CHENNAI: Puthiya Tamizhagam president K. Krishnasamy has urged the State Government to retrieve land allotted to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, which were allegedly taken over by others.

Talking to newsmen here on Wednesday, Dr. Krishnasamy said about 2.5 lakh acres of `panchami' land were distributed to SCs/STs by the British.

Over the years, the Dalits were forced to sell the land by "coercion and threat."

Though such land transactions were illegal, non-Dalits continued to enjoy the ownership.

Similarly, ownership of house site and land pattas, LPG and petrol company dealership and small-scale industries allotted to Dalits under various SC/ST welfare schemes by THADCO were not with the original allottees.

Stir threat

Dr. Krishnasamy also alleged that about 53 acres in Siruthavur in Kancheepuram district, allotted to local Dalits in1967 by the then DMK Government, were "transferred" to a family close to the then regime during 1991-96. The family had also encroached upon 200 acres of `puramboke' land in the same village.

He urged the Government to hand back the land to the original owners. If action was not taken within 15 days, his party would organise a state-wide stir.

Dr. Krishnasamy said there was great expectation among people about the proposed distribution of two acres land to the poor.

The Government should expedite the distribution by utilising 50 lakh acres of wasteland and surplus wetland acquired by it under the land ceiling law.

He demanded the State sanction 25 per cent of the budget allocation for the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.

Similar demands

The Dalit Rights Federation has also made similar demands. In a memorandum, it demanded takeover of panchami land in the hands of non-Dalits; separate budget for SCs/STs; priority for Dalits in distribution of two acre of land and waiving of loans given to SC/STs by THADCO.

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