Coimbatore admn brings down ‘untouchability wall’

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

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

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

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

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

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