Tamil Nadu
End to another discrimination against Dalits
S. Sundar
Dalits at Irunjchirai no longer need to travel miles for a haircut
Cutting across lines: Officials and villagers standing outside the
salon, opened to serve people of all castes at Irunjchirai in
Virudhunagar district on Wednesday.
VIRUDHUNAGAR: At last, the Dalits of Irunjchirai village in
Virudhunagar district have got a salon and a washerman to serve them.
Now, they need not travel 7 to 15 km to get these services.
The silent suffering of the Dalits due to discrimination by caste
Hindus for years has come to an end after a youngster, S. Gurusamy,
stood up against them and sought legal intervention in 2007 to stop
the social boycott.
After District Collector Sigy Thomas Vaidhyan admitted to
discrimination of Dalits in the village, the Madurai Bench of Madras
High Court directed her to set right the problem at the earliest.
When the administration felt that village hairdressers and a washerman
could not be forced to serve the Dalits too, it opted for an
alternative – to set up common facilities to serve all.
On Wednesday, Aruppukottai Revenue Divisional Officer A. Ganesan
inaugurated both the facilities, named after Thanthai Periyar, near
Irunjchirai bus stop. Mr. Gurusamy was a proud man to get the service
of a hairdresser at his village for the first time.
Besides the RDO, Tiruchuzhi Tahsildar T.R.D. Santhi, police officials
and village leaders were present when the villagers of different
castes availed themselves of the services.
Mr. Ganesan expected that Irunjchirai, despite earning a bad name in
the past, could become an example of social equality for other regions
in the days to come.
Ms. Santhi said the district administration, with the help of some
donors, was able to get a shop and other paraphernalia for the salon
and a cart for the washerman.
Housing facility
Efforts are on to provide permanent housing facility for the
hair-dresser, S. Shanmugaraj, and washerman, I. Muthu, who have come
from neighbouring Ramanathapuram district.
The washerman would soon take up washing of clothes of villagers after
settling down.
"I have a feeling of having achieved independence (for our people). I
am happy with the action taken by the officials. I wish things changed
here for the better in future," said Mr. Gurusamy.
Dalits had to travel either to Narikudi or Veeracholan even for a
haircut for their children or to get their dresses pressed. "Only
recently did the village become free of two-tumbler system and we are
now allowed to walk wearing chappals," he added.
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