The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Dalit Christians seek SC status

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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Dalit Christians seek SC status

A.V.Ragunathan

VILLUPURAM: Dalit Christians have urged the government to take them out of the Backward Classes list and accord them Scheduled Caste status.

A resolution was adopted at the Dalit Christians’ Political Awakening conference organised here by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi on Friday.It said that simply because they embraced Christianity, the Dalits had been discriminated against for ages. Therefore, to render justice to them, the Dalit Christians should be declared as Scheduled Castes and accordingly appropriate reservation should be made available to them.

Atrocities

Another resolution said that even after the change of religion, atrocities and discrimination against the Dalit Christians continued. Therefore, to give them legal protection, the provisions of the SCs/STs (prevention of atrocities) Act 1989 should be made applicable against those who were ill treating the Dalit Christians.

Eraiyur

Another resolution voiced concern over the continuing discrimination against the Dalit Christians at Eraiyur in Villupuram district. Therefore, it called upon the authorities to take action against the perpetrators of such atrocities.

It noted that all symbols of discrimination in churches such as separate chariots, thumbas (for carrying the dead) and segregating walls should be removed.

The conference sought the formation of a separate board for the administration and protection of church property from encroachers, on the model of the Wakf Board.

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