MADURAI, September 27, 2011
Dalits allege obstruction of pathway
D. Karthikeyan
Dalits of Vaidyanathapuram Colony, on the Nedunkulam Road, coming
under Thenur Panchayat in Madurai district, are now victims of alleged
discrimination after the pathway used by them for close to 60 years is
obstructed by an individual by erecting an iron gate.
Vaidyanathapuram Colony, which is named after Congress stalwart A.
Vaidyanatha Iyer, who spearheaded the temple entry movement in
Meenakshi Temple, is a small colony with 20 families of Devendra Kula
Vellalars (Dalits). The Dalits in the village on Monday said that the
pathway was obstructed by K. Raja (alias) Periya Karuppan, a former
panchayat chief, since January 2010 and they found it difficult to
have proper access to the village and other places.
S. Chappani said, "It is already a very narrow path adjacent to a
canal and farmlands. Since gates have been erected we cannot use
vehicles. In the recent past, we suffered a lot after one elderly
person suffered health problems and we were not able to take the
ambulance vehicle in." Already, 10 Dalit families who lived in the
colony, engaged in shoe mending work, have moved away anticipating
trouble.
The villagers, with the support of Mallar Kazhagam, had submitted
petitions twice to the District Collector during August at the
grievance day meeting and sent a letter to the Chief Minister's cell.
Dalits demand that since the pathway has been under use for a long
period of time, the government should ensure proper access for them.
However, when contacted, Mr. Raja said that it was his own patta land
which was earlier, due to local adjustment with the farmers, used for
movement of tractors and transport of agricultural goods. "I have all
the documents to prove my ownership," he said.
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