Date:12/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/12/stories/2007101252100300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Adhi Thamilar Peravai demands compartmental quota for Arundhathiars

Staff Reporter

‘The community lags behind other sub-castes in Scheduled Castes’

Arundhathiars constitute one third of the total 1.25 crore population of SCs in the State
The community, with a large number of unemployed, is more vulnerable to atrocities

POLLACHI: Adhi Thamilar Peravai (ATP), a social organisation representing Arundhathiars in western Tamil Nadu, has urged the State Government to provide 6 per cent compartmental reservation for Arundhathiars under the 18 per cent reservation for the Scheduled Castes.

Various sections

“The community of conservancy workers and cobblers has been lagging behind other sections of Dalits in education, employment and in all spheres of life. We want compartmentalised reservation for various sections of Dalits on the lines of Andhra Pradesh, ” R. Adhiyamaan, founder president of ATP, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

The 18 per cent reservation for 76 sub-castes in the Scheduled Castes was being enjoyed by certain communities and many sections particularly Arundhathiars, known as Sakkiliars in local parlance, had not benefited out of it. Hence, the 76 sub-castes should be divided in to four major categories.

Population

“Arundhathiars constitute one third of the total 1.25 crore population of SCs in the State. We cannot compete with other sections who are educationally and economically advanced,” he said.

The ATP, which has been organising a series of conferences to highlight the demand, wanted the Chief Minister to implement the AP pattern of compartmental reservation in Tamil Nadu to do justice to all categories commensurate to their population.

Mr. Adhiyamaan said Communist Party of India (Marxist), Pattali Makkal Katchi and various social organisations have been supporting their demand. Dalit parties such as Viduthalai Siruthaigal Katchi and Puthiya Thamilagam have not opposed the idea.

Discrimination

While the community did not manage to bag even one per cent share in Government jobs and educational institutions, it ‘enjoyed’ 100 per cent reservation in one job, that of manual scavenging, Mr. Adhiyaman remarked bitterly.

Besides, the community, which had large number of unemployed and illiterates, was more vulnerable to discrimination and atrocities.

Differences

Mr. Adhiyamaan said there were distinct differences in lifestyle and culture among the three major sections of Dalits in the State such as Adhi-Dravidars, Devendrakula Velalars (Pallars) and Arundhathiyars.

Political power

In most cases, there was no marital relationship among these communities.

“We want to get our due share in education, jobs and in political power. Compartmental reservation alone will bring about the change,” he stressed. The ATP will organise a conference in Pollachi on October 15.