(People’s Democracy, November 15, 2009)
Alleging that dalits were still facing discrimination in different parts of Tamilnadu and that this included denial of access to temples, the Theendamai Ozhippu Munnani (Untouchability Eradication Front) has announced that it would organise more temple entry protests in the state.
The Theendamai Ozhippu Munnani is led by Tamil Nadu state committee of the CPI(M) and has led several temple entry actions in the state, some of them successfully.
State convenor of the front, P Sampath, recently told reporters at Chennai that social evils such as denial of entry to temples, prevalence of the two-tumbler system and lack of proper graveyard facilities still continued to haunt the dalit population in the state.
“While it is for the government to strictly ensure that dalits are not deprived of this basic right, in many cases, it does not come to their rescue and the police also sides with the upper castes. We are planning to organise more temple entry protests,” he said.
He also informed that Rs 12,000 crore allotted for dalit welfare in Tamilnadu in the last ten years had not been utilised properly and that the DMK and AIADMK, during their rule, had not given adequate attention to dalits’ welfare. (INN)
