பக்கம் எந்த தொகுதியில் யார் நிற்கப் போகிறார்கள் என்ற பரபரப்பான தகவலை வெளியிட பெரிய கட்சிகளின் தலைமை அலுவலகங்கள் முன்பு ஒரு பத்திரிகையாளர் கூட்டம்.

மற்றொரு பக்கம் ஸ்பெக்ட்ரம் ஊழல் விவகாரத்தில் விசாரிக்கப்பட்ட தொழிலதிபரின் தற்கொலை குறித்து, உடல் வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மருத்துவ மனையின் முன்பாக, படபடக்கும் அபிநயத்தோடு நின்றபடியே, நேரலை மூலமாக விவரிக்கும் துடிப்புள்ள ‘யூத்’ செய்தியாளர்கள்….

இத்தனை களேபரத்தில், அறுபதாண்டுகால ஜனநாயகத்திலும், அடிப்படையான மனித உரிமைகூட கிடைக்கப் பெறாமல் அல்லல் படும் அருந்ததி இன மக்களின் குரலைக் கேட்க நமது ஊடகங்களுக்கு நேரமும், நினைப்பும் இல்லாமல் போனதில் வியப்பில்லை.

தேர்தல் சந்தையின் பெருங்கூச்சலில், ஏதிலிகளின் குரல்கள் முனகலாகக் கூட நம் காதுகளில் விழுவதில்லை என்பதுதானே இந்திய ஜனநாயகத்தின் தனிப்பெரும் மாண்பு …

ஆனாலும், ஆதிக்கசக்திகளைவிட, நசுக்கப்படும் அடித்தட்டு மக்கள் தேர்தல் ஜனநாயகத்தின் மீது இன்னும்கூட அழுத்தமான நம்பிக்கை வைத்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

அதனால்தான், தேர்தல் வரும் போது, தங்களின் தீர்க்கப்படாத குறைகளை கோரிக்கைகளாக அரசியல் கட்சிகளிடம் முறையிடுவதை அவர்கள் வழக்கமாக கொண்டிருக்கிறார்கள்.

அந்த அடிப்படையில்தான், அருந்ததியர் ஆய்வு மையம், அருந்ததியர் மனித உரிமை அமைப்பு ஆகிய இரண்டு அமைப்புகளும் இணைந்து, அருந்ததி இன மக்களின் சார்பாக ஒரு தேர்தல் அறிக்கையை வெளியிட்டன. அதற்கான செய்தியாளர் சந்திப்பு நிகழ்ச்சிதான் அது.

அந்த அறிக்கையை வெளியிட்ட பேராசிரியர் சரசுவதி, அருந்ததி இன மக்களின் இந்த தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் கோரப்பட்டிருப்பது அவர்களது வாழ்வாதார உரிமைகள் மட்டுமல்ல, மிக அடிப்படையான மனித உரிமைகள் ஆகும் என்று தெரிவித்தார்.

இதனை தொகுத்து வெளியிட்ட அந்த அமைப்புகளின் நிர்வாகிகள், “கையினால் மனிதக்கழிவுகளை அகற்றும் கொடுமை மட்டுமே அருந்ததி இன மக்கள் சந்தித்து வரும் பிரச்சனை அல்ல. விவசாயக் கூலிகள், உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு அடிமட்டத் தொழிலாளர்களாக அவர்கள் சந்திக்கும் அவலம் சொல்லிமாளாதது. அவற்றைக் கவனப்படுத்தும் முயற்சியாகவே முதல் முறையாக அருந்ததியர் தேர்தல் அறிக்கையை வெளியிட்டுள்ளோம்” என்றனர்.

பெரும்பாலும் அந்த தேர்தல் அறிக்கையை யாரும் வெளியிடப் போவதில்லை என்பதால், அதில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ள முக்கியமான சில அம்சங்கள் உங்கள் பார்வைக்கு….

· அருந்ததியர் உள் ஒதுக்கீட்டை 6 சதவீதமாக உயர்த்த வேண்டும்.

· அருந்ததியருக்கான 3 சதவீத உள் ஒதுக்கீட்டுப் பணியிடங்களில் அதற்குத் தகுதியான அருந்ததியர் கிடைக்காத பட்சத்தில் ஏனைய தாழ்த்தப்பட்ட பிரிவினரை நியமிக்கும் நடைமுறையைக் கைவிட வேண்டும். பின்னடைவுப் பணியிடமாக அதனைக் கருதி தகுதியான அருந்ததியர் கிடைத்தபின்னரே அந்தப் பணியிடத்தை நிரப்ப வேண்டும்.

· அருந்ததியர்களின் பொருளாதார மேம்பாட்டுக்காக தாட்கோ போன்று வங்கி தொடங்கி அதன் மூலம் அனைத்து வகையான தொழில் களுக்கும் வட்டி இல்லாத கடன் வழங்கவேண்டும்.

· பஞ்சமி நிலங்களை மீட்க அதிகாரம் மிக்க ஆணையம் அமைத்து அதனை மீட்டு உரியவர்களிடம் ஒப்படைக்க வேண்டும்.

· மனிதனின் மலத்தை மனிதனே அள்ளுவதை குற்றவியல் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் தடை செய்ய வேண்டும். அதில் ஈடுபடுத்தப்படுபவர்களுக்கு மாற்றுப் பணிகள் வழங்க தீவிர நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். மனிதக் கழிவுகளை கையினால் அள்ள வற்புறுத்துபவர்கள் மீது குண்டர் தடுப்புச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். ராஜஸ்தான் மாநிலத்தில் உள்ளதைப் போல துப்புரவுத் தொழிலாளர்களுக்கு மறுவாழ்வு ஆணையம் அமைத்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்களுக்கு தலா 10 லட்சம் ரூபாய் வழங்க வேண்டும்.

· தமிழகத்தில் 12 ஆயிரத்து 618 ஊராட்சிகளில் உள்ள துப்புரவுப் பணியாளர்களை முழுநேர அரசுப்பணியாளர்களாக அறிவித்து, அவர்களுக்கு காலமுறை ஊதியம் உள்ளிட்ட சலுகைகள் வழங்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

· புதிய நில உச்சவரம்புச் சட்டம் நிறைவேற்றி, அதன் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் உபரி நிலங்களை அருந்ததி இன மக்களுக்குப் பங்கிட்டுத் தரவேண்டும்.

· ஆதிதிராவிட மாணவர்களுக்கான விடுதிகளின் அவலை நிலையைப் போக்க அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.

· துப்புரவுத் தொழிலாளர்களின் குழந்தைகள் படிக்கமுடியாமல் போவதற்கு அவர்களது வேலை நேரமே காரணமாகும். எனவே குழுந்தைகளை பள்ளிக்கு அனுப்பி பராமரிக்கும் வகையில் அவர்களது வேலை நேரத்தை மாற்றி அமைக்க வேண்டும்.

· அருந்ததியர் குடியிருப்புகளில் அடிப்படை வசதிகளை ஏற்படுத்தித் தர வேண்டும்.

· தமிழகத்தில் தாழ்த்தப்பட்டோருக்கான தனித் தொகுதிகளில் மூன்றில் ஒரு பகுதியை அருந்ததியினருக்கு ஒதுக்க வேண்டும்.

· அருந்ததியினருக்கான உள் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டைக் கண்காணிக்க, அருந்ததி சமூகத்தைச் சேர்ந்த உறுப்பினர்களைக் கொண்ட குழுக்கள் அமைக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

· பல்கலைக் கழக துணைவேந்தர்களாகவும், நீதிபதிகளாகவும் தகுதி உள்ள அருந்ததி இனத்தவர் நியமிக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

· பள்ளிகளில் பெற்றோர் ஆசிரியர் சங்க பொறுப்புகளில், அருந்ததியர் குழந்தைகளின் பெற்றோருக்கு பிரதிநிதித்துவம் வழங்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

இப்படியாக 100 கோரிக்கைகள் அந்த தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் முன்வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

அவற்றில் பெரும்பாலானவை அந்த மக்களால் ஆண்டாண்டு காலமாக முன்வைக்கப்பட்டு வரும் பழைய கோரிக்கைகளே. ஆனாலும் அவை இன்று வரை நிறைவேற்றப்படவில்லை என்பதுதான் வேதனை.

அந்த வகையில் அவை வெறும் கோரிக்கைகள் அல்ல. ஆயிரமாயிரம் ஆண்டுகளாக ஒடுக்கப்பட்டு, வஞ்சிக்கப்பட்ட அந்த அப்பாவி மக்கள் கூட்டத்தின் அவலக்குரல்.

ஈனஸ்வரத்தில் ஒலிக்கும் அந்த எளியமக்களின் துயரக்குரலை அரசியல் கட்சிகள் கண்டு கொள்ளாமல் போகலாம். ஊடகங்களுமா?

டாம்பீகமும், கூச்சலும் மிகுந்த நமது ஜனநாயக அமைப்பில் இது போன்ற ஏதிலிகள் அனாதையாக்கப்படுவதும், அதற்கு நான்காவது தூண்களான ஊடகங்கள் துணை போவதும் நல்லதல்ல.

மேனா. உலகநாதன்

நன்றி தினமலர் - செய்திமலர் (நெல்லைப் பதிப்பு)

Sumangali thittam tamil news -English translation

2011-02-28T04:34:00.000-08:00

PUTHIYA PARVAI
Fortnightly-Feb 01-15-2011 SAMAKALATHIN MUGAM
( PUTHIYA PARVAI means New Vision )
( SAMAKALATHIN MUGAM means Contemporary Face)
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Sumangali Thittam ? (Thittam=scheme)
Scarred women of Cotton-mill
Para 1,2 &3
In various cotton -mills of Tamil Nadu, as per the Department of Labour Welfare Department 38000 and as per the Labour Unions and Non governmental Organitations’ statistics 400000 young women are working under the scheme ‘Sumangali Thittam’ . These women are given low wages for more work ; no extra wages are given for their over-time work and are compelled to continue in work. They are forbidden from getting the rights of workers under the Labour Union movement. Less sleep, physical tiredness and sexual harassment are the other tortures suffered by them.
Para 4
In the Indian economy, the cotton industry has acquired a very big place. This industry’s share in the’Industrial Production’ is 14% and it is 5% in the Gross National Production ; as foreign exchange income based on the National Income of production it is 20% which is in the field of garment manufacturing industry. As per the 2009 statistics of the Tamil Nadu government alone there are 839 working units of cotton based mills here. Thus, the cotton based industry trumpets every where ,even in small villages.
Para 5
The lure for running knitting industry in Tamil Nadu, which began in Tirupur has spread even to small villages. Today this industry is beginning to dominate even the agriculture based localities, like Gobichettipalayam. People are hunted in clusters for work, from various places by giving separate bus transportation facility to them. Agricultural workers who are lured by cotton mill work and joining there are being extracted work and are thrown out as a trash latter.
Para 6
Due to the introduction of th ‘ free trade’ policy in 1996 in India, the number of working women(labourers) has increased in the cotton-mill industry. ‘Getting more work for paying low-wages ‘ was the motive of the owners of the industry. As per the rules and regulations of the Labour Act, this kind of their motive was not reachable. Later, a Women Worker’s Welfare Commission which was formed by the Tamil Nadu Government recommended the ‘Sumangaly Thittam’ and that was the cause of the breach of the above labour law. As a bonded-labour type of scheme, this Sumangali Thittam is aimed at and is being implemented, specifically among the unmarried young women. To purchase more work at low pay is it’s motive.
(2)
Para 7
This scheme was first introduced in Udumalpet of Tirupur district and was extended later to places of Tirupur, Coimbatore and Dindigal districts. As per this scheme, a promise is given that at the end of the third year of service, a sum of Rupee 30000 will be given to the young woman who worked under this scheme by a contract.
Para 8
The parent of a girl child have great happiness in arranging a marriage for her when she has grown and see her go to live with her husband. This kind of act is sweeter than honey for them. But, to these people who are in the clutches of poverty , though it is their duty, the burden of arranging marriage for their daughters is heavier than that of a mountain. For this reason, many a parents stop the studies of their girl children in the middle of the course and send them for work..and the brokers are always there in search of these people.
Para 9
The brokers say to the parents in attracting words , “ Look here, don’t worry as you have given birth to female children; for you relief only there is the scheme called ‘Sumangali thittam’ ; send your daughter to work for 3 years ; she would get hostel accommodation, boarding in canteen and when she completes the period and comes out from work, we would give rupees 30000 towards her marriage “.
Para 10
Labour union leaders as well as social service activists say that this is a new type of bonded-labour scheme. As these workers are striving hard in the cotton mills, they have a situation of meeting their parents only once in six months which is like the condition of a caged parrot.
Para 11
When the Coimbatore Social Research Centre had conducted a research study on this matter about the working environment, type of existing cruelties on them and the health problems of the women and children working in the cotton mills at Erode, Coimbatore, Tirupur. Dindigul and Virudhunagar where the Arundhatiyar community people live in large and had found out that only those who are under the conditions of poverty, debt burden and unemployment are the scape-goats for this scheme. In specific, among those who work under the ‘sumangali scheme’ 70% are of scheduled caste (S.C) communities; of this percentage, 40% belongs to Arundhatiyar community and the rest of 30% belongs to other S.C community people who are poor.
Para 12
For bringing women to work under this scheme, the brokers get Rupees 3000/woman. For doing this research a sample of 250 Arundhatiyar girl workers were selected, 50 from each district. According to them, many have come to work under this scheme due to their family circumstances. Many parents have put their daughters under this scheme because of their inability to arrange marriage for them. 10% of the Arundhatiyar community women workers were below the age of 14 years; 9% of them were illiterates and only 30% of them have studied up to 8th class.( standard/grade).It has come to known that 48% of them have joined work through the brokers; further, 86% of them work for more than 8 hours per day. It was clear that 8% of them work for 12 hours to 16 hours and they are compelled to do so; In the work-place, 82% of them were in tears as they were scolded with harsh words by the supervisors ; 5% of them have informed that there were incidents of sex harassment on their fellow workers.
Para 13
Among these workers, 23% have said that the food they are supplied with, the bath room and lavatory facilities are bad. Most of them, don’t get benefits like bonus, provident fund, gratuity and medical aid.
Para 14
It is a torture that even after the completion of the contract term of work, 11% of them are not even paid, Rupees 30000 which was promised by the owners . Though it is said that ‘sumangali thittam’ is meant for the marriage assistance of the young women, many of them have lost even their normal life due to this scheme. As examples for this, we can refer the lives of Thulasimani and Devi who are deserted now.
Para 15
. Thulasimani belongs to Arundhatiyar community who had to stop her studies due to her family circumstances, after doing 4th class; at the age of 18 years she was fluttering like a young bird and with many dreams in her mind she joined in work under the ‘sumangali scheme’. But it is a pity that at the age of 22years, she has the appearance of a 62 year old woman. She says that just to avoid giving burden to her parents on her marriage, she had chosen the work under this scheme. But now she feels vexed that she could not get married hereafter to anybody, because she is very weak and unable to walk even. She has become a burden to her parents now. She states, “ As I had to do the work standing all the time(in the work place) my leg muscles got twitched and now am unable to walk”. Further she told that they didn’t get leave other than week-end holidays; even on these holidays they were given different kind of works to do; the owners extracted work even from those who were asleep after awakening them.
Para 17
Devi belongs to Periyur, a village near Sathyamangalam town. There was engagement for her marriage when she had completed her term of service under the ‘Sumangali Thittam’. Just before a week to her marriage day, she suffered a stomach-ach and was admitted in an hospital. The reason for her illness was that while she was working in the mill, cotton-dust had entered her body through her breath. Her proposed marriage itself was stopped due to this reason.
Para 18
Mr. Narayanasamy , the Director of the ‘Social Research centre who conducted a study on this scheme has said that it is nothing but ‘Bonded labour scheme’ has been given a nick name as ‘Sumangali Thittam’ and it is favourable to the owners of the mills and unfavourable to the workers by shattering the dreams and future of many young women.
Para 19
Many shocking news were got when enquiries were made on this scheme with 250 persons belonging to 5 different districts. According to him, it being a torturing scheme , it should be banned; recommendations of the ‘Visaka’ committee should be implemented instead which would protect the safety of the working women; the women who under the scheme ‘sumangali thittam’ should be absorbed as permanent workers or else the Government should give guarantee for their livelihood; this could be the ultimate solution for the sufferers. Further he says that if the Government’ is ori ented towards the wellbeing of these workers, it should ban this scheme immediately.
Para 20
For receiving further details of this scheme, when Mr.Karuppu samy who belongs to the Arudhatiyar Human Rights Organization was enquired, he gave the following details:- Brokers are aiming at the people of Arundhatiyar community because the latter are economically backward; Devi and Thulasimani who were affected by this scheme were not even given the Provident Fund. The owners of the cotton mills had refused to give funds for their medical expenses too.
Para 21
Today there are many people striving for to get money even towards their medical expenses as those of the cases of Devi and Thulasimani; it is not known why this situation is not felt by the eyes of the Government; On this matter four researches were conducted by the Arundhatiyar Rights Development Centre ; the affected women were sent to represent their grievances in an enquiry which was conducted by the Women Rights Commission. Further he said that this scheme should be banned, otherwise the life of many young women would be under the question mark.
Para22
Different workers’ unions had unitedly fought for and brought-forth higher wages and holiday provisions to the regular workers. The owners of the mills who were affected by these provisions began to recruit women in great numbers in order to reduce the amount of expenses towards workers.
Para 23
It is, as per the Labour Act that women should not be engaged in work after 06.00 P.M in any industry. To over come this problem, the owners of the mills had thought of a plan and filed a case in the court of law, which relates on a demand that women should be given equal rights to work in mills at par with men workers. This brought an amendment in the labour act that has benefitted the owners. By this correction in the act women are being employed in all sorts of work as those of men -workers . As per the labour act, pregnant woen should be given leave with wages. The sumangali scheme, which was recommended by a commission formed by the Government itself, provides a means of evasion to the owners from the above situation; it induces them to employ unmarried women in large numbers (instead of married women/ men workers) in their industries.This situation is favourable to the owners and unfavourable to the people.
Para 24
The labour-unions and the voluntary organizations opine that this scheme is a new sort of ‘bonded labourer’ scheme. Even then, a promise is given that those who are employed under this ‘sumangali Thittam’ would be given Rupees 30000 to Rupees 50000 after the completion of the third year of work.

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Sumangali thittam - Marriege scheme -Affected young Dalit (Arunthathiyar) girls in spining mills

2011-02-08T05:05:00.000-08:00

In the name of sumangali thittam young Dalit girls affected in spinning mills .The young girls trageded by agents .The company will announces for three years Rs.30000 for marrege but in between they sent back to home .because they identify the some mistakes .
This comapany conditions young girls not fit for their merige .This issue published in Puthiya parvai Tamil monthly book .

Straggle by women

2011-01-17T02:08:00.000-08:00

Our Sakkiyar women federation organized the straggle for against stop the wine shop .This straggle near 1000 women come together they did .After they given memorandum to government officials at Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam .

சாக்கிய பொங்கல் மனிதம் ஆக்கிய பொங்கல்

2011-01-15T20:09:00.001-08:00

சாக்கிய பொங்கல் மனிதம் ஆக்கிய பொங்கல்

கோவணங்கள் கிழிந்து தொங்கும் ...பகல் நிர்வாணம்...
..இடுப்பில் நிற்காது விழும் ஆடை ..வயிற்றில் வறுமைக்கோடு !
..நாணம்கொலும் நாங்கள் நடந்தே வளர்த்த பூமி ..
எங்கள் குரல் கேட்டு தலையாட்டும் கார்நெல் விளைச்சல் ...
..வியர்வை வாசத்தில் விடைகாணும் தைமாசம் ...

...வழிபிறக்கும் தை பிறந்தால் ...அவர்க்கு ...
..முழி பிதுங்கும் மெய்மறந்து எமக்கு .. ....
மூட்டையில் ஏற்றிய நெல் அவர்க்கு ...பலம் ...
..மூலையில் ஒதுங்கும் பதடு எமக்கு ....புலம் ...

மாடுகளை முத்தமிட்டு மதகில் நீர் ஊட்டி ..
..ஏரிக்கரை பிரண்டைசெடி மாலை பூட்டி ...
..மீந்த வெல்லக்கட்டி மெதுவாய் இடித்த பச்சை நெல் ...
..எட்டி ஒடித்த கரும்பு ..எரவாணத்தில் தொங்கும் மாவிளை...
படர்ந்து தின்று பசியடங்கும் எம் குலத்தில்...
..கருப்பாய் ஒதுங்கி கிடக்கும் போதி முத்துக்கள் நாங்கள் ....

.......ஜனவரி மாதத்தில் முகவரி தரும் புத்தாண்டில் ...
சலங்கை ஒளி வீசி லாடம் இசையில்....
.... ஆடும் மாடுகள் எங்கள் நெருங்கிய உறவு ...

..அவற்றோடு ....
...குப்பைமேனி கீரை சூழ்ந்து கொடிவிட்டு காய்க்கும் ..
...சுரை ..பூசணி ..பரங்கி ..எங்கள் உணவு ...

வேர்விடும் முன் நீர்கேட்டு நிக்கும் பயிர்க்கு...
..எம் மண்வெட்டி காட்டும் திசை ..தம்மவெட்பநிலை ...
சுடுகாட்டு மண்மேடுகள் எல்லை இடும் ..
....விடை கேட்டு நிற்கும் முனி சாமிக்கு ..............

மண்டையில் ஒரு கனவு ...அரக இலை வடிவாய் ...
ஒரு யானை -காது சாமி எலும்பு தெரிய தவமிருக்க ...
...யாரோ ஒரு பூசாரி கத்திக்கொண்டு தாக்கவர...
ஒரு சொல் அவனை தடுத்தது...அது என்ன சொல் ...என்ன சொல் ...
...என்பதற்குள் பச்சை நீரை இவன் மூஞ்சியில் .....
....ஊற்றி கலைத்தது யார் நான்காம் சாமத்து காதையை.........
..
புரிந்து விட்டது இவன் தினம் பசியோடு உறங்கும் ..
..அரச (அரக) மரத்தில் எதோ நம் முன்னோரின் ஆவி இருக்கிறது .என?
..நான் யார் என கேள்வி ....தானாய் வந்தது .......

சாதியில்லாமல் ஆதியில் வந்தகுலம் ...
....சாக்கியபுத்தன் ஆக்கிய குலம் .........
...சாதியை பார்த்து பொங்கலிடும் சாக்கடை மதம் அடக்க ..
..போதியாய் வந்த பூர்வீக குலம் ........
...ஆவிகள் என புரளி பேசி மனிதம் தின்னும் ...
பொய்களை புரட்டிஅடிக்க புரட்சியாய் பூத்த புத்தகுலம்.........

லும்பினி தந்த விதை எங்கள் மன மேடுகளில் ..
...இதய வடிவாய் ஒட்டிக்கொண்ட அரகமர இலையின் கீழ் ..
......அவதரிக்கும் நாங்களும் பிக்குகளே ....

ஓட்டை வண்டியை ஒதுக்கி ஓட்டியும்...
..சாட்டையால் அடித்தான் ஒரு ஒட்டுண்ணி இந்து ..
ஊர்வழி ஏன் வந்தாய் என கேள்வியும் கேட்டான்...
....சேரிகளில் பொங்கல் வேடிக்கை பார்ப்பதே ...
ஊர்களில் பொங்கல் உற்சாகம் கொள்வதே !

..மாடு சொன்னது பதில் என் மகராசன் கருப்பா போ போ!
.............அவன் ஒரு நோயாளி என ?
என்ன நோய் என நான் வினவ ..
..அட அது சாதி நோய் என சத்தமின்றி சொன்னது மாடு !

....சுடுகாடு போகும் வழியில் யார் வைத்தது செடி(அரகசெடி) ...
உண்மையை மறைக்க ஊர்கூடி செய்த வழி ..
...பிணம் ஊரும் தெருவில் சாக்கியமுனியே ...
..கனம் கண்டு கிடக்கும் எம் சினம் திணித்த சிரம் ..
....சீ ...இந்து வாடை ஒரு புறம் ....

...மின்சார கம்பிகள் பட்டு காய்ந்து விழும் இலையில் ..
..உன் சாரம் உள்ளதடா சித்தார்த்தா .....
..இது ராமனின் குஞ்சிகள் போட்ட சதி பட்டை ..(சாதி பட்டை ) ....
..மாட்டு கொம்புகள் வண்ணம் கூட சீலத்தின் சின்னம் ......
தலையாட்டி செல்லும் காளைகள் சொல்லும் ...
...தம்மமே உன் தலைமுறை வெல்லும் .....

அதோ ஆசை துறந்த ஆதியின் பயணத்தில் ...
....வீசும் வந்தனகாற்று ...
...சரணமும் கச்சாமியும் ..எங்கசாமி ...
..சாத் சாத் என அடங்கும் எங்கள் பசி .......

கறி நாள் என சொல்லி வெறி பிடிக்கும் ...
...காசில்லாத பொங்கல் விழா ...அட ...
...ஆசை இல்லா மனிதர் நம் முன்னோர் போட்ட ..
...பாசமடா தம்பி பவுத்தம் .....

எலும்பு வலை தெரியும் ...இனி உண்மை புரியும் ...
......சுவாசம் விட்டு விட்டு சோதனை செய்யும் ....
நடை தளரும் ..சிரம் அதிரும் ..கை மடங்கும் ..கால் துவளும் ...
..குரல் பல் சிறையில் சிக்கி சிதைந்து போகும் ..
..பார்வை தோல் பைகளுக்குள் சமாதியாகும் ....
....சீலா பண்ணா சமாதி ...
...என ஒரு மெய்பாடல் ஊரும் உன் உயிரில் .....

...போகி நாளில் எரித்து விட்டார்கள் உன் வரலாற்றை
பின் பொங்கல் நாளில் உனக்கு பசியே மிஞ்சும் ...
..உன் பசி உணவுக்கானதல்ல ..உண்மைக்கானது ....
..உன் தாகம் நீருக்கானதல்ல ...
...சாதியில் சிக்கிய மக்கள் மீட்கும் தம்மா போருக்கானது ...

அசோகனை நினைத்து வருந்தாதே ....
...அவன் ஆவி உன்னில் புகுந்தால் ...
...ஆயிரம் கலின்கங்கள்...குருதி கோர்த்து தொங்கும் பாரதத்தில் ...
...இந்திய நதிகள் பின் சிகப்பாய் ஓடும் ....

புரியும் ...எனக்கும் ...
....உனைப்போல் தினம் பசிக்கும் ...
.............உன் அடுப்பு இன்று எரியாது போனது ....
...வரலாற்றில் திருடப்பட்ட உன் தீகுச்சியைகேள்...
....எங்கே எரிகிறாய் என ?

ஆசை வெறி கொண்ட சாதி எனை வாரி வந்தது ...
...ஆதி மனிதனே என்னை மன்னித்திடு ....
...நீ எதிர்த்து பேசவில்லை ..
.....அள்ளிதந்தாய்...
...ஒரு மண் பாத்திரம் மட்டும் கொண்டு ..
...நீண்டு கிழிந்து தொங்கும் ஆடையோடு ...
...நீயும் நடந்தாய் ....நீண்ட தூரம் ...
..................அய்யோ ...உனக்கு உணவில்லையா...
,,,என இந்து அடுப்பில் இருந்த விறகு அழுதது .....

....சாத் சாத் ....
நமோ தசோ அரகதோ பகவதோ ...
..நமோ தசோ அரகதோ பகவதோ ...
....புத்தம் சரணம் கச்சாமி ...
தம்மம் சரணம் கச்சாமி ....
...சங்கம் சரணம் கச்சாமி
...சீலா பண்ணா சமாதி ...
...என வெளிவராது ஒரு குரல் இவனை ஆட்கொள்ள ...
...............வேறு வடிவாய் கேட்டது வெளியில் ...

......நீட்டினான் பாத்திரத்தை நிலை மயங்கி ......
ஒரு குத்து சோறு ....உண்டு ...
...........பொழுது முடிய ....இருட்டு பரவியது ...
.....பசியோடு மீண்டும் ..அரக நிழலில் ...
....வீரிட்டு தெறித்த இவன் ஒளியால் மின் கம்பிகள் கண் சிமிட்டின ...
...................விபசன்னா வடிவில் உடல் படிய .........
................சாத் சாத் ....என அடங்கிட .........

ஊர் கூடி நின்றது ...
....சேரியில் ஒருவன் பரிநிர்வாணம்...
.....................சாதி மறந்து சொன்னது மக்கள் ....
..சாத் சாத் ...
....புத்தம் .........தம்மம்...............சங்கம் .......என

....இது .....
.......சாதி எதிர்த்த சாக்கிய பொங்கல் ...
.........மதவெறி அடக்கி மனிதம் ஆக்கிய பொங்கல் .............

...... வீரமணி

Study on Arunthathiyar children -Findings

2010-12-06T06:03:00.000-08:00

Study on Arunthathiyar children

Manual scavenging impact on Children :
•24% children dropped out from school; 3/4th were boys and 1/4th were girls.
•28 children (upto 18 years of age) from 200 Arundhatiyar families were working.
7 worked in agricultural farms; 12 worked in construction sites, factories and sales jobs.
•There was a high rate of indebtedness of all Arundhatiyar manual scavengers-ranging from below Indian rupees-10,000 to above 60,000. In the villages, large number of families had a debt of Indian rupees- 20,000; In municipalities- Indian rupees 30,000.
•Most loans were taken for the following three categories: medical, construction of homes and education.
•Irony of the situation was that none of the Arunthatiyar families covered under the study in the villages had toilets at home. Only less than half of the families had toilets in municipality or corporations.

School discrimination :

Majority of the students' parents (534) were daily wage earners working as coolie in various sectors.

262 children reported being abused and discriminated on the basis of their caste name.

607 children reported cleaning the schools bathrooms.

148 children reported doing the house hold work of their teachers.

228 children reported being sexually harassed in schools.

Almost 50% of children were denied scholarships opportunities.

532 children dropped out of schools mainly as a result of the discrimination and harassment.

Sumnagali Thittam:
•Almost 85% of the girls worked for more than 12 years.
•1/5th of the children who were working under the Sumangali scheme were illiterate.
•Almost 48% of the girls were enrolled into the scheme through the agents residing in the area and approaching the families.
•Most of the girls (around 98%) quoted ‘poverty’ as the reason for joining

the Sumangali Scheme.

•Nearly half of the girls under the Sumangali Scheme had worked or had been working with an agreed amount of Indian rupees 30,000/- after an aggregate agreement period of three years.
•The nature of work involved long hours of standing (around 12 hours) and working with bare hands operating dangerous machines. Nearly all girl children were forced to work and faced verbal and physical abuse.
Bonded children issue:
•50% of Arunthatiyar children dropped out of schools-mostly 5th standard onwards.
•36% of the children were separated from their family, this category of children were living with single parent or their grandparent or relatives.
•Amount of loan taken by the parents of the bonded child laborer-almost 71% of the loan size between 10 to 50 thousand Indian rupees.
•29% of the loan size was above 50 thousand Indian rupees.
•Nearly 3/4thof child bonded laborers monthly income was one thousand and five hundred Indian rupees.
•1/4th of child labourers earned an income of below 2 thousand Indian rupees.
•A child started working as early as 6 years of age; most children started working from ten years and above.
•Normal working hours were 11 hours-from dawn to dusk.
•Almost all 35 children reported caste discrimination at workplace by the employers-being called derogatively by their caste identity; practice of dual tumbler system; separate bed, food etc was followed for these children by their upper caste employers.

Government department has caste based discrimination

2010-11-12T21:47:00.001-08:00

Dr.Jaya .He is belongs to Dalit community .He discriminated in Government hospital .Also fales complaint charged against him .He was suspended .But he fight against discrimination and fales complaint also he demanded for enquiry .12th Nove 2010 .Tirupur Government hospital higher officials did enquiry .During that time he play the drums to enquiry .

This is a situation if Dalits will get higher jobs in private and government they will always discriminate in the name of caste .

Therefore let us fight against the caste based discrimination and protect the human rights .

Karuppusamy

SKA-Bus yatra -Kaniyakumari to Delhi for Manual scavening eradication in India

2010-10-16T06:28:00.000-07:00

In the name of caste discrimination happening every minutes and hour in India .Among Manual scavenging is inhuman work .It is a caste based work on Dalits .In Tamilnadu on Arunthathiyars(Dalits) .

It has to be eradicate with in December 2010 .Also SKA demanding 5 Laks for dignified rehabilitation ,

5 Aceres cultivate land for rehabilitation with other demand .

Therefore as a human being let us hand join them for eradication of manual scavenging ,and protect the human rights .

Rally web link :
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=35660&id=100000292101514&l=533608f4d0

Arunthathiyar children cleaning toilets

2010-10-10T03:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

We can able to understand the caste based discrimination till existing in India every where.But in government schools has different groups among children for conman work for school .But always our Arunthathiyar children get cleaning group .Because of Arunthathiyar community is a manual scavenging community in Tamilnadu .Therefore school teachers doing discrimination on Arunthathiyar children .So all ways our children have to do school toilets cleaning .This should be eradicate in India .Also we not publish children name and school

“Arunthathiyars' kids destined to do conservancy work”

2010-10-10T00:33:00.000-07:00

http://www.hindu.com/2010/10/10/stories/2010101061230300.htm

The Hindu news

“Arunthathiyars' kids destined to do conservancy work”

Special Correspondent

Discrimination begins at school

YATRA:Members of the Safai Karmachari Andolan voicing their demands in the city on Friday.

MADURAI: Discrimination of Arunthathiyars began at school with children being asked to clean utensils and toilets, said members of Safai Karmachari Andolan, a movement for elimination of manual scavenging, on Friday.

Addressing a press conference here, members of the andolan, who are on a yatra from Kanyakumari to New Delhi, alleged that the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993 remained only on paper and even officials were unaware of its existence. A. Renuga of Porayar, child of conservancy workers, said that she was asked to clean the toilets and vessels used in noon meal scheme while at school. Though she had managed to study an undergraduate course in the distance education mode, she was not able to make a choice either in studies or career. Karuppasamy of Sathiyamangalam said that children of Arunthathiyars were destined to undertake conservancy work and they were not given a choice even at the Plus One level. Sakthivel of Sivakasi pointed out that children who wanted to study to escape from scavenging work had to do it at school. The plates used to serve noon meal for Arunthathiyar children were marked in black paint, he said.

D. Velanganni, State Convenor, who is leading the yatra, said that their objective was to wean the members of Arunthathiyar community away from scavenging and provide appropriate rehabilitation for them. Though the State Government, in 2003, had denied the existence of manual scavenging in Tamil Nadu, a 2008 survey identified 28 manual scavengers in Nagapattinam district. A 2009 survey found that 174 persons were involved in manual scavenging in 13 districts across the State, he added.

People who had given up manual scavenging had joined the yatra with the intention of motivating others to come out of the inhuman practice. Rajamanickam of Ramanathapuram said that many of the social problems could be solved by putting an end to manual scavenging. Arunthathiyar children were treated as untouchables in classrooms and hence there was a high drop out rate among them.

The yatra, called ‘Periyar Pathai,' is one among the five yatras taken out from different parts of the country to New Delhi. It will culminate in a rally on October 28. The demands of the participants include demolition of dry latrines, implementation of the 1993 Act, award of punishment under SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for those who forced people into manual scavenging and a comprehensive rehabilitation package.

Launching of Samajik Parivartan Yatra

2010-10-02T01:10:00.000-07:00

Launching of Samajik Parivartan Yatra
(For Eradication of Manual Scavenging in India)

Press Release

The Samajik Parivartan Yatra has been flagged off on Wednesday 29th Septmber, 2010 in New Delhi. The liberated safai karmacharis Saroj, Maya Goutam, Anita,Neetu and Mamata from various states released the route maps and demands to symbolise the beginning of Yatra.

Speaking on the occasion, Saroj and others shared their own experiences of pain and suffering associated with manual scavenging. They narrated how they were inducted into the degrading jobs by their mothers or mother-in-laws, who were doing the same jobs from generation to generation. They explained how the dry latrine owners and users and the general public practised untouchability on them. Now that they have stopped doing the manual scavenging work, they feel liberated and are determined to carry the message to all other safai karamcharis in their respective districts and states. Saroja vowed not to rest until the last person is liberated from manual scavenging in this country. They are proud of their participation in rallies, dharnas and burning the baskets, the symbols of the shame of manual scavenging.

Mr. Harsh Mander, renowned intellectual, Social Activist and member of the National Advisory Council commended SKA for mobilising the safai karmacharis and inspiring them to accomplish their liberation and simultaneously enabling the country as a whole to envision a manual scavenging free India. He appreciated SKA for taking the path of persuasion and adopting the legal route to achieve their noble goal, in a non-violent way.

Ms. Usha Ramanathan, an accomplished legal expert and Legal Reform Activist felt that the struggle of Safai Karmacharis under the leadership of SKA will go down in history as phenomenal. A hitherto voiceless people have rallied together from the nooks and corners of India and have made tremendous progress within a short span of time to achieve near total eradication of manual scavenging.

Samajik Parivartan Yatra_routes released by liberated Safai Karmacharis in New Delhi Press club.jpg Saroj,Mamata,Maya,Netu,Anita release Posters.JPG

Saroj,Anita,Maya,Neetu and Mamata launching Samajik Parivartan Yatra & releasing posters

Chennai -Dharna for Annauniversity Arunthathiyar gril sucide by ragging

2010-09-24T07:55:00.000-07:00

AHRF -Arunthathiyar human rights forum done a dharna at chennai on 21st sept for Anna University Arunthathiyar girl suicide by ragging .

Dharna Invitation on Anna University Arunthathiyar Jothi suicide at Chennai on 21st Sept -Evening 3 Pm to 5Pm

2010-09-16T07:45:00.000-07:00

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2. N[hjpapd; FLk;gj;jpw;F e\;l/-yl;rk; toq;F> mthpd; FLk;gj;jpy; xUtUf;F muR Ntiy nfhL.

3. midj;J gs;sp kw;Wk; fy;Y}hpfspYk; jypj; khzt-khztpah;fSf;F r%f kdeyg; gapw;rp (Psychosocial Care) nfhL>

4. Kjy; jiyKiwahf gs;sp> fy;Y}hp nry;Yk; mUe;jjpah; khzt-khztpfSf;F ghJfhg;Gf; nfhL>

5. khztp N[hjp kuzk; gw;wp nra;jpahsh;fSf;F jtwhf jfty; nfhLj;Jf; nfhz;bUf;Fk; mz;zh gy;fiyf;fof Jiz Nte;jh; kd;dh;. [t`h; kPJ SC/ST tz;ndhLik jLg;Gr; rl;lj;jpd; fPo; eltbf;if vL.

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mUe;jjpah; kdpj chpik mikg;G – jkpo;ehL

njhlh;Gf;F : 9865045020

Arunthathiyar Gril student suside - Fact finding press release

2010-09-09T03:36:00.000-07:00

Vanakkam!!!

Our AHRF team went to fact finding to Ms.Jothi suside.She is studying first year at Annaunivercity .She is belongs to Arunthathiyar community .She is a first student entering college .She suside because of ragging .

Our team did fact finding ,The report release to press .

The new indian express published our report .

http://expressbuzz.com/topic/au-student-suicide-row-snowballs/205167.html

AU student suicide row snowballs

G Saravanan

First Published : 09 Sep 2010 03:50:36 AM IST

Last Updated : 09 Sep 2010 08:48:09 AM IST

CHENNAI: A fact-finding team of the Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF) on Wednesday claimed that M Jothi, a first-year engineering student from the community who committed suicide at her village a few days ago, was forced to take the extreme step due to ill-treatment meted out to her on the college campus.Taking suo motu cognizance of the incident, the four-member AHRF team, including a woman, visited Jothi’s village Mullukurichi near Namagiripettai in Namakkal on Monday and conducted an inquiry into the events that led to the suicide.Speaking to Express, K Kumar, a team member, said, “After speaking to about 200 families in the village, including the victim’s, it became evident that she was ill-treated at Anna University because of her community and her classmates ragged her.”Elaborating the findings, Kumar said, “For two weeks before she committed suicide, Jothi had been calling her father Mathavan, a driver, and brother Deepak and informing them about the ill-treatment.”Out of desperation, Jothi also contacted her neighbour (at the village), who helped her to continue education, and informed her about her plight, Kumar said.The fact-finding team also found that Jothi hadn’t initially intended to visit her village. But the humiliation forced her to come home to meet her family.According to Jothi’s brother Deepak, ever since she returned home, she was in a state of trauma and continued weeping the whole day.A two-page report with recommendations seeking immediate action against those students who drove her to take the extreme step would be handed over to the Namakkal district collector on Thursday, Kumar said.

Karuppusamy

State consulataion on status of Arunthathiyar children

2010-09-01T07:03:00.000-07:00

This is the first state level consultation on Arunthathiyar children in Arunthathiyar history .30th August we did Tamilnadu state level consultation on status of Arunthathiyar children conducted at Chennai ,ICSA centre ,It was very good response from different region participants ,We invited NGOs ,State level networks,Campaign organizations ,College professors , Media and Arunthathiyar community leaders .

This is a historical consultation in Tamilnadu ,as special for Arunthathiyar children .We released four study books and we had four study presentation ,based on that interaction with participants .

Last panel was recommendation and plan of action .This panel facilitated by Fr.Manu Director social watch .We got recommendation and plan of action through this consultation ,Therefore we are going to advocacy on children issues ,Sumangalithittam,Bonded children issue,School discrimination ,and manual scavenging children issue .

Call to abolish bonded labour among children

2010-08-31T09:03:00.000-07:00

http://expressbuzz.com/topic/call-to-abolish-bonded-labour-among-children/202646.html
Call to abolish bonded labour among children

Express News Service

First Published : 31 Aug 2010 03:18:32 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2010 09:02:09 AM IST
CHENNAI: The State-level consultation on the status of Arunthathiyar children in Tamil Nadu-India has unanimously recommended the immediate abolition of children forced into bonded labour, to protect their future.
In a meet organised by Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)-TN here on Monday, more than 100 representatives including 50 intellectuals from different parts of the state unanimously resolved to send 21 recommendations to the state government to protect the human rights of children from the community.
Coordinator of AHRF R Karuppusamy told Express, “A special plan has to be evolved by the state government for abolition of child bonded labour among the Arunthathiyar community across the state.”
Besides suggesting a claim policy for release of bonded labourers from the community, Karuppusamy demanded that a special education package be worked out for the children to prevent them from bonded labour due to family compulsions or caste.
In its 21 recommendations, the consultation meet strongly pitched for the abolition of scavenging by Arunthathiyar children. “The children should not be made to do any scavenging activity in any school or institution. Necessary order has to be passed by the government and any school or institution in which any person is found violating this norm should be punished and penal action taken against them,” Karuppusamy said.
We will be meeting Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin in mid-September to hand over these recommendations, he added.

Arunthathiyar students discriminated: Study

2010-08-31T09:00:00.000-07:00

http://expressbuzz.com/topic/arunthathiyar-students-discriminated-study/202647.html

G Saravanan
Express News Service
First Published : 31 Aug 2010 03:19:33 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Aug 2010 08:59:52 AM IST
CHENNAI: In a startling revelation, a 13-month field study conducted by the Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)-TN has revealed that children from the Arunthathiyar community are the most discriminated against in schools.
A study on ‘Exploring the discrimination and caste-based violence aimed at Arunthathiyar children in schools’ conducted by AHRF and released on Monday has vindicated the community’s claim of being discriminated against at every level. The study had begun in February 2009 and was completed in March this year.
Coordinator of AHRFR R Karuppusamy said,“with the help of volunteers from different areas, we conducted the study at 24 villages selected from five districts--Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Sivaganga and Tuticorin--and recorded testimonials of 666 Arunthathiyar students in the age group of 11-14 studying in government schools.”
The focus of the study was to probe into the prevalence of discriminatory practices including caste-based discrimination and exclusion experienced by Arunthathiyar children in schools.
The study has confirmed that Arunthathiyar children are being discriminated against most and forced to do scavenging activities in their schools.
Out of the 666 interviewed, 606 were engaged or forced to clean bathrooms in their schools, noted Karuppusamy.
These ‘activities’ include cleaning the toilets, school premises, vessels used for noon-meals and teacups used by teachers.
The study also found that about 262 of them were being abused and discriminated against on the basis of their caste names while 148 were engaged to do the household chores of their teachers and 228 were being sexually harassed in schools.
The study also suggested various remedial methods to alleviate the problem and to bring back confidence among Arunthathiyar children.
It suggests establishing of a district-level legal advisory forum consisting of Arunthathiyars to bring to the notice of the government issues relating to violence against Arunthathiyar children, child labour or discrimination and caste-based violence.

Tamilnadu state level consualataion on Status of (Dalit) Arunthathiyar children

2010-08-20T22:45:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir/Madam

Greetings from Arunthathiyar human rights forum (AHRF)

One day consultation on “Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu” at ICSA, Chennai on August 30, 2010

Tamil Nadu is also one of the states which has a high population of the Arunthatiyar community. Arunthathiyars are considered to be the lowest in the dalit hierarchy, the ‘Dalit among Dalits’ - the ‘untouchables’. It is one of the most oppressed, depressed and the poorest among the poor in the Indian Society. In Tamil Nadu, Arunthatiyars are densely concentrated in the western districts namely Coimbatore, Erode, Tirupur, Karur, Namakkal, Salem and Dharmapuri districts and loosely spread over in the other parts of the state. There are about 60,00,000 Arunthathiyars in Tamil Nadu. Their children are most exploited and abused and face discrimination at the hands of the upper caste community and lag behind or outside the sphere of quality education, health, development and participation. The United National Convention on the Rights of Children (UNCRC) core principles of promoting survival, development, protection and participation of children still remain a distant reality for the Arunthatiyar children. The children face rampant discrimination and social exclusionary practices like the two tumbler system, forced to clean toilets in schools, calling them by derogatory names and treating them as untouchables takes these children deeper in the web of exploitation and marginalisation. The look of these children indicates that they are impoverished, malnourished and anaemic.

Within this context, Arunthatiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF) has established itself as a state level human rights forum since 2005. It comprises of young Arunthatiyar activists working in 14 community based organisations across 12 districts in western Tamil Nadu. AHRF is working specifically towards creating awareness on discrimination and atrocities against Arunthatiyars; eradication of manual scavenging primarily associated with Arunthatiyars; fighting against the scourge of untouchability. The forum’s strategy has been to mobilise and empower the Arunthatiyar community through the following: document and report caste based atrocities faced by Arunthatiyars to National and State level Human rights Institutions; access to quality primary and higher education for Arunthatiyar children; forming thrift and credit societies towards sustainable economic stability and strengthening Arunthatiyar men and women’s political participation. It conducts periodic trainings and leads on research initiatives to gain a deeper understanding of the status of Arunthatiyar women and children in Tamil Nadu.

Vision:

— To build and strengthen a State level Advocacy and Networking Forum to demand rights and entitlements for the Arunthatiyar community

— Undertake advocacy and lobbying particularly at State, National and International level to address violence, discrimination and exploitation of the Arunthatiyar community

— Assert the social, cultural and political identity of the Arunthatiyar community to ensure non-violation of their fundamental rights

In 2008, four research studies were commissioned by EveryChild[1] through AHRF in order to understand the status of Arundhatiyar children in western Tamil Nadu on the following priority issues:

I. A study to understand the working conditions and context of Arunthatiyar bonded child labourers in Sathyamangalam Block, Erode district-Tamil Nadu

II. A study to understand the occupational impact on the children of manual scavengers from the Arunthatiyar community in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram and Salem Districts-Tamil Nadu

III. A Study to understand the situation of Arunthatiyar girls employed under the Sumangali Thittam Scheme in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Tirupur, and Viruthunagar Districts-Tamil Nadu

IV. A study exploring the discrimination and caste based violence aimed at Arunthatiyar children in schools in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Shivagangai and Tuticorin districts-Tamil Nadu.

In order to share the key findings and recommendations of the four studies and to pave the way forward, AHRF and EveryChild India invites you to attend the one day consultation on the Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu on August 30, 2010 at ICSA (Inter Church Service Association), Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The main objective of the consultation is to launch the four studies, participate in specific sessions on the four issues and suggest recommendations for specific advocacy and campaign on the four issues; strengthen AHRF’s initiatives to demand social justice for the Arunthatiyar community. Please find the concept note for the consultation attached with this invitation.

We request you to confirm your participation at the earliest-before 20^th August, 2010

Contact Mr.Ganesh : 9865045020

Looking forward to hearing from you,

Thanks and regards,

R. Karppusamy

Convenar , AHRF

Till existing manual scavening

2010-08-14T07:33:00.000-07:00

This photo taken by Coimbatore corporation ,We want eradicate caste based inhuman work ,We have to ensure the Arunthathiyar human rights.This photo taken by Imaigal Govindraj and Narayanasamy .

What happen 1993 manual scavenging eradication Act ? ???????????

Tamilnadu state level consulataion meeting inviataion on Arunthathiyar children issue

2010-08-14T07:18:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Arunthathiyer human rights forum (AHRF)

AHRF is state level collective with small Arunthathiyar headed CBOS for collective action .AHRF done four study on
I. A study to understand the working conditions and context of Arunthatiyar bonded child labourers in Sathyamangalam Block, Erode district-Tamil Nadu
...II. A study to understand the occupational impact on the children of manual scavengers from the Arunthatiyar community in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram and Salem Districts-Tamil Nadu
III. A Study to understand the situation of Arunthatiyar girls employed under the Sumangali Thittam Scheme in Coimbatore, Dindigul, Erode, Tirupur, and Viruthunagar Districts-Tamil Nadu
IV. A study exploring the discrimination and caste based violence aimed at Arunthatiyar children in schools in Coimbatore, Erode, Ramanathapuram, Shivagangai and Tuticorin districts-Tamil Nadu
Based on this study we are going to conduct the state level consultation on Status of Arunthatiyar children in Tamil Nadu at Chennai Egmore ,on 30th August ,ICSA centre .
Therefore we will invite to you for this consultation.

Contact number : 9842090035
Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy
Convenar
AHRF

(Dalit) Arunthathiyar cultural night -Photo link

2010-08-12T00:40:00.000-07:00

Dear Sir

Greetings from Arunthathiyar human rights forum (AHRF) !!!

Thank you for your support and solidarity

AHRF is state level collective with small Arunthathiyar headed CBOS for collective action .

Recently AHRF conducted 3rd state level cultural night at Tamilnadu ,Ramweshwaram ,

Our Arunthathiyar movement leaders,Dalit leaders, left leaders ,Cultural teams ,specially Arunthathiyar traditional teams,
They participated .It is a historical event for Arunthathiyar community .Through Art form we mobilise the our Arunthathiyar community ,We demand our rights .

I am given below the cultural night some of photos

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=23352&id=100000292101514&saved

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy
Convenor

Arunthathiyar cultural night Rameshwaram

2010-08-11T22:49:00.000-07:00

Manuela scavenger’s community (Bhangi) Protest in front of Municipality office at Savanur with forming man Extract on their Head, and explored their D

2010-08-03T22:22:00.000-07:00

SAVANUR, HAVERI, DISTRICT-KARNATAKA

Manuela scavenger’s community (Bhangi) Protest in front of Municipality office at Savanur with forming man Extract on their Head, and explored their Denial of Human Rights from Government officers and politicians.

Savanur:

Dalit Human Rights Organizations federation (DHRO) Karnataka and Jana arogy ahandolana (JAAK) Karnataka, Savanur Manual scavengers Incident Fact finding team was visited to savanur on 29^th July 2010, Team Members are Mr.K.B.Obalesh,DHRO/JAAK, Mr. S.Baligar, VRDS, Ranibennur, Mr.Karibasappa, JAAK, Mr. Chandrasekhar, Dalit foundation, New Deli, Mr. Manjunath, Davanagere, Mr. Laksman, Jathi vinash vedike Bangalore were visited on 29^th july 2010,and mobilized the facts,

With this the team Distributed 2 quintal of Rice for Temporary Rehabilitation.

Savnur is a small town thalluka head quarter of Haveri District,Karnataka,around 20KM distance from Haveri, in savanur town there is 14 scheduled cast, (sc, Bhangi) community families are living last from 75 years in kamala bandigi area, near Municipality and Talluka social welfare office, in small Tin sheets tents, Bhangi community main occupation is manual scavenging, cleaning toilets and drainages, and also cleaning of various Governments offices, o officers and staffs Houses toilets, (34 years back Manual scavenging system was eradicate by Governments)present Bhangi families are Migrated from Andrapradesh, Anathapur District, Dharmavaram long back,

6 families of old aged peoples were died with the effect of manual scavenging work in the age of 45-50 years, (10 to 12 years Back) after this fathers and forefathers now present families are containing this occupation,

present the 14 families are living in Kamala bandage area this houses places was contributed from Navab’s, Navab is a king of that local area during Nijam kingdoms, Because of the community was Involving in Manual scavenging work unfortunately 14 families of bhangi have no any documents, but their are living in this place from more then 70 years, present 14 families both men an women’s and children’s, all the men and women’s are youths, Total 15 children’s are there all the children’s 0-16 years old, 02 boys are school drop out, helping there fathers in Manuel scavenging work(Yesu, venkatesh)

There living condition is very bad, there is no toilets, drainage, Water, food security, as well as no any basic amenities, since 70 years . very recently municipality provide one water tap.

Regarding this many times the Bhangi community peoples was given request, memorandums to related officers, but all the officers neglect their applications.

Very recently local municipality and local politician were planned to Demolition the bhangi houses and build a new shopping complex under savanur municipality grants, from that day local Muslim ward members and officials are planned to give torturer for bhangi community women’s and youths, first step is Removing water tap, and open chicken stalls in front of bhangis houses, start throwing Dirty things to bhangi houses, many times bhangis are questioned , and complained to municipality but related officers not taken any action the officers are Involved with local politician, when the manual scavengers questioning by the time started to give torturing and warning , shouting with bad words, and Insulting women’s, and like many type of violence’s,

In the month of January Bhangi community peoples were Given complaints to Divisional Commissioner regarding houses , on 27^th of January the Divisional commissioner was considered their Demand was justices so that he as recomandaded to Haveri District commissioner to take appropriate action,

But DC was not taken any action. From this year many times appealed to municipality and divisional commissioner, finally on 19^th of July Bhangi s are given written application that they are going to start protest in front of Municipality by the time the chief officer shouted and insulted ordered to vacate Immediately from the present place he never shows the alternative place, then the bhangi are start thinking for alternative ways did not find any thing finally start protest in front of

Savaur Municipality office by faring Man extract on their Head and body,

With this Incident Bhangi families are suffered mentally and physically very bad, insulted in publicly children’s and women’s are feels very shames this the Incidents were happen because of

Related officials and local Muslim ward Members torture

Now because of this Incident focused in Media in high level all savanur citizens and officials, ward Members are aware stop torture, at the same time their work stopped no one will not giving work bhangi community families know only work that cleaning man holes, toilets removing man extract,

They do not know any other work, now childrens, old age peoples and women’s are searching for daily food,

Fact Finding Team observations:

From more then 70 years Bhangis Families are engaged in manual scavenging work

Social welfare office is very near to Bhangi houses never observed these families (34 years back Got was eradicated this occupation, social welfare deportment have responsibility to take care of scheduled cast community as well as Bhangi families)

The local Government offices and all offices staffs and officers including police station are utilized to bhangi community for manhole cleaning and manual scavenging work.

last from 70 years this community do not have any type of social security, and minimum basic amenities (PDS Card, voter ID, Job, health facilities, water, drainage systems, and houses)
In Haveri district many places the Bhangi families are engaged in Manual scavenging work but District administration never observed and not taken any action, so for motivating to

Savanur Municipality was not provided any basic amenities for bhangi families why?

In these Incident Many local non Dalit politicians, non Dalits, Got officers are involved to vacate this place from untouchable families.

Savanur Municipality, social welfare department, police dept, District commissioner was violated prevention Atrocity on sc/st act 1989,and Abolition of Manual scavenging act, very clearly

2 children are drop out and supporting their parents in manual scavenging work, so Education department and related departments are violated child Rights

The district administration ignored in providing Basic fundamental rights like PDS,CARD,Voter ID, health facilities, water, sanitation, drainage , houses,

DC was ignored and violated Regional commissioners order dated 27/1/2010,sl.no R.COM.BELGUM,SC-ST/VU-7/09-10,

More then 6 Bhangi families are died in the age of 45-50years.

Recommendations:

Immediately take action and stop manual scavenging system in various part of Karnataka state.

Register criminal case under prevention of sc/st atrocity act1989, on related Got officers, (Municipality, social welfare, police, Haveri DC, Elected representatives, Muslim ward members, and chicken stall owners, and others)

Provide immediately proper houses for 14 Bhangi families at same place, do not Displace 14 families at any cost.

Provide alternative Income generation activities for Bhangi families, at any cost do not allow them to manual scavenging work,

So for Government was promised such development programmers with out fail sanction all the programmers in regular time frame,

Social welfare department should take monitoring role and Implement the Livelihoods for Bhnagi families.
All Bhangi families’ children admit in Reputed Residential schools, like (Navoday, Murargidesai, and Kendriya vidyalaya) and ensure their Higher education.

Immediately provide all Basic Amenities like Voter ID, Ration card, Water and Sanitation systems, Medical checkup, and treatments,

Provide each family 2 Acer of Land for their sustainable Development.

Immediately provide High level Medical treatment for Mr. Krishnappa and other who require treatment,

Reported By K.B.Obalesha

To save their humble homes, protesting Dalits smear themselves with human excreta Protesting Dalits smear themselves with human excreta Savanur (Haver

2010-07-30T02:23:00.000-07:00

To save their humble homes, protesting Dalits smear themselves with human excreta
Protesting Dalits smear themselves with human excreta
Savanur (Haveri dist), July 20, DHNS
What can be said of a system that forces a community to inflict upon themselves the lowest form of humiliation, just so they are allowed to live in their own homes?

A basic right, taken for granted with no second thoughts for many, is a struggle for the Bhangi community in Savanur. The community members went as far as pouring human excreta over themselves, so that their voices are heard and as a sign of protest against those trying to evict them from their homes. Reason For the past 70 years, four families of the Bhangi community, who work as night soil workers, have been living in huts built on land belonging to the Savanur Town Municipal Council (TMC). At a meeting some time ago, the TMC decided to evict the families and build a commercial complex in its place. Ever since, the TMC has employed various devious ways to force the families out of their homes. Starting with an oral directive, the TMC has resorted to cutting water connection to the families, dumping waste in front of their homes, barging into their homes, insulting their women and threatening them. The community members, who are treated as the lowest among the dalits, submitted an appeal to the sub-divisional officer in January against their eviction and have ever since submitted numerous appeals to the government over the past seven months. Finding no sympathisers in the system for their cause, the community members finally resorted to this extreme form of protest on Tuesday. The families submitted an appeal to the Assistant Commissioner on Monday demanding temporary water connection. But they were asked to pay the TMC Rs 2,000 for each connection. Helpless, the community members took out a mock funeral from their homes in Kamala Bangadi to the TMC on Tuesday. At the TMC, three members of the community poured human excreta over themselves and begged for water to clean themselves. Officials apathy As if this was not heart-wrenching enough, none of the officials at the Town Municipal Council came forward to receive their appeal. A verbal duel ensued between TMC officials and Dalit Sangarsha Samithi activists. TMC Executive Officer H N Bajakkanavar defended the TMC, saying they never tried to evict the Bhangis, but added that TMC would provide houses for them under various housing schemes. He also said only illegal water connections were cut off. However, the DSS pointed out that several illegal water connections in the town were untouched and only those feeding Bhangis were cut off. “This is harassment against a community that is still treated like untouchables,” they said. When no official accepted the appeal from the Bhangis, the latter cleaned the toilets in the TMC premises. They then went to the Revenue Department and submitted their appeal to Tahsildar Prashanth Nalavar.

Dalit(Arunthathiyar) cultural night

2010-07-22T00:34:00.000-07:00

Appeal

Dear Friends

Greetings from Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum (AHRF)Tamilnadu.

AHRF Planned to Conduct a One Day Cultural Night Programs on 06.08.2010 at Rameswaram in Ramanathpuram District, East Part of Tamilnadu , South India .

This is our third year state level cultural night ,First at Erode .Dt,Second Viruthunagar .Dist ,Third Ramanathapuram .

The Proposed scheduled program of the Cultural Night and the Budget estimate is enclosed herewith for your sympathetic grant support to highlight the programs to an appreciable degree.

We believe that this kind of Cultural Night will help to liberate and enhance the Arunthathiyar community from all types of social evils.

So we humbly request you to Participate in above cultural programme and extend more financial help for the Cultural Night Programs.

Thanking you

With regards

R.Karuppusamy

Convenar

A Cultural night to celebrate the Arunthathiyar Sprit

From indignity to rebellion

A Cultural night to celebrate the Arunthathiyar spirit, an attempt to strengthen the Arunthathiyar artforms transformation from caste practices to weapons against caste oppression.

The parai originally called as thappu is undeniably a symbol of Dalit assertion today, But unlike pallars and parayars who have asserted themselves to some extent remain the Arunthathiyars the Dalits amongst the Dalits of Tamilnadu.

WHY WE NEED A CULTURAL NIGHT FOR ARUNTHATHIYARS

§ To protect the traditional arts.

§ Arunthathiyars have a special cultural heritage owing to their language and occupation and we need to appreciate and protect it artist.

§ To inform our Unity and strength to Govt and Dominating Hindu Caste

§ To provide a platform to express the creative talents to Arunthathiyar artist

§ To create an awareness and value at out the traditional arts and music to the future generation

§ To integrate Arunthathiyars from different places and create solidarity and empowerment

WHO ARE ARUNTHATHIYARS

1. Arunthathiyar

Arunthathiyars are Dalits, who are considered ‘untouchable’s in the caste – ridden Indian society. Pallar, Parayar and Arunthathiyar are the three major dalit groups in the state of Tamil Nadu, India. Among them, Arunthathiyar group is considered to be the lowest. There are 60 lakhs Arunthathiyars in Tamilnadu out of which major Dalit among Dalist. They are also identified with different names such as Sakkilliar. Mathari, Mathiga, Arunthathiyar and Pakadai in different places. the caste system forbade them from owning land and propert for thousands of years. They are landless and are traditionally associated with the task of cleaning up the dead animals, scavenging the village, and work related to animal skin and leather. While such traditional work still continues in some villages, mony have taken up jobs in the. Many Arunthathiyar children below 14 years are part of the unfortunate working force in these industries. Very poor living conditions, desperate search for a job with a decent wage, and constant harassment from moneylenders and landlords are part of day – to – day life of Arunthathiyar.

BACKROUND OF ARUNTHATHIYAR

§ The Arunthathiyar community is one of the most oppressed and depressed and the poorest among the untouchable of Indian Society.

§ Arunthathiyars are excluded from the main stream society and do not have access to the means of production and are forced to , dependent on dominate caste.

§ Unlike the other Dalit Groups (Pallar and Paraiyar ) still the Arunthathiyar are not aware of their rights but instead self complacent with the various incentives and the attractive schemes of the Government This community is branded as passive.

The reservation quota of the Government has been grabbed by other Dalit groups, leavings behind the Arunthathiyars are also entitled to gain such privileges.

§ Dr. Ambedkar , the Veteran Father of law is still a nonentity among Arunthathiyars due to their ignorance.

§ The Arunthathiyar are also victimized due to the new economic policy .

Since majority of the Arunthathiyars are illiterates, Child –labour Child abuse Bonded labour and Rag picking are the regular phenomena among them.

§ The Arunthathiyar women folk suffer a lot, out of sexual harassment by the caste people which they can’t even express out verbally.,

3. KEY CHALLENGES FACED BY THIS COMMUNITY

3.1 SOCIAL STATUS

This community speaks a language which is Tamil and Telugu mixed. They are separated by the language they speak since Tamil is the foremost language in do undignified work. The children are not sent to school because of the poor socio economic status of this community. They are deprived of basic necessities in life, education and childhood. Social exclusion like two glass system, Forced to continue undignified work (Manual scavenging, shoe making.)

3.2 ECONOMICAL STATUS:

69% of Arunthathiyars are living in rural areas of Tamilnadu. rural dwellers 32.5% in the rural area and 39.8% in the urban are living below poverty line. The basic livelihood options are under crisis. The very look of Arunthathiyars indicate that they are anemic and Malnourished

3.3 EDUCATIONAL STATUS:

Only 1.75% Arunthathiyars are literates, while 98.25% are illiterate. 10^th is the highest level for the Arunthathiyars. The Arunthathiyar children are rarely sent to school because of the poor socio economic status of the families. The community is yet to reap the benefits from the internal reservation given recent by the Tamilnadu Govt.

3.4 POLITICAL STATUS

Among 44 member of Legislative assembly (MLAs) only 2 MLAS are Arunthathiyars. Dalits as a whole and the Arunthathiyars as a community have their own art as their spirit, s an inseparable part of their lives. But the practice of their art is an indignity headed on them as it is a caste designated function more than a cultural expression. Arunthathiya art forms have been the symbols of their existence as low caste people for ages. Today they are the symbols of their assertion.

EMERGENCE OF ARUNTHATHIYAR HUMAN RIGHTS FORUM (AHRF)

Arunthathiyar Human Rights Forum is the initiative of the young Arunthathiyar people who worked in different NGO’s. The AHRF was constituted in the year 2004, extended over 14 districts. AHRF is working specifically for creating awareness on SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities,to eradicate the evil of manual Scavenging, to fight against the scorage of Untouchability, Forming of Women Thrift and Credit societies and women empowerment, Research and trainings. AHRF had organized first state level Cultural Night for Arunthathiayars and aiming to create a platform for Arunthathiyar to realize their strength.

EXPECTED OUT COME CULTURAL NIGHT :

§ Other Dalit organizations in Tamilnadu and Arunthahiyar Community will recognized AHRF as a front runner organization fighting for their rights.

§ Arunthathiyar community and other Dalit organizations may seek AHRF assistance and support on certain issues.

§ It is expected that more and more village level AHRF will be established spontaneously .

§ Arunthathiyar may come in the request to establish AHRF at village level.

§ Other Dalit organization ill realize that they cannot afford to be indifferent to AHRF

This Cultural Night is the Third State level Arunthathiyar Cultural Night where AHRF

wants to create a space for Arunthathiyar artist. It aims at strengthening their participation, and changing the mindsets of this artist as well as community to march further . As a whole , the event is expected to inspire the Arunthathiyar to take part in the Arunthathiyar struggle for liberation.

6. ARUNTHATHIYAR CULTURAL NIGHT – OBJECTIVES

1. To create awareness of the Arunthathiyar Art forms and their vibrantly culture amongst

public.

Traditionally art was considered as the domain of the so called upper castes in Tamilnadu. In the recent years, The Dalit Rights movement has asserted that the Dalits have a rich artistic and musical tradition. The dalit art forms are related to rituals for ages but considered untouchable. Despite the awareness created on Dalit art forms, awareness about Arunthathiyar art forms are scanty. There are other initiatives like this organized across the state, but very few Arunthathiyears get chance to perform share , express and this cultural night is a follow up action to strengthen and sustain Arutnthathiyars hope on their talents and excellence.

2. To use art as a political weapon in the on going struggle for Arunthathiyar’s liberation

ART is a very crucial record of transformations within and of society , some of the most popular art forms have come from the oppressed sections of the society. And some of the most revolutionary movements working for liberation of the oppressed people have used music as a powerful weapon of change. In southern India where attempt are being made to rewrite caste equations and to question existing notions on culture and language, understanding the Arunthathiyar art forms with a clear perspective about their historical position as agents of change and an undeniable requisite of the Arunthathiyar struggle for liberation is a culturally and democratically necessary action.

Cultural Events :

§ Thappattam

§ Jiggattam

§ Kadavu Mathattam

§ oyilattam

§ Liberation Songs

§ Street play

§ Documentary film

§ Exhibition

Special Speakers

§ Arunthathiyar Movement leaders

§ Arunthathiyar intellectuals

§ Dalit Leaders

§ Solidarity Groups

Note: In Order to promote our activities please send your Donations , D.D/ Cheque to the following Address

V.Shanmugam Bank Details : Indian Bank, Paramakudi Branch , A/C No 831752503

Ramanathapuram contact Mr.Shanmugam - cell.9578151926

Budget

S.No	Particulars	Amount in
1.	Stage	18,000
2.	Chairs	13,500
3.	Lights and Gen Set	22,800
4.	Advertisement –Wall paintings, posters, notices, banners	58,650
5.	Invitation and communication	10,250
6.	Special invites –travel , food, boarding and lodging	15,800
7.	Food, boarding, Travel and lodging for cultural groups	48,250
8.	Memento	13,350
9.	Local Organizing travel	15,250
10.	Media coverage	14,500
11.	Printing, postage, Xerox communication	15,000
12.	Miscellaneous	13,500
	Total (INDIAN CURRENCY)	2,58,850

Arunthathiyar Karuppan murder

2010-06-01T05:56:00.000-07:00

Tiruppur District ,Avinashi TK,Alathur village ,Mr.Karuppan(55) was a night watch man in cooperative bank .

He murder .We demand Government should give compensation.

Children films

2010-05-22T06:41:00.000-07:00

Lama Acala

2010-04-14T04:23:00.001-07:00

He is Lama Acala ,Great Buddhist from France,He gave two training on Dhamma .

Manual scavening in Temple

2010-03-23T01:15:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends

This month 29th March ,Bannari mariyamman festivel at Sathyamangalam,Erode.Dt,This temple situated at Sathyamangalam forest .
Every year laks of people from Tamilnadu and Karnataka participating one week .

Temple not enough toilet facilities .Therefore coming people using toilets in public places .After the festival our Arunthathiyer cleaning the all human wastes .

Therefore ,we discuss in our Untouchability eradication front meeting .We given memorandum to Erode.Dt collector for take necessary action .This news publish in Thikathir paper .

Thanking you

Sincerely

Karuppusamy

Sathyamangalam bariyal ground issue

2010-03-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam.Tk,Mettukadai Annanagar Arunthathiyar village last four generation using the bariyal ground but last 14 years there is no death in the village ,Last 1.3.2010 this village Mr.Raman (70) years Arunthathiyer was died . But his body is not allowed for the rugular road ,they get down the small river also ,the land lard upper caste ,they not allowed to bariyal in the regular place because of the occupaid the bariyal ground . Evening 4.30 to night 9 Pm the whole village had dharna ,Sathyamangalam tasildar ,Kadathur police SI all the people came .Finaly peoples had forcly barial dead body in the regular place . Revenue department given the assurance for the bariyal ground in the same place .Government will take the same land and will give to this month .

That extra alacrity to claim

2010-02-28T01:34:00.000-08:00

Asha Menon

First Published : 28 Feb 2010 10:17:00 AM IST

Last Updated : 27 Feb 2010 11:31:06 PM IST

The Safai Karamchari Andolan has been on a long battle, from 2005, to get the state to recognise manual scavenging. “We define scavengers by the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act 1993.” This means a “person engaged in or employed for manually carrying human excreta.” This excludes sanitary workers like Murugan and Mariamma. In 2005, the SKA filed a PIL with the Supreme Court which named all the state governments in various departments that they are all employing or maintaining manual scavenging. “We asked them to stop manual scavenging, demolish dry latrines, implement the 1993 Act, register cases under the SC/ST Atrocities Act, etc,” says Deepthi Sukumar of the SKA. The Tamil Nadu government responded by saying that there are no manual scavengers in the state. The SKA responded with a rough estimate of the numbers employed. Then the authorities that be responded to it by terming it false, and therefore the SKA sent in location of dry latrines, photographs, etc as proof. In 2008, TADHCO called the SKA with staff from the Madras University for a “We told TADHCO, please take a survey before you respond to SC. In the same year, TADHCO withdrew and said they would invite NGOs to take a survey (designed by TADHCO). I do not know what numbers they got.” But despite not acknowledging manual scavenging in the state, the TN government is usually prompt in demolishing dry latrines and rehabilitation schemes of scavengers once it is brought to their notice, says Deepthi.

http://expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=That+extra+alacrity+to+claim&artid=sczRxOQbikc=&SectionID=f4OberbKin4=&MainSectionID=f4OberbKin4=&SEO=scavengers+,&SectionName=cxWvYpmNp4fBHAeKn3LcnQ==

Dalit Leaders against the Arunthathiyar(Dalit) reservation

2010-02-26T06:46:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

Dalit leaders against the Arunthathiyer reservation.
Dalit means ,it is not a caste it is a identity for caste discriminating people .Arunthathiyer is one among Dalit .In the name of caste Arunthathiyer facing last 2000 years discrimination and atrocities .Arunthathiyers are till manual scavengers .

Arunthathiyers asking thier constitutional rights for reservation . we are now 2010 .But till Arunthathiyer are manual scavengers .Arunthathiyers asking thier birth rights in India .Even Arunthathiyer Dalit among Dalits .

Today we can understand how caste system influence to Dalits discriminating to Dalit(Arunthathiyers). Braminical and Hinduthuva is among dalits .Please see the The Hindu news
Dalit leaders to challenge Arunthathiars Act Special Correspondent

“It is unconstitutional on the part of the government to have framed the Act”

CHENNAI: A forum of Dalit leaders will challenge Arunthathiars Act 2009 in the Madras High Court.

[The law provides three per cent reservation to Arunthathiars within the 18 per cent reservation available to Adi-Dravidars]

K. Krishnasamy, president of the Puthiya Tamizhagam and leader of the forum, told reporters here on Thursday that a similar law had been enacted in Andhra Pradesh, which was struck down by the Supreme Court.

In the light of these precedents, it was unconstitutional on the part of the Tamil Nadu government to have framed the Arunthathiars Act, providing quota within reservation, Dr. Krishnasamy said, referring to Vice-Chairman of the National Commission for SC, N.M. Kamble’s description of the Act as unconstitutional.

‘Panjami’ lands

The forum also demanded the government release a White Paper on the status of reservation for Dalits in political, economical, social, educational and government sectors besides allocation of ‘Panjami’ lands in the State within the next three months. Within a week, the government should submit details of various projects implemented under the special component plan programme, he added.

http://www.hindu.com/2010/02/26/stories/2010022660480400.htm

Karuppusamy

Wall on road to Dalit colony demolished

2010-02-07T01:41:00.000-08:00

Wall on road to Dalit colony demolished

V. S. Palaniappan

ELIMINATING DISCRIMINATION: The wall blocking the road to a Dalit colony at Periyar Nagar in Coimbatore being demolished. Photo: K. Ananthan

Revenue, police and the Coimbatore Corporation authorities demolished a wall that had denied 58 Dalit families of Periyar Nagar direct access to the arterial Kamarajar Road in the city.

The wall was allegedly built by caste Hindus across the 30-ft-wide Jeeva Road that was supposed to link the colony with Kamarajar Road.

The colony is located in Ward No.10 near the Employees’ State Insurance Hospital to Kamarajar Road.

“The wall, built in 1990, was evidence of the prevalence of discrimination and untouchability,” said U.K. Sivagnanam, district convenor of the Untouchability Eradication Front. He had petitioned the authorities on Friday, demanding the removal of the wall.

According to Periyar Nagar residents, the government acquired land for their colony in 1989 and provided house site pattas to them. Caste Hindus living along the initial stretch of Jeeva Road had installed a Vinayakar idol in a small shed and built the wall behind it, exactly from where the colony began. The temple was used as a pretext for closing the road with a discriminatory attitude to prevent the Dalits from using Jeeva Road to reach Kamarajar Road through the area in which the caste Hindus resided, Mr. Sivagnanam alleged. The Dalits had used other routes to reach the main road for many years. But with more buildings coming up on open sites nearby, they were left with only a narrow street to reach the main road.

On Saturday morning, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi ordered the district administration to inquire into the issue and take immediate action.

Officials verified the records and confirmed that the temple and the wall encroached upon a scheme road. A group of women squatted in front of the earthmover in an attempt to prevent the demolition. As the earthmover began the demolition, the residents broke into a thunderous ovation. When the Corporation workers were removing the debris of the demolished wall, a group of Hindu outfit activists insisted that the temple should not be removed. This resulted in police mobilising more reinforcements.

The Dalits pointed out that they were not against the temple but only its location. Speaking to TheHindu, State convener of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front P. Sampath welcomed the action taken by the officials and added that the temple could be relocated with the consent of both sides.

Rajan, a resident of the colony, and some Dalit women said: “We are happy on getting this access to Kamarajar Road. This ends the circuitous route we had to take all these years. The removal of the wall has given us a feeling that we are also part of society.”

Keywords: Coimbatore, Dalit, Caste Hindus, demolition, untouchability

Coimbatore admn brings down ‘untouchability wall’

2010-02-07T01:38:00.000-08:00

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/coimbatore-admn-brings-down-untouchability/573599/

A wall built twenty years ago by upper caste Hindus allegedly to keep out Dalits, was finally demolished by the authorities in Coimbatore district on Saturday. The 20-feet long wall built across a public road is the second such ‘untouchability wall’ found in the state, the first being the one at Uthapuram village near Madurai.

According to sources, the wall at Singanellur in Coimbatore was constructed by caste Hindus after 58 Dalit families were housed in a new colony named Thanthai Periyar Nagar under a government scheme in 1989. The structure blocked direct access to the main road in an attempt to prevent the Dalit families from traversing through the areas populated by the caste Hindus. A Vinayak temple was also built near it to impart religious sanctity to the structure.

The Untouchability Eradication Front, a social grouping backed by the CPM that first exposed the existence of the Uthapuram wall, took up the issue with the district administration, arguing that the wall was at once illegal and against integration of society. “We brought this to the attention of the Corporation Commissioner and other senior officials and also provided them enough evidence to prove that the wall was build on encroached land and that it segregated public on caste lines,” said a member of the Front. After initial inquiry, the civic administration decided that the wall was illegal and should be demolished, said city Commissioner Anshul Mishra, even as he refused to comment on whether it was indeed an “untouchability wall”.

Dali(Arunthathiyer) young writers camp

2010-02-06T23:04:00.000-08:00

Greetings from Rights Education and Development (READ)!
We are going to organise two days writers’ camp for Arundhatiyar (Dalit amongst the dalits) young writers at Erode District, Sathyamangalam, Tamil Nadu. We request you for your contribution/ donation for this camp.
Date: 20-21 February, 2010
Venue: Sathyamangalam, Erode District

Who are Dalits?
Dalits are a group of people historically regarded the lowest in the hierarchy of the Indian caste system. After independence significant steps were undertaken in the form of affirmative action to improve their condition and provide opportunities for their overall development. However most of the affirmative actions taken by state have not been able to transform the lives of these people because of widespread and deep rooted perceptions of caste hierarchy and retaining purity within the caste groups by disallowing social and cultural mingling of the groups.
Who are Arundhatiyars?
Arundhatiyars are the considered to be the lowest group in the entire caste hierarchy and considered ‘dalit amongst the dalits’ and treated as ‘untouchables’. The Arundhatiyars are also known as ‘Chakiliar’ and are marginalized even amongst the Dalits, There are around 60 Lakh Arundhatiyars in Tamil Nadu mostly residing in the western districts living in colonies outside the main village which are inhabited by the upper caste landlord community. The Arundhatiyars have been struggling for survival and development from centuries of discrimination, marginalisation, poverty, exploitation and violence at the hands of the upper caste landlords. They have no land and for as low as a thousand rupees loan, they are forced to work as bonded slaves on the agricultural farms or houses of the upper caste landlords. They are also often compelled to do very menial, undignified jobs such as manual scavenging.
What is the importance of this writers camp?
At present, there are many Dalit writers, but very few write on Arundhatiyar community’s issues. Even amongst Arundhatiyars we can count only around only two prominent writers who write on the community’s issues. This makes us realise that we need to promote young writers to write and document the Arundhatiyar history and raise their issues for a wider readership.
The present young writers’ camp would be organised to promote this vision. Therefore, we have decided to provide intensive training for around 20 interested youth to build their writing skills. They will be taught to write articles, stories and poems on the discrimination, exploitation and violation of fundamental rights of Arundhatiyar community.

We are happy to receive your contribution through DD/Cheque in favour of:
Rights education and development centre
Address:
27/1 Muniyappar. St
Rangasamuthiram
Sathyamangalam.
PO: 638402
Erode district
Tamil Nadu. South India

Tel.91-4295-224313
Mobile: 91-9842090035
Email: ksamy2005@gmail.com

Dharna for Dalit(Arunthathiyer) bariyel ground

2009-12-30T06:12:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

All you knew sandal wood VEERAPPAN at Sathyamangalam here till existing untouchability and atrocities .

Here some example discrimination two glass system in public tea shops .There is no entry in common temple .

Dalit(Arunthathiyer) till they have to tell death message for upper caste .

Therefore tomorrow on 31st 2009 ,DYFI,and Untouchability eradication front jointly organize the Dharna at Sathyamangalam .

Stop Manual Scavening - India -2010

2009-12-19T06:09:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends

18th Dec 2009 Safai Karamachary Andolan(SKA) Conducted state level consultation for eradicate inhuman dignity on Manual scavenging at Chennai -Asha nivas . This state level consultation discuss various issues and recommendation.

2010 as a peoples organizations with Manual scavengers they will conduct the state level conformance for eradicate manual scavenging .This is not only that but also peoples declaration for "we will not do Manual scavenging " This is a political declaration for state and society .

Arunthathiyer murder

2009-11-06T04:48:00.000-08:00

Arunthathiyar murder

Vanimuthu (Alias) R. Arumugam Aged 48 he was lived in Jawahar Colony in Pattinam kaathan Panchayet, Mandapam Union, and Ramanatha Puram District. He Belongs to Arunthathiar Community. He was worked in Tamil Nadu Water Supply department in Group “D”. Vanimuthu has wife and Three Children. Two sons and one daughter.
Last October 18th (18/10/09) Evening 7:30PM he was Killed by strangers near his house. The next day (19/10/09) morning one person named ‘Pandiyarajan’ from ‘Aasari’ upper caste Community is surrendered in Ramanatha Puram Police Station and gave the statement that “Arumugam had the wrong relationship with his Mother so he killed Arumugam”.
But, That Village Arunthathiyar Community people are refused to accept the statement. Because, there is no any relation between the Murder and the Surrendered Person.
But the real thing was on the basis of Gathering information, there was a community hall built in their village. But, the Key was not hand over to the people. The Panchayet leader Mrs. Kavitha Kathiresan only handling the key.
The Panchayet leader Mrs. Kavitha Kathiresan has the power and support of elected parties. In this condition our Vanimuthu so many times asked and argued about the Community Hall key with the panchayet leader. The panchayet leader threatened Mr. Vanimuthu. So the relationship was broken each other.
That village Arunthathiyar people says Mr. Vanimuthu was supported for Arunthathiar issues .
The People who saw the incident are not witnessing about the murder.
On 19/10/09 in front of Ramanatha Puram Government Hospital the Arunthathiyar Peoples and relatives are rejects to get the Post mortem Body. Because, they insists to arrest the real accused person Mrs. Kavitha Kathiresan. 150 Peoples are involved in road strike. The police arrests 150 people those who are involved in strike including 50 women and case filed against these people. The case was failed against pandiyarajan in SC /ST Act.
Viduthalai Ciruthaigal (VC), Aathi Tamilar Peravai (ATP), Arunthathiar Human Rights Forum (AHRF) are continuously supports this issue.
The real situation is there is no relationship between the incident and the Surrendered person. So the arunthathiyar people’s request is real accused Person want to arrest and punish. Police case filed against the 150 Arunthathiyer for road strike .
Demands:
1. Need to arrest the real acuest under SC/ST Act
2. Counter case on 150 Arunthathiyers case have to get withdraw

Chennai rally

2009-10-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

CPM and Arunthathiyer peoples movements conducted Tamilnadu head quater at Chennai rally for proper implementation of Arunthathiyer reservation near 25000 people participated through out Tamilnadu .

Our Sakkiyer cultural was participated

Sumangali thittam affected victims

2009-10-07T03:27:00.000-07:00

Brutal attack on an (Dalit)Arundhatiyar in Anupar Palayam, Sathyamangalam Taluk, Erode. District

2009-10-05T07:26:00.001-07:00

Brutal attack on an (Dalit)Arundhatiyar in Anupar Palayam, Sathyamangalam Taluk, Erode. District: September 13, 2009
Anupar Palayam is a village in Sathyamangalam Block in Erode District. There are around sixty Arundhatiyar families who in this village in extreme poverty, having no land and working as bonded laborers’ on the upper caste communities’ farms. The upper caste community mostly comprises of the landlords from the Naikkar community.
Mr.Chinnagurunathan, an arundhatiyar aged 50 years, works as an agricultural labour in this village. He lives with his wife and two children. On September 13, 2009, in the evening an one old arundhatiyar woman passed away. Her funeral was arranged at the village temple. One Mr.Chinnagurunathan told the family not to arrange the funeral at the temple since it is a place of worship. After some time one Mr.Selvaraj, a upper caste community leader came at the temple and started beating Chinnagurunathan by a stick without even making any enquiry. He used foul language and showered abuses on Chinnagurunathan. Mr.Chinnagurunathan received severe injuries on his head, left eye and legs. He was admitted in a private hospital in Sathyamangalam. Later he was taken to Gobichettipalayam Government Hospital and then referred for further treatment at Coimbatore Government hospital on 24th to 27th Sept 2009.
A case of atrocities upon Chinnagurunathan was filed in the Sathyamangalam Police Station on 14th Sept bearing number FIR No.667/2009/ Act SC/ST 3(I)(10) and IPC 324. Till now the perpetrator has not been arrested.
Findings
1. Arundhtiyar community face discrimination at the hands of the upper caste community mainly the Naikkars. The discriminative practices are violative of the fundamental rights of the arundhatiyar community. The Arunthathiyer are not allowed to sit on the mat , chair ,cot or any place near the upper caste person’s house, land or his environment. The arunthathiyers have to remain standing in the presence of an upper caste person.
2. The discrimination against the arundhatiyar community is so deep rooted that till today a two glass system exists in the village
3. Arunthathiyers are not allowed to ride a bicycle and if they do happen to have one, then they have to get down the bicycle as soon as they spot a person from upper caste community.
4. The use of the river in the village is restricted for the arundhatiyars. They are not allowed to use the river water for their daily needs.
5. The schools miday meals scheme for children is also infested with discrimination against arundhatiyar children-the arundhatiyar children are provided the meals in a separate queue than the children from the upper caste community.
6. The ICDS centres does not provide dishes for the Arunthathiyer children.
7. In the government run buses, the Arunthathiyer are not allowed to sit in the presence of an upper caste person or child.
8. In the village not a single arundhatiyar person us enrolled under the NREG scheme.
recommendations:
1. The perpetrator of the brutal attack on Chinnagurunathan has to be arrested immediately.
2. The Police department is required to take prevention action in Arundhatiyar communities and villages as per the SC/ST Act
3. The victim have to be provided with compensation and protection as per SC/ST Act
4. The District Education department needs to take immediate action to prevent the discrimination in school and ICDS centres against Arundhatiyar children
5. The Dsitrict administration needs to ensure that all Arundhatiyar adults in need of employment are provided benefits under the NREG scheme

Panel to help end manual scavenging -The Hindu news

2009-09-01T21:50:00.000-07:00

Panel to help end manual scavenging Special Correspondent — File photo

THE PITS: The Madras High Court in November 2008 had banned the entry of human beings into manholes, except in specific situations.

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has formed a 13-member special committee to come up with suggestions that would enable the authorities to eradicate manual scavenging.

The committee would also examine various aspects relating to the sewerage system in metropolitan cities and other parts of the State to remove defects in the system.

Passing further orders on a contempt petition seeking to take note of “wilful disobedience” by the authorities of a court order asking them to take steps to eradicate manual scavenging, a Division Bench comprising Justices F.M. Ibrahim Kalifulla and B. Rajendran said the panel should submit its report with suggestions and recommendations to improve the system and maintain the overall environment. This should, preferably, be done within two months.

Following a writ petition filed by A. Narayanan of Virugambakkam, the High Court in November 2008 banned the entry of human beings into manholes and septic tanks in the State, except in specific circumstances.

The court had asked the authorities to take measures to ensure that all forms of manual scavenging were eradicated.

In his contempt petition citing Niranjan Mardi, Secretary, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Department; and Shiv Das Meena, Chairman and Managing Director, Chennai Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (CMWSSB) as respondents, Mr. Narayanan said they had not taken the court’s directions with the seriousness it deserved. The petitioner prayed the court to take note of the “wilful disobedience” by the authorities of the court order.

The Bench said the committee, headed by the CMWSSB Chairman, would deliberate on issues including ways to regulate or avoid throwing of solid waste into the sewage system, monitor action taken to divert illegal sewage connections given in stormwater drains, and construction of diaphragm chambers in hotels, marriage halls, cattle yards and similar facilities. It would identify equipment or devices to clean septic tanks and sewer systems in times of blockage.

The contempt petition along with the main writ petition should be listed as soon as the report is submitted by the panel, the Bench said.

Dalit youth attacked for riding bicycle -The hindu news

2009-08-17T23:44:00.000-07:00

Dalit youth attacked for riding bicycle Staff Reporter

MADURAI: A Dalit youth who rode a bicycle before caste Hindus was beaten up at Vadivelkarai near Nagamalai Pudukottai in the district on Thursday last. A. Murugan (25) was allegedly attacked by a group of youths.

After the incident, in which he sustained a head injury, the youths filed a complaint against Mr. Murugan and his father, a conservancy worker.

He has been admitted to the Government Rajaji Hospital. A case has been filed under Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and under Section 302 against O. Anand at the Nagamalai Pudukottai police station. The Samayanallur Deputy Superintendent of Police is investigating.

In 2007, Mr. Murugan’s brother was attacked for the same reason.

A lone graduate from the Arunthathiyar community, Mr. Murugan has been opposing restrictions imposed upon the community by caste Hindus. He has also been conducting free classes for children belonging to the Dalit community.

Residents alleged that the two-tumbler system still existed in the village; it had changed from coconut shells to disposable cups for Dalits. The caste Hindus were served tea in glass tumblers. The village has 75 Dalit families and more than 500 families of caste Hindus.

Tamilnadu women commission letter on Punitha(13) murder

2009-08-16T08:15:00.000-07:00

Tamilnadu,Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam.Tk,CK.Palayam Dalit(Arunthathiyer ) village Punitha(13) years girl rap and murder on 10th Aug 2008 .

Our AHRF intervention to Tamilnadu state women commission .Commission sented letter to District police SP for take immidiyet action .

Caste attrocity

2009-08-10T06:34:00.000-07:00

31.07.2009 -Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam.Tk,AG.Pudur Arunthathiyer village Mr.Venkidu(26) .He is belongs to Arunthathiyer community .His wife went to public milk shope .But she has some loan in the shop .The shop owner belongs to upper caste .He soughted to her for repay the loan amount .She is also told to him next week will pay the money .But he not to hear her words .

She told to her husband .Her husband went to ask to owner .":why you abuse my wife " owner told to him .I am a upper caste .I will do any where .Then sudently owner beaten to him .1.08.2009He admitted in hospital in Sathyamangalam .

Compliaint given to police station .But upper caste land lords came and theretan and convenice to him .

Arunthathiyer youth attacked by upper caste gang

2009-08-10T06:21:00.000-07:00

Tirupur .dt,Avinashi.Tk,Chettipudur Arunthathiyer village ,Palanisamy (36) S/o Kuppan .He is a labour in power loom .Every day hw will complit his work on night 8Pm .5.8.2009 day after his complit work he started travel to his village .He used two wheelar .In between Thandukaran palayam village higher caste community youths black the two wheelar .

Sudently the upper caste youths beat to him .Nigberning upper caste people also gather and beat to him .On the way one upper caste came .He told to them .He is our village Arunthathiyer .In between his wife came from village .The gang beaten to his wife .She got beaten .

6.08.2009 morning Mr.Palanisamy given compliant to Cheyur police sataion .They admitted in Avinashi hospital .But treatment is got .Therefore he admitted in coimbatore government hospital .
Case registred in SC/ST Act 3(I)(10) and IPC .

AC.Kumar
AHRF-Coordinator -Erode,Coimbatore,Tirupur
Cell.9345523946

"Equality Lights"

2009-08-08T02:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends
My artical published in monthly magzine .
This artical says How arunthathiyar facing discrimination and atrocities .This artical written based on RTI information.
-Ksamy-

Last three years atrocities on Arunthathiyers

2009-07-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

We are fighting for Dalit(Arunthathiyer ) human rights at gross rout level .Recently we filed a RTI for Erode.District level atrocities cases

Every year increasing the cases .

Many cases not registered under this Act.They comparmise in village level by upper caste community .

Atrocities on Arunthathiyars

Erode. District SC/ST-Atrocity cases

Year	Total Atrocity cases	Punished Cases	Court Rejected cases	District monitoring committee rejected cases	Balances Cases in Court
2006	26	-	9	17	-
2007	73	7	22	44	-
2008	76	-	7	56	13
Total	175	7	38	117	13

Insidious web of bonded labour spreads to margins

2009-07-07T05:32:00.000-07:00

Tamil Nadu
Insidious web of bonded labour spreads to margins
D. Karthikeyan
— Photo: G. Moorthy EXPLOITED Lot: Women of Meenakshipatti near Kinnimangalam Panchayat in Madurai who returned to their village after working in spinning mills under the Sumangali scheme.
MADURAI: It is hard to find adolescent Dalit girls in Vadivelkarai, Keezhakuilkudi, Vadapalanji, Vellaiparaipatti and Meenakshipatti villages near Madurai. Most of them have left to work in spinning mills at Tirupur, Coimbatore, Dindigul and Theni.
The phenomenon, which started a few years ago, seems to be spreading fast. Appalling economic conditions, social discrimination and cash economy are the factors that have been forcing them to drop out of school and enter the web of bonded labour. Dalit girls are soft targets for agents.
A few villagers said they had to send their children to cities to escape caste discrimination and they used this opportunity to escape dependency and move beyond the confines of dominant castes. The weak economic platform provided by agricultural labour compounded by the seasonal nature of farm work has resulted in a hand-to-mouth existence for these families. With the ever-expanding lobby of agents, now the Valaiyar (also referred to as Mutharaiyars, a Most Backward Class) girls are being lured, as the community has a sociological profile of being hard workers.
R. Pitchai (60) of a Dalit colony in Meenakshipatti, Kinnimangalam panchayat, Tirumangalam taluk, has sent his daughter P. Jayarani to a mill in Erode. She could come here only once in the last two years. He had no choice but to send her there, in order to get her and other daughters married.
K. Alagu (23), who worked as a helper in a mill in Coimbatore in 2007, said she received Rs.45 as daily wage, out of which Rs.10 was taken for food. She was paid an increment of Rs.2 every three months. She was unwell during most of her stay at the mill. M. Pappathi (20), who had worked in a Coimbatore mill for one year, said she was not able to continue for three years as she fell sick whenever there were two shifts. One of the girls said agents got Rs.2,000 whenever they recruited a girl.
The ‘sumangali thittam’ of mills provides jobs to young, unmarried adolescent girls for three years. The promised salary starts at Rs.35 a day in the first six months, with an increment of Rs.2 every three or six months. In reality, the girls do not get paid anything more than Rs.30 per day; in many cases it is Rs.15.
T.V. Parvata Vardhini of Littles Trust, a non-governmental organisation, said many mills had the most exploitative conditions with a high level of extraction of labour. Psychological trauma, abusive language and sexual advances were common features. Common toilets under condition of water shortage resulted in urinary tract infection. Eyesight problems and asthma were other common ailments reported by the girls. However, a few girls who returned to their villages said the facilities were adequate in a few mills but there were no stipulated working hours. They had to work continuously under appalling conditions.
Ms. Parvata Vardhini said Arunthathiyar girls from Dalit colonies migrated in large numbers owing to multiple reasons. A major reason was the lack of government high and higher secondary schools in the area, which might at least check dropouts and encourage girls to continue their studies. Girls from Meenakshipatti had to travel as far as Mahaboobpalayam in the city as only private schools were here, which were unaffordable.

Discrimination in Barbarshop for Arunthathiyer

2009-04-02T23:10:00.000-07:00

Erode.Dt,Perundurai Tk.Thiruvachi panjayet ,Vavikadi village barbarshop owner Mr.Kaliyappan refused to hair cutting to Arunthathiyer youths in his barbarshop .Mr.Subramani -DYFI secretary complaint in to Erode.dt police SP .

Video-Arunthathiyer cultural night

2009-03-25T04:15:00.000-07:00

Bill to provide quota to Arunthathiyars passed

2009-03-24T06:53:00.000-07:00

http://www.expressbuzz.com/edition/story.aspx?Title=Bill+to+provide+quota+to+Arunthathiyars+passed&artid=oh5ZPvEC6D0=
Bill to provide quota to Arunthathiyars passed
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Express News Service
First Published : 27 Feb 2009 02:31:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 27 Feb 2009 10:55:34 AM IST
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a bill for reservation of three per cent seats to Arunthathiyars in educational institutions, including private educational institutions, in the State. There will also be reservations for appointments or posts in the services under the State in Tamil Nadu within the 18 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes.
Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, now convalescing in a hospital after his spinal chord surgery, expressed his joy over the passing of the bill through a letter addressed to the House, which was read out by Local Administration Minister M K Stalin.
Piloting the bill in the House with the thumping of desks from the Treasury bench, Stalin said that the policy of reservation for the social and educational advancement of the people belonging to the Backward Classes in educational institutions in the State and for appointments in its services had been in vogue in Tamil Nadu for a long time.
The representatives of various political parties and social forums representing the Scheduled Castes have requested the State Government to consider providing a special provision for reservation for the group of Arunthathiyars within the reservation provided for the Scheduled Castes as they are in the lowest rung in social and educational fronts in society.
The one-man committee headed by Justice M S Janarthanam considered the issue of providing reservation for Arunthathiyars, within the quota of reservation for Scheduled Castes. The committee has submitted its report to the State Government. The report revealed that the representation of Arunthathiyars, with regard to admissions in educational institutions, professional or otherwise, is rather minimal and the educational opportunities are also knocked away by the upper crust of the hierarchy of castes from among the Scheduled Castes. The term ‘Arunthathiyar’ includes not just Arunthathiyars, but also Chakkiliyan, Madari, Madiga, Pagadai, Thoti and Adi Andhra.
Stalin also said that the State Government had formulated a Rs 22-crore package to provide Arunthathiyars jobs under the selfemployment mode, besides allocating Rs 6.3 crore for buying machinery to remove blocks in manholes in the Chennai Corporation and in nine other corporations in the state by way of helping the scavengers to avoid entering manholes and do manual scavenging.
While AIADMK member K A Senkottaiyan termed the bill as one aimed to make political gains, Deputy Speaker V K Doraisamy, Finance Minister K Anbazhagan, Ministers Parithi Ellamvazuthi and K Ponmudi hailed the bill for its path-breaking nature.

three tumblers in tea shops

2009-03-24T00:36:00.000-07:00

http://www.mail-archive.com/zestcaste@yahoogroups.com/msg07268.html

http://www.tehelka.com/story_main33.asp?filename=hub010907shadowlines.asp Some Dalits Are Even Less Equal The Arunthathiyars bear the weight of caste oppression in Tamil Nadu, says R. Adhyaman I belong to the Arunthathiyar community, the most oppressed of the Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu, where Dalits comprise 20 percent of the population. Of the 76 communities listed as SCS, the Paraiyars, the Pallars and the Arunthathiyars are the three main groups.Arunthathiyars constitute about one-third of the states Dalit population and live in miserable conditions, working as manual scavengers, cobblers and agricultural labourers. Thousands are employed as conservancy workers in civic bodies. Though they speak Telugu at home, their children go to Tamil medium schools and follow Tamil customs. We are Tamils and thats why I have named my organisation the Adhi Thamizhar Peravai. All Dalits are not equal. Arunthathiyars are looked down upon by other SCS. We bear the whole weight of caste oppression. It is no secret that the two-tumbler system is still prevalent in many villages. But I have news for you. There are villages where they keep three tumblers in tea shops one for the caste Hindu, one for the Arunthathiyar, and one for the non-Arunthathiyar Dalit. The Pallars and Paraiyars think they are superior to us. They dont inter-marry with us. The two Dalit parties in the state, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal (VC, formerly known as Dalit Panthers of India) and Puthiya Thamizhagam, represent the interests of the Paraiyars and the Pallars respectively. In the last Assembly elections, VC contested nine seats as part of the AIADMK front and all nine candidates belonged to the Paraiyar community.There are 44 reserved seats in the Assembly, but Arunthathiyars have never won more than five seats. At present, there are three Arunthathiyar MLAS two in the DMK and one in the AIADMK. Paraiyars are the majority in the northern districts, Pallars in the southern districts, and Arunthathiyars in the western districts. No one except a Paraiyar can contest a reserved seat in the north. Pallars rule the roost in the south. But when it comes to areas where we are in majority, this rule does not apply. Parties field non- Arunthathiyars and win. The benefits of reservation for Dalits in Tamil Nadu have gone to Pallars and Paraiyars. There is 18 percent reservation for SCS. Our demand is that six percent of it should be earmarked for Arunthathiyars. We have represented our demands to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and he has promised to consider the matter. We have also asked him to take steps to abolish manual scavenging. The CM granted one of our demands and formed a welfare board for conservancy workers. Adhiyaman is founder president, Adhi Thamizhar Peravai, a Dalit social movement. As told to PC Vinoj Kumar ___________________________________________________

‘Manual scavenging is barbaric and goes against the conscience of civic society’

2009-03-24T00:29:00.000-07:00

Web link:http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/15/stories/2008101551790500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Salem Sanitary workers demand mechanisation of drainage cleaning work
R. Ilangovan
‘Manual scavenging is barbaric and goes against the conscience of civic society’

‘Nearly 4,000 workers have perished while cleaning manholes in the State in the last 20 years’
SALEM: The contract sanitary workers in local bodies, a majority of them Arunthathiyars, have urged the State Government to immediately ‘mechanise’ the underground drainage cleaning work.
They say that whenever underground drainage gets chocked, they will be lowered down into manholes with a rope tied to their waist.
Many have lost their lives, inhaling poisonous gases.
K.R. Ganesan, general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Rural Development and Local Administration Employees Sammelan, affiliated to the CITU, told The Hindu that manual scavenging “is barbaric and goes against the conscience of civic society”.
Welcoming the High Court’s directive banning the entry of any human into manholes for cleaning, he said that between December 27, 2006, and September 27, 2007, six scavengers, engaged in cleaning manholes, had died of asphyxiation in Chennai alone.
Such deaths were reported from Coimbatore and Madurai too. As per a rough estimate, nearly 4,000 workers had perished while cleaning manholes and septic tanks in the State in the past two decades, he said.
“Sadly neither have their families received any compensation nor have the police registered any case.”
The Arunthathiyar leaders say that private operators in charge of scavenging in many local bodies tap the untrained Dalit men, mostly from Arunthathiyar colonies. Pittance and pints of alcohol are offered in wages, they say.
“But whenever a fatality occurred, neither the contractor nor the local body would come forward to owe up responsibility,” said Mr. Ganesan, also a member of the Sanitary Workers Welfare Board.
The Arunthathiyar leaders fear the casualty may spike since many municipalities and town panchayats have started underground drainage projects.
The State Government should integrate the abolition of manual scavenging along with the project reports too, they insisted.
The Rural Development and Local Administration Employees Sammelan, which met here recently, announced that it would launch an agitation from November 10 to protest against the privatisation of sanitary works and to demand higher wages and mechanisation of scavenging.

Manual scavening documentary Film

2009-03-24T00:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends
Arunthathiyer community .Who are mostly vulnerable group among dalits .Those are called Dalit Among Dalits Recently we did documentary film on Manual scavenging . our Tamilnadu government says No manual scavengers .But till exsisting .READ publish a documentary film on manual scavening
Please visit the film .
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwaC2ulzmRQ

Please visit the film and sent your suggestion

News on Front Line -Arunthathiyer Innerreservation

2009-03-23T23:44:00.000-07:00

Front Line web link : http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2601/stories/20090116260110500.htm
SOCIAL ISSUES

Separate slice
S. VISWANATHAN
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.
G. KARTHIKEYAN

CPI(M) members led by the party’s State Secretary, N. Varadarajan, in Dindigul on November 2, 2007, demanding a committee to look into exclusive reservation for Arunthathiyars.
ON November 28, 2008, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi announced that the State Cabinet had “accepted in principle” the report of the one-man commission headed by M.S. Janardhanam, a retired judge of the Madras High Court, recommending a separate 3 per cent reservation for Arunthathiyar, Chakkiliyar and a few other sub-sects within the existing quota (18 per cent) for the Scheduled Castes (S.Cs). The announcement was made after an all-party meeting in Chennai.
Janardhanam, who was invited to brief the Cabinet about the commission’s recommendations, said the Arunthathiyar community and others chosen for separate reservation were in the most backward state of development. A Cabinet committee later decided the modalities to implement the recommendations. The Chief Minister said the recommendations would be implemented “immediately” as the basic objective of his government was to uplift the oppressed.
Leaders of almost all political parties hailed the decision. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary J. Jayalalithaa, who initially termed the decision on separate reservation “a political fraud” on the grounds that the State government had no power to “create” reservation within the reservation for the S.Cs., changed her stance the next day and welcomed the proposal. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi president Thol. Thirumavalavan, who welcomed the decision, wanted the Chief Minister to convene a meeting of Dalit leaders to discuss the “successful implementation” of the 3 per cent reservation for Arunthathiyars.
N. Varadarajan, general secretary of the State Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), and R. Athiyamaan, the founder of Adhi Thamizhar Peravai, an organisation of Arunthathiyars, which spearheaded the struggle for separate reservation, demanded the early implementation of the recommendations. Athiyamaan also wanted the quota to be increased to 6 per cent corresponding to their share in the State’s population.
Arunthathiyars, along with Chakkiliyars and a few other sub-castes, belong to the lowest strata of the caste-based social hierarchy and are the worst sufferers of untouchability. A significant section of these people is still used for removing night soil and cleaning underground sewers (see separate story). The traditional occupation of Arunthathiyars is making leather goods. They have played a notable role as makers and menders of kamalai, a leather bag used to draw water from wells to irrigate dryland. A significant number of them have been engaged in agriculture-related activities too.
The famines of the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the State forced them to migrate to towns and take up odd jobs as sweepers and manual scavengers.
Arunthathiyars and Chakkiliyars have been included in the list of S.Cs, who are entitled to 18 per cent reservation in education and employment and reservation in political positions. Together, the two communities account for about 15.5 lakh (13.1 per cent) of the Dalit population (1.18 crore) in Tamil Nadu. Dalits account for 19 per cent of the State’s total population (6.2 crore), according to Census 2001.
Among Dalits, the literacy rate of Arunthathiyars is 53.7 per cent and that of Chakkiliyars is 50.9 per cent. The corresponding figures for others are Paraiyars 65.9, Adi Dravidars 65.3 and Pallars 65. The overall Dalit literacy rate is 63.2 per cent against the State’s 73.5 per cent. The dropout rates among Arunthathiyar and Chakkiliyar children after the primary level are much higher than in Adi Dravidar, Pallar and Paraiyar communities (see table).
One of the reasons attributed to the relative backwardness of Arunthathiyars and Chakkiliyars in education is that they were late starters. During the British period, sections of the Adi Dravidar, Pallar and Paraiyar communities had the benefit of school education thanks to Christian missionaries. According to a researcher, missionaries did not show any interest in Arunthathiyars and Chakkiliyars because caste Hindus thwarted the conversion of these people as their services were indispensable to them.
Attempts to improve the lot of Arunthathiyars and Chakkiliyars were made by community leaders such as L.C. Gurusami, who founded the Arunthathiyar Mahasabha in 1920, and H.M. Jaganathan. They started schools for Arunthathiyar children. However, these schools closed down soon for want of government aid.
The Tamil Nadu Arunthathiyar Sangam, formed in 1958, organised the people in the community to assert their rights. An organisation named Youth Guidance Service, formed in 1984 by first-generation beneficiaries of the statutory reservation system, was the first to demand separate reservation for Arunthathiyars. The Adhi Thamizhar Peravai has also been fighting for the cause of the Arunthathiyars for over a decade now.
The struggle for “reservation within reservation” was intensified in 2007 with a rally organised by the CPI(M) in Chennai, in which over 30,000 Arunthathiyar people participated. The Adhi Thamizhar Peravai, together with the CPI(M), later held many demonstrations and meetings to press their demands for separate reservation.
The State government responded with the formation of a welfare board for Arunthathiyars and convened an all-party meeting in Chennai on March 12, 2008, to discuss the sub-quota demand. The consensus at the meeting was in favour of granting the demand, and the government appointed the Janardhanam Commission.
Issue of imbalance
The issue of imbalance among the different Dalit sub-sects and the need to take corrective steps have been highlighted by an advisory committee on the revision of lists of the S. Cs and the S.Ts as early as 1965.
The committee, headed by B.N. Lokur, the then Secretary of the Union Ministry of Law, observed: “It has been in evidence for some time now that a lion’s share of the various benefits and concessions earmarked for the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes is appropriated by the numerically larger and politically well-organised communities. The smaller and more backward communities [among the S.Cs] have tended to get lost in the democratic process, though more deserving of special aid….” He said “the time has come when the question of de-scheduling of relatively advanced communities should receive serious and urgent consideration” (“Caste card” by Jagdeep S. Chhokar, Frontline, August 15, 2008).
The judiciary also had occasion to look into the impact of reservation on the communities concerned and the steps to protect the weaker sections. In November 2004, the Supreme Court quashed an Andhra Pradesh Act that categorised the S.Cs into four groups for the purpose of admission to educational institutions and for employment. The Act, which came into being in 2000 replacing an ordinance, was based on the report of a commission the Telugu Desam government led by N. Chandrababu Naidu had appointed in response to a struggle by the Madiga Reservation Porata Samiti.
The samiti’s demand was to fix a sub-quota for Madigas, who constitute 40.99 per cent (3,263,675) of the S.C. population in the State. The demand was made on the grounds that Malas, whose share in the S.C. population was only slightly higher than theirs, at 46.94 per cent (3,737,609), had been cornering the benefits of reservation in larger proportions.
The commission agreed that there was a disparity and recommended corrective steps. The government accepted the findings and the Assembly passed the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Castes (Rationalisation of Reservation) Act, 2000, to remove the disparity. The Act provided for dividing the listed castes into four categories for reservation.

The law was challenged in the High Court and the Full Bench upheld the legislation by four to one. When the issue came up before the Supreme Court on appeal, a five-judge Constitution Bench held that micro-classification of S.Cs into sub-groups and fixing different percentages of reservation for them within the overall S.C. quota was unconstitutional. The Bench said that reservation must be considered from the social objective angle, having regard to the constitutional scheme, and not as a political issue.
The court held that in the context of members of the S.Cs being the most backward among the backward classes, it was not permissible for the government to further classify them into sub-groups. The Bench, headed by Justice N. Santosh Hegde, therefore, quashed the Act holding that such micro-classification was in violation of the right to equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution. The Constitution Bench ruled that such classification of members of different classes of people on the basis of their respective castes would be “in violation of the doctrine of reasonableness”.
It said: “Article 341 of the Constitution provides that exclusion of even of a part or group of castes from the Presidential List can be done only by Parliament. State legislatures are forbidden from doing that.” The court further held that “a uniform yardstick must be adopted for giving benefits to the members of [the] Scheduled Castes for the purpose of the Constitution. The impugned legislation, being contrary to the above constitutional scheme, cannot, therefore, be sustained.”
The Supreme Court decision on the Andhra Act had far-reaching consequences. The Punjab and Haryana High Court held as void the sub-categorisation of S.Cs that was in operation in Punjab since 1975 and in Haryana since 1995. The Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the Punjab government then appealed to the Union government to enact a law to facilitate recategorisation. Soon it was noticed that the problem was not confined to these three States. There were complaints from more States that reservation had led to disproportionate benefits to certain sections of S.Cs at the cost of other sections. Accordingly, the Union government appointed a commission headed by Justice Usha Mehra to go into the issue.
The Usha Mehra Commission, in its report submitted to the Union Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment in May 2008, reportedly favoured the classification of the S.Cs into sub-groups with a view to uplifting the status of the deprived lot among them and recommended that the Constitution be amended suitably for the purpose. The commission did not agree with the contention that the S.Cs as envisaged in the Constitution constitute a homogeneous group. It said that in terms of traditional occupation, caste practices and the physical structure of the villages, these castes differed from each other and as such there was apparently no homogeneity among them. The commission also said that its studies had shown that under the existing system there was no possibility of the benefits reaching those at the bottom in due proportion.
The Usha Mehra Commission’s recommendation has received mixed reaction from Dalit leaders. Ram Vilas Paswan, the Union Minister of Chemicals, Fertilizers and Steel, said that sub-categorisation would damage Dalit unity. He said there would not be any consensus on the proposal in the ruling United Progressive Alliance or its major component, the Congress.
While leaders of the disadvantaged Dalit sub-sects across the country have hailed the recommendation, others see it as a threat to Dalit unity. C.P. Prabakara Rao, president of the Andhra Pradesh Mala Mahanadu, said the commission’s recommendation suggesting sub-categorisation of S.Cs would not stand legal scrutiny.
The Union Social Justice Ministry has sent the Usha Mehra Commission’s report to the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) for its comments. The Tamil Nadu proposal also has come up before the NCSC for clearance. NCSC Chairman Buta Singh has reportedly promised Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways T.R. Baalu to place the proposal, which had been approved by the State government “in principle”, before the commission. (Under Article 338 (9) of the Constitution, the governments at the Centre and in the States have to consult the commission whenever they take policy decisions relating to the S.Cs.)
Some sections among the Dalit activists and political parties, however, are sceptical about the early implementation of the proposal. Puthiya Thamizhagam president K. Krishnasamy said the proposal would be in a legal tangle inasmuch as an Andhra Pradesh Act on the subject has been quashed by the Supreme Court.
Dalit activist and member of the State Assembly D. Ravikumar pointed out a technical problem. He said that in the absence of a caste-wise census, the present reservation to Dalits was calculated on the basis of Census 1971, whereas the 3 per cent reservation for Arunthathiyars had been mooted on the basis of Census 2001. He wanted the government to increase the reservation for the S.Cs. from 18 per cent to 19 per cent on the basis of Census 2001 and also clear the backlog of vacancies in government departments.
P. Sampath, State convener of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, hoped that the government would resolve the legal tangles and implement the proposal soon. He said that until manual scavenging and the deployment of Dalits for underground sewerage cleaning were ended, the liberation of Arunthathiyars would be incomplete.
________________________________________________________________________________

Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam Tk.Chikkarasampalayam Arunthathiyer girl child Punitha (14 age) rap and murder

2008-10-02T06:19:00.000-07:00

Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam Tk.Chikkarasampalayam Arunthathiyer girl child Punitha (14 age) rap and murder

In the Sathyamanagalam Taluk of Erode District in Tamilnadu, in the Chikarasam palayam village is located, a government Hr.Sec. School where about 400 students are studying. Among them Arunthathiyar children are also studying. In the above situation, the arunthathiyar students who come to school 5 minutes late are punished by sending them home and not allowing them to attend class, intentionally. This has been the practice for a long time without any consideration on the part of the school administration regarding the student’s future and education.

In this village, Mr.Sakthi(38) a arunthathiyar is working as bonded labour in a farm in Thanirpanthal thotam, his daughter Punitha(14) studying in the above school in the 8th std. On the date of incident i.e. (08.08.08) Punitha as usual went to school in the morning. But unfortunately she was late by 5 minutes, the school teacher sent her back with the intention of degrading the Arunthathiyar community children purposefully. On her way back, on a lone road some miscreants belonging to the caste Hindu community, kidnapped Punitha and brutally raped and killed the girl who was barely a teenager in her adolescent and she had not yet attained puberty. The miscreants who committed this heinous crime behaved in an animal fashion even though they were fully aware they are purposefully committing this act on small child belonging to the Arunthathiyar community.

The postmortem was conducted in the Sathyamanagalam Gov. Hospital and police complaint was also filed in the Sathyamanagalam police station. But till date, nobody was arrested which shows the lack of respect for the community and womanhood. Due to the above situation, children from the Arunthathiyar community are frighten to go school.

Arunthathiyer Girl children forcly used in toilet clean

2008-10-02T06:18:00.000-07:00

Arunthathiyer Girl children forcly used in toilet clean

In Tamilandu, Villankuruchi village is situated in the Coimbatore north Taluk, there is a government middle school where about 350 children are studying and 9 teachers are working. There are 13 toilets in the school for use of teachers and children. In the above scenario, for the past many years, Arunthathiyar ( a dalit sub caste ) children only have to clean the toilets in the morning and evening. With scant respect for their health and education by the school head master and teachers who forcibly asked the Arunthathiyar community students to do this despicable work.

The Arunthathiyar community children complained to their parents regarding this injustice which was happening to them for a long time. Some of the parents went to the school to meet the head master and complain. The headmistress Ms.Filomina and teacher Ms.Umamaheswari ( belonging to Pallar caste – sub caste of Dalits) got angry and abused the parents and beat the children who reported this incident mercilessly by locking them in a class room and also by physical torture. They also threatened the parents by telling them that they will dismiss their children from school and ruin their life and future.

On 31-7-08, About 90 affected children with their parents approached the Coimbatore District collector personally and presented a petition regarding the atrocities happening to their community, for more than half-an-hour. They also requested the department take action against the school head master and teacher. The collector also promised to take action against the erring headmistress and teacher. A formal police complaint was also filed vide u/s 323 3(1) (x) SC/ST PA Act, FIR No. 178/2008, Dated 31.7.2008 in the kovil palayam police station which is near the concerned school in Coimbatore.

Due to the interference of the upper caste party politicians and also upper caste government officials no action has been taken against the school headmistress and the teacher till date. And they have not been arrested till yet.

Arunthathiyer gril child rap and murder at Sathyamangalam

2008-08-15T03:08:00.000-07:00

Arunthathiyer gril child rap and murder
Erode.Dt,Sathyamangalam,Chikkarasampalayam arunthathiyer village Punitha 14 years age ..She is studying in 8th standard class ..Her father iis bonded labour Mr.Sakthivel .Her younger sister is also child labour .Friday 8th .she went to school .But she not come back to home .After sunday her body is found at gardan .Somebody is raped and murder her .Case was booked IPC302 FIR NO 549/2008 ..
posted by Arunthathiyer Cultural Night @ 9:58 AM 0 comments

மாநகரம் புனிதமாகிய ஒரு நாள்

2008-07-11T06:53:00.000-07:00

Nandri

மாநகரம் புனிதமாகிய ஒரு நாள் - ச.தமிழ்ச்செல்வன்
மலக்குழிகளிலிருந்துமனிதர்கள் எழுந்து வந்தார்கள்மாநகர வீதிகள் அன்று புனிதமாகின.பீக்கூடைகளை உதறிப் பெண்கள்பீடுநடை போட்டு வந்தார்கள்பெருநகரமே அன்று மணத்துக்கிடந்தது.செருப்பாய்த் தேய்ந்த மனிதர்கள் அன்றுசேர்ந்து நடைபோட்டு வந்தார்கள்சென்னை அன்றுதான் உண்மையாகவே சிங்காரமானது.தோழமை என்னும் சொல் அன்றுஆழம் கொண்டது கூடுதல் அர்த்தம் பெற்றதுவா என் தோழனே என்றவர் அழைத்தவாஞ்சையில் கரைந்த மக்கள்வந்தே கூடினர் வழிகளெங்கும்வாழ்வுக்கு விடைகாணும் வேகத்தோடுவங்கக் கடலலையும் வாழ்த்துச்சொல்லசெங்கொடியும் அவர்கை சேர்ந்த சிலிர்ப்பில்விம்மித் தணிந்தது புதிதாய் வீறு கொண்டெழுந்தது!அருந்ததியர் மக்களின் விடுதலையை நோக்கி முதல் தப்படியை எடுத்து வைத்தது மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கம்யூனிஸ்ட் கட்சி. கடந்த ஜூன் 12ஆம் தேதி கோட்டை நோக்கிப் பேரணி என அறிவித்து தமிழக அரசியல் பண்பாட்டு வரலாற்றில் ஒரு புதிய அத்தியாயத்தைத் துவக்கி வைத்தது. ஒரு சாதியைச் சேர்ந்த மக்களுக்காக ஒரு பேரணி. மலமும் சாக்கடையும் செருப்பும் சுடுகாடுமே அன்றாட வாழ்வென விதிக்கப்பட்ட அருந்ததியர் மக்களை அணிதிரட்டிப் போராடுவது தன் வர்க்கக் கடமை என்பதை முற்றிலுமாக உணர்ந்து முன் கை எடுத்த மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் தொண்டர்கள் 34 மாவட்டங்களிலும் அருந்ததியர் வாழும் பகுதிகளுக்கு வீதி வீதியாகச் சென்று அம்மக்களை அழைத்து வந்தனர். பஸ்களிலும் வேன்களிலும் லாரிகளிலுமாக சென்னைக்கு வந்த மக்கள் மன்றோ சிலையிலிருந்து கோட்டை நோக்கி அணி அணியாகச் செங்கொடியேந்திப் பவனி வந்தனர்.அருந்ததியர், சக்கிலியர், மாதாரி, பகடை, ஆதி ஆந்திரா, ஆதி கர்நாடகா, மாதிகா என்று பலப்பல பெயர்களால் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் அழைக்கப்படுகிற இம்மக்கள் அருந்ததியர் என்னும் ஓர் குடைக்கீழ் அணிதிரட்டப்பட வேண்டும் என்கிற புரிதலோடு மார்க்சிஸ்ட்டுகள் தம் கட்சி அணிகளைக் களமிறக்கினர். முதன்முதலாகக் களம் கண்டது விருதுநகர் மாவட்டம். 7.9.2006 அன்று விருதுநகரில் அருந்ததியர் விடுதலைக்கான முதல் வாழ்வுரிமை மாநாடு நடைபெற்றது. அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்போன கட்சி அணிகள் இம்மக்களின் வாழ்நிலை கண்டு அதிர்ந்து திரும்பினர்.அதற்கு மேலும் காலம் தவறவிடக்கூடாது என்கிற அவசரமான உணர்வுடன் கட்சி அம்மக்களின் பிரச்னைகளைக் கையிலெடுக்கத் துவங்கியது. கந்துவட்டிக் கொடுமையில் கசந்து கிடக்கும் வாழ்விலிருந்து அவர்களைமீட்க வேண்டும். 1993ஆம் ஆண்டிலேயே “கையால் மலம் அள்ளும் முறை மற்றும் உலர்கழிப்பறை கட்டத் தடைச்சட்டம்’’ ஒன்றை மத்திய அரசு நிறைவேற்றியிருந்தபோதும் மேற்குவங்கம் போல ஓரிரு மாநிலங்கள் தவிர பிற எந்த மாநிலமும் இச்சட்டத்தைக் கண்டு கொள்ளவில்லை. இந்தப் பின்னணியில் கையால் மலம் அள்ளும் கொடுமைக்கு முடிவு கட்டுவதை மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சி முதல் பிரச்னையாகக் கையில் எடுத்தது. விருதுநகரை அடுத்து திண்டுக்கல்லில் 26.4.07 அன்று இன்னும் கூடுதாக திட்டமிடுதலோடு அருந்ததியர் மாநாட்டை மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சி நடத்தியது.இம்மாநாடுகளுக்கு அருந்ததியர் மத்தியில் ஏற்கனவே பணி செய்து கொண்டிருக்கும் அனைத்து அமைப்புகளின் தலைவர்களும் அழைக்கப்பட்டனர். அவர்களோடு ஒரு தோழமைபூர்வமான கலந்துரையாடல் தொடங்கப்பட்டது. அசலான கோரிக்கைகளை வடித்தெடுக்க அவர்களின் ஆலோசனைகள் பெறப்பட்டன.மண்டல வாரியாக மாநிலம் முழுக்கக் கட்சியின் மாவட்டத் தலைவர்கள் கூட்டம் நடத்தி கோரிக்கைகள் இறுதிப்படுத்தப்பட்டன. ஊர் ஊராகத் தோழர்கள் நேரில் சென்று அருந்ததியர் மக்களை அணிதிரட்டினர். எல்லா மாவட்டங்களிலும் மத்திய தர வர்க்க கட்சி ஊழியர்கள் பஸ் ஏற்பாடுகளுக்குக் கை கொடுத்தனர். கட்சியின் அனைத்துப் பகுதி ஊழியர்களும் எழுச்சிகொண்ட இயக்கமாக இது மாறியது. பேராசிரியர்கள், வங்கி ஊழியர்கள், தொலைத்தொடர்பு ஊழியர்கள், இன்சூரன்ஸ் ஊழியர்கள், முற்போக்கு எழுத்தாளர்கள் என பலதரப்பு மக்கள் பேரணிக்கு வந்தனர். தங்கள் பதாகைகளோடு சாலை ஓரங்களில் நின்று பேரணியை வரவேற்று கோஷங்கள் முழக்கினர். புதிய கூட்டணி ஒன்று இயல்பாக உருவானதை அன்று கண்ணாரக்காண முடிந்தது. இது தொடர வேண்டும்.செருப்பில்லாத கால்களோடு பெண்களும், குழந்தைகளும் சென்னை நகரத்து வீதிகளில் அன்று நடந்து வந்தனர். காலமெல்லாம் சேரிகளுக்கும் அப்பால் ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட மக்கள் நடுவீதிகளில் நாயகமாக நடந்து வந்தனர். பாருங்கள் பெரியோர்களே நாங்கள் உங்கள் சக மனிதர்கள்தான் என்று உரக்கப்பேசி வந்தனர். ஆதரவாகக் குரல் எழுப்பிய அமைப்புகளைக் கண்டு அம்மக்கள் இதெல்லாம் நமக்கே நமக்கா என்று நம்பமுடியாமல் வியந்தனர்.பேரணியிலும் சாலையிலும் பொதுக்கூட்டத்திலும் சென்னை வீதியிலும் மட்டுமல்ல நீங்கள் வாழும் ஊர்களிலும் தெருக்களிலும் நாங்கள் உங்களோடு உறுதியாக நிற்போம் என்பதை நாம் எதிர்வரும் காலத்தில் செய்துகாட்ட வேண்டியிருக்கிறது. பேரணிக்கு முன்பாக தமிழக முதல்வரைச் சந்திக்க தலைவர்கள் குழு தோழர் என்.வரதராஜன் அவர்கள் தலைமையில் கோட்டைக்குச் சென்று கோரிக்கை மனு அளித்து வந்தது. மனித மலத்தை மனிதன் அள்ளும் கொடுமைக்கு முடிவு கட்ட முதல்கட்டமாக இந்த ஆண்டு 54 கோடி ரூபாய் ஒதுக்குவதாக முதல்வர் அறிவித்துள்ளார். தலித் மக்களுக்கான இடஒதுக்கீட்டில் அருந்ததியர் மக்களுக்கு அவர்களின் மக்கள் தொகைக்கேற்ப உள்ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப்பட வேண்டும் என்பது இன்னொரு முக்கியமான கோரிக்கை. இதுபற்றி ஆய்வு செய்ய குழு அமைப்பதாக முதல்வர் ஒப்புக் கொண்டுள்ளார். தூய்மைப் பணியாளர்களுக்காக ஒரு நலவாரியம் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவையெல்லாம் நிச்சயமாக இப்பேரணிக்குக் கிடைத்த வெற்றிகள்தான்.கிடைத்ததை உறுதிசெய்து உரிய மக்களுக்குக் கொண்டு சேர்ப்பதும் இன்று மார்க்சிஸ்ட் கட்சியின் முன்நிற்கும் கடமையாகியிருக்கிறது. இன்னும் அடைய வேண்டிய இலக்குகள் எத்தனையோ காத்துக் கிடக்கின்றன.சாதிரீதியாகக் கூட இம்மக்கள் பெருமளவுக்கு அணிதிரட்டப்படவில்லை. பத்துக்கு மேற்பட்ட அமைப்புகள் இம்மக்கள் மத்தியில் இயங்குகின்றன என்றபோதும் நிகழும் கொடுமைகள் கண்டு கோபப்பட்டுத் தம் மக்களை அணிதிரட்டுகிற அளவுக்குத் தேவையான ஒரு மத்திய தர வர்க்கம் இச்சாதி மக்களிடையே இன்னும் உருவாகவில்லை. திண்டுக்கல்லில் 135 கிராமங்களில் ஆய்வு செய்த மார்க்சிஸ்ட் தோழர்கள் ஒரு பட்டதாரியைக்கூடக் காணவில்லை என்று கூறியுள்ளனர்.ஆகவே இன்றைய அறிவுசார் உலகத்தில் அவர்களுக்காகப் பேச அவர்களுக்காக வலுவாகக் குரல் கொடுக்க வேறு யாரும் இல்லை. அருந்ததியர் அமைப்புகளும் இடதுசாரிகளும் மனசாட்சியுள்ள பிற மனிதர்களும் அமைப்புகளும் ஒன்றுசேர்ந்து பேசியாக வேண்டும். அவர்களுக்கு வரலாறு நெடுகிலும் காலமெல்லாம் அள்ளப் பீக் கொடுத்த நாம் ஒவ்வொருவரும் கடன்பட்டிருக்கிறோம். நாம் திருப்பிச் செலுத்த வேண்டிய முதல் கடன் அவர்களுக்குரியது.அவர்களின் வாழ்வு இன்னதென்று கூட அறியாதிருக்கும் நாம் குற்றஉணர்வு கொள்வோம். சக மனிதர்களைக் குற்றஉணர்வு கொள்ளச் செய்வோம். பெற்ற தகப்பன்கூட வெளிக்கிருந்த பிள்ளைக்கு ஆய் கழுவி விடுவதில்லை. மனைவியைத்தான் அழைப்பான். பெற்ற தாய் மட்டும் முகம் சுளிக்காமல் நமக்குக் கால் கழுவி விடுகிறாள். அத்தனை சாதிகளுக்கும் ஆண்டாண்டு காலமாய் மலம் அள்ளிச் சேவகம் செய்கின்ற அருந்ததியர் இனம்தான் தமிழ்ச்சமூகத்தின் தாய்.தாயை மறந்த சமூகம் உருப்படாது. இனியாவது கவனிப்போம். இயன்றதைச் செய்வோம். இயலாததையும் செய்ய முயற்சிப்போம். இது நம் ஒவ்வொருவர் கடமை.

Arunthathiyer youth murder

2008-07-10T23:49:00.000-07:00

Coimbatore district ,Palladam taluk,Unjapalayam village Arunthathiyer Mr.Sitrarasu .He did marriege with high caste gounder community girl Ms.Gomathi .Both are last one and half years ago did marrige .Ms.Gomathi family was against this marrige because of Mr.Sitrarasu is a low caste Arunthathiyer.He is a power loom labour .Last 5th july he went to relation house for one death serimany .After he return home .Mr.Sitrarasu was murder by Ms.Gomathi family .Gomathi given complaint against her family .Case was filed .

Some Dalits Are Even Less Equal

2008-07-06T03:20:00.000-07:00

Some Dalits Are Even Less Equal
The Arunthathiyars bear the weight of caste oppression in Tamil Nadu, says R. Adhyaman
I belong to the Arunthathiyar community, the most oppressed of the Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu, where Dalits comprise 20 percent of the population. Of the 76 communities listed as SCS, the Paraiyars, the Pallars and the Arunthathiyars are the three main groups.Arunthathiyars constitute about one-third of the state’s Dalit population and live in miserable conditions, working as manual scavengers, cobblers and agricultural labourers. Thousands are employed as conservancy workers in civic bodies. Though they speak Telugu at home, their children go to Tamil medium schools and follow Tamil customs. We are Tamils and that’s why I have named my organisation the Adhi Thamizhar Peravai. All Dalits are not equal. Arunthathiyars are looked down upon by other SCS. We bear the whole weight of caste oppression. It is no secret that the two-tumbler system is still prevalent in many villages. But I have news for you. There are villages where they keep three tumblers in tea shops — one for the caste Hindu, one for the Arunthathiyar, and one for the non-Arunthathiyar Dalit. The Pallars and Paraiyars think they are superior to us. They don’t inter-marry with us. The two Dalit parties in the state, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal (VC, formerly known as Dalit Panthers of India) and Puthiya Thamizhagam, represent the interests of the Paraiyars and the Pallars respectively. In the last Assembly elections, VC contested nine seats as part of the AIADMK front and all nine candidates belonged to the Paraiyar community.There are 44 reserved seats in the Assembly, but Arunthathiyars have never won more than five seats. At present, there are three Arunthathiyar MLAS — two in the DMK and one in the AIADMK. Paraiyars are the majority in the northern districts, Pallars in the southern districts, and Arunthathiyars in the western districts. No one except a Paraiyar can contest a reserved seat in the north. Pallars rule the roost in the south. But when it comes to areas where we are in majority, this rule does not apply. Parties field non- Arunthathiyars and win. The benefits of reservation for Dalits in Tamil Nadu have gone to Pallars and Paraiyars. There is 18 percent reservation for SCS. Our demand is that six percent of it should be earmarked for Arunthathiyars. We have represented our demands to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi and he has promised to consider the matter. We have also asked him to take steps to abolish manual scavenging. The CM granted one of our demands and formed a welfare board for conservancy workers. Adhiyaman is founder president, Adhi Thamizhar Peravai, a Dalit social movement. As told to PC Vinoj Kumar

Compartmental reservation sought for Arunthathiyars

2008-07-02T06:40:00.000-07:00

Compartmental reservation sought for Arunthathiyars
MADURAI: The Adi Tamilar Peravai has sought compartmental reservation for Arunthathiyar Dalits.The Peravai, an Ambedkarite social movement working for the upliftment of Arunthathiyar community, on Monday demanded six per cent out of 18 per cent reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in employment and education.Speaking at the sixth regional conference here, its president R. Adiyaman, said that Arunthathiyars were at the lowest rung among the Scheduled Castes and hence, the State Government should provide a reservation of 6 per cent to them on the basis of their population.Calling for the abolition of manual scavenging, the conference wanted the Government to provide alternative means of livelihood to those people engaged in the work.It felt that the whole of the Dalit sub-caste, referred to in different names, should be clubbed and called Arunthathiyar.A Government Order should be passed in this regard.The community should be relieved of the Tamil Nadu Adi Dravida Development Corporation (THADCO) loans as in the case of farmers who had taken cooperative loans.It said that a life-size statue of freedom fighter Ondi Veeran Pagadai should be installed in Tirunelveli and a memorial for him built in Nerkattum Sevvayal.The Peravai wanted the authorities to relocate the statue of Madurai Veeran from near the eastern tower to inside the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple as it was near the place where visitors left their footwear.http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/10/stories/2007101059030300.htm

Arunnthathiyer attacked by caste hindus

2008-07-01T01:19:00.000-07:00

Coimbatore.Dt,Tirupur .taluk,Vallipuuram Arunthathiyer village Mr.Venothkumar (21),Veerasamy(40) .18.06.2008 They went by motor car to Ammapalayam .During that time Mr.Ravi,Mr.Ramsh came by two wheeler .This both are belongs to high caste .Two wheeler was over speed and crash to car also .They beaten to Mr.Vinothkumar and Veerasamy .Both are attacked by Ravi and Ramesh ..

Complaint given to Tirupur -Avinashipalayam police station .Case was filed under SC/ST Act.3(1)(10).