The Hindu : Keeripatti, Pappapatti Dalits want to keep cordial ties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Keeripatti, Pappapatti Dalits want to keep cordial ties

By K.T.Sangameswaran

CHENNAI SEPT. 27. Apart from social activists and Dalit groups probing the ground realities in panchayats near Madurai, which have been unable to elect Dalit chiefs, the police are trying to understand the nature of the problems.

Many at Pappapatti and Keeripatti, which are in the news in view of the elections for panchayat president, do not wish to file their nominations mainly because ``cordial relations'' have existed between the Dalits and caste-Hindus in the villages for long. That seems to be the conclusion of the State police agencies.

Police sources say the Dalits, who constitute a minority in the villages, do not wish to spoil the atmosphere of good relations. With only two persons filing their papers at Pappapatti and none in the fray at Keeripatti, the Social Justice CID, which is entrusted with enforcing the Protection of Civil Rights Act and the Scheduled Caste and the Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, is monitoring the situation in the two villages to ensure that there is no violation of civil rights.

No complaint has so far been received of threat or intimidation, preventing anyone from filing his or her nomination, a senior police officer told The Hindu. The police are trying to ascertain the exact reason why two Dalits, who filed nominations, withdrew from the fray at Keeripatti.

The sources point out that in both the villages, the SCs constitute only 10-15 per cent of the total population, the remaining being caste Hindus. For generations, members of the minority caste have been working as agricultural labourers on fields owned by caste-Hindus and there have been ``cordial relations'' between the two castes. Also, at major festivals in local temples, the caste Hindus honoured the Dalits.

In fact, Atharmalai and Setty, who filed their nominations at Keeripatti and later backed out, were supported by the majority caste.

There have already been demands that the panchayats be de-reserved in the interest of the public at large.

However, some of the Dalit parties have alleged that the SCs ``are under pressure'' from the caste Hindus and ``afraid'' of filing their papers. They cite past instances those ``defying'' the ruling class having ``paid the price''.

Official sources say it is now for the district administration and the State Election Commission to decide on the future course of action. ``De-reservation is certainly one solution'', says a senior official.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Southern States

News Update

Stories in this Section

`Powerlooms must get out of parallel economy'

Keeripatti, Pappapatti Dalits want to keep cordial ties

Paswan wants overarching secular alliance

Plea for more FTCs before apex court: CJ

President should sack Kannappan, says Swamy

'Indian tea can satisfy Pak. palate'

Rs. 120 cr. for procurement of free dhotis, sarees

Cong. plans protest for jobs

Pannaiyar's funeral peaceful

Clips on rail track 'missing', officials suspended