CHENNAI: Democratic movements, and not exclusive Dalit organisations, will secure the rights of the oppressed people in the country, said P. Sampath, organiser, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front, on Tuesday.
Addressing a huge rally taken out by his movement and various Dalit and tribal organisations in the city, Mr. Sampath said the government was forced to announce that it would fully mechanise the cleaning operations of underground sewage canals in all municipal corporations after the protest rally was planned.
He along with CPI(M) Polit Bureau member K.Varadarajan, State secretary N. Varadarajan, party legislature party leader K.Balabharathi and many others met Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi and submitted a memorandum. He said Mr.Karunanidhi himself had acknowledged the demands and agreed to take action to implement them.
“We hope that the government will keep its promise. Otherwise, we will mobilise people in every village and the government will be held responsible for our action, said Mr. Sampath.
K.Varadarajan said though those claiming to be the inheritors of the legacy of Periyar and Anna were ruling the State, they were not able to eradicate untouchability. N. Varadarajan said his party would continue to fight against untouchability and other social evils. 
He said the government should abolish the posts of Vettiyans and re-designate them as graveyard assistants, by making them employees of local bodies.
Besides demanding 19 per cent reservation for Dalits in employment and education, the memorandum urged the State government to appoint a commission, headed by a High Court judge, to study the socio-economic conditions of tribals in the State.
The leaders demanded a total ban on employing humans in cleaning operations of sewage canals. “It should fill all the backlog vacancies in the various departments of the State government,” the memorandum said.
Another demand was the constitution of untouchability eradication committees at the district and state level to ensure Dalits the right to worship in temples and other civil rights.
Most of the mass organisations of the CPI(M), including the CITU and Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers Association, took part in the rally.
No comments:
Post a Comment