The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Arunthathiars demand end to manual scavenging

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Arunthathiars demand end to manual scavenging

Special Correspondent

We will consider your demands sympathetically, says Karunanidhi

HIGHLIGHTING THEIR DEMANDS: Workers taking part in a rally organised by the CPI (M) in Chennai on Tuesday. — Photo: R. Ragu

CHENNAI: A large number of sanitary workers, farm hands, casual labourers and conservancy employees took part in a rally organised by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) here on Tuesday.

Belonging to the Arunthathiar community, the most oppressed among the Dalits, the protestors, including those performing works such as manual scavenging and burying the dead, declared that they were no longer prepared to put up with the age-old discriminatory practices and insults heaped on them.

Just before the procession from the Munroe statue culminated in a meeting near the Chepauk Guesthouse, a delegation, led by CPI (M) State secretary N. Varadarajan, handed over a memorandum to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi at the Secretariat. Mr. Karunanidhi promised to look into their demands sympathetically.

The memorandum commended the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Government for conducting the elections for four panchayats, including Pappapatti and Keeripatti headed by Dalits, and setting up of a welfare board for sanitary workers.

The CPI (M) called for strict implementation of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act, 1993 and sought a time-bound programme to end manual scavenging. It demanded efforts to prevent death of labourers due to asphyxiation while cleaning sewerage network.

The party asked the Government to increase the reservation for the Scheduled Castes to 19 per cent on the basis of the 2001 census and provide a sub-quota for the Arunthathiars. It demanded the setting up of a commission to recommend the percentage of the sub-quota within six months.

The memorandum pleaded with the Government to issue community certificates classifying `Sakkiliyar', `Pagadai', `Mathika', `Madhari', `Adi Andhra', `Adi Karnataka', `Chemman' and `Thotti' as Arunthathiars.

The party demanded that a memorial be set up for Ondiveeran, a lieutenant of Poolithevan of Tirunelveli district, who challenged the British East India Company. It also wanted `manimandapams' for Muthan, Kandan and Potti, who played a vital role in the battles launched by Poligar of Panchalamkurichi Kattabomman, who fought the British in the 18th century. The CPI (M) urged the Government to form a welfare board for cobblers and improve the service conditions of sanitary workers in local bodies. The party opposed privatisation of conservancy work in local bodies. It demanded steps to fix minimum wages for conservancy workers and those working in graveyards and cremation grounds.

Other demands

The other demands were enhancing the performance of the Protection of Civil Rights Wing of the police, liberating the Dalits from usury, disbursing bank loans in easy instalments, protection to Dalit panchayat leaders and priority to Arunthathiars in the land distribution scheme.

Besides Mr. Varadarajan, Polit Bureau member K. Varadarajan, All-India Democratic Women's Association secretary U. Vasuki, Adi Tamizhar Peravai president R. Adhiyaman and Arunthathiar coordination committee leader Jakkaiyan addressed the rally.

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