Tamil Nadu   

Youth asked to end rural untouchability

UDUMALPET: Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam (PDK) has requested the Backward Class youth, who have become upwardly mobile thanks to education and employment, to persuade elders of their community to immediately abolish untouchability in villages.

Speaking at Kozhumam, Madathukulam, Kaniyur, Karathozuvu and Udumalpet here on Sunday, as part of a seven-day ‘Campaign to annihilate caste and untouchability’, PDK president Kolathur T.S. Mani appealed to the educated and progressive youth from the backward class to initiate pro-active steps to abolish the two-tumbler system (one for Dalits and another for caste Hindus) in tea shops and to ensure that Dalits were allowed to enter all temples.

Quoting a field study conducted by his party, Mr. Mani said untouchability was still prevailing in the form of two tumblers in as many as 500 tea shops in rural parts of Dindigul, Salem, and Erode districts.

Caste-based discrimination was worse in western districts than in other regions. The Dalits of this region were subjected to constant intimidation and they were not in a position to fight this evil practice, he added.

Appreciating the State Government for its prompt action following publication of the study, Mr. Mani said the inhuman practice was still in vogue in Kundadam and Dharapuram regions in Erode district and also in Oddanchatram belt in Dindigul district.

He said the caste Hindus were also denied education and entry in temples till a couple of decades ago and they should not treat others as lower to them.

Mr. Mani said the PDK cadres would break separate tumblers for Dalits in tea shops on October 2. Soon after the seven-day campaign in Erode, Dindigul and Coimbatore districts, the second phase of campaign would be conducted in other districts.

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