Tuesday, Aug 06, 2002
Tuesday, Aug 06, 2002 |
| Southern States | ||
|
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Obituary | Southern States
-
Tamil Nadu
By R. Ilangovan
S. Chellammal, who won the election with the help of caste Hindus here. Forlorn and isolated, she finds it difficult to perform her duties. The Dalit president lives in a house in one corner of the Adi Dravidar Colony of the town, from where the slain former president, Murugesan, and six others who died with him, hailed. The village Dalits are not happy with the performance of Chellammal, who has completed almost a year in the office. They accuse her of taking most of the development works to areas where caste Hindus live. Even the streetlights are not burning in the colony. Chellammal is yet to take a decision on constructing a pathway to the burial ground. Even water tanks, sanctioned for the village in view of the prevailing drought-like situation, are being kept in areas where Hindu live. The colony, which has more than 250 houses, is struggling for a pot of potable water. Recently, the president broke down, in front of the DPI leader, Tirumavalavan, saying her "own kith and kin have been ignoring and intimidating her''. Dalit youths say that most of the residents avoid interaction with her. ``When we pleaded, she refused to withdraw from the contest,'' says a Dalit in the village. With overwhelming support from the caste Hindus, Chellammal defeated other Dalit candidates. "She betrayed us. But we allowed her to stay in the colony,'' says a resident. But Chellammal denies the allegations. She says she has been working under severe strain as "a few misguided youths, mostly relatives of the slain Dalits'', are trying to vitiate the atmosphere in the village. She claims many development works are being undertaken only in the Dalit areas. Permission for laying the pathway to the burial ground has already been sought from the Revenue department. Works for the construction of an overhead tank for the colony are about to commence. Even a paddy thrashing floor has been sanctioned. But certain works cannot be taken up owing to fund constrains. "They (caste Hindus) never pester me with their demand and never say no to any work being undertaken in the colony,'' she claims. But the Dalits of Melavalavu are reluctant to accept her. They have undergone hardships after the gruesome murders of Murugesan and six others in 1997, following the panchayat elections. No Dalit is given farm works in the village and its surroundings. With no rains, many men have migrated to Kerala and Tirupur, while the women remain in the village.
Printer friendly
page
News:
Front Page |
National |
Southern States |
Other States |
International |
Opinion |
Business |
Sport |
Miscellaneous |
|
|
|
The Hindu Group: Home | About Us | Copyright | Archives | Contacts | Subscription Group Sites: The Hindu | Business Line | The Sportstar | Frontline | Home |
Copyright © 2002, The
Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of
this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of
The Hindu
|
