Date:19/07/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/07/19/stories/2007071959940400.htm

Tamil Nadu

Dalits ‘reserve plots’ on poromboke land

Special Correspondent

They have placed stones, pillars, posts and even twigs as boundaries

— Photo: K. Manikandan

ASSERTING THEIR RIGHTS: The ‘poromboke’ land in Semmancheri village panchayat near Sholinganallur where several Dalit families “reserved plots” on Wednesday.

TAMBARAM: A large number of Dalit families “reserved plots” on ‘poromboke’ land in Semmancheri village panchayat near Sholinganallur off Old Mamallapuram Road on Wednesday. The families placed stones, pillars, posts and even twigs from plants as boundaries for their plots of choice.

Members of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and Dalit Manavar Sangam, who supported them, said all those who had reserved the plots were landless and homeless poor, who received little support from the State Government.

Those affected by the tsunami were yet to receive alternative houses and were now living in rented flats of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board.

Viduthalai Chezhiyan, State deputy general secretary of Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, said Wednesday’s action was a spontaneous response from the Dalits and their party supported them. The area that was taken control by the Dalit families was named as ‘Thol Thiruma Nagar,’ Mr. Chezhiyan said.

Pointing out to several huts that had encroached on poromboke land in adjoining Perumbakkam village panchayat, he said if the State Government took steps to prevent the Dalits from constructing houses in Semmancheri, encroachments in Perumbakkam should be evicted first.

Pon Sivakumar of Dalit Manavar Sangam said the plight of landless poor among the Dalits was always ignored by the government and their struggle for housing rights would continue. Officials of the Revenue Department of Kancheepuram district administration conceded that encroachments had taken place in Perumbakkam panchayat. The land on which the Dalit families attempted to book plots was classified as ‘poromboke’ and 120 acres of such land there were handed over to the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board for construction of multi-storey dwelling units for the landless.