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"Culture is an important component in human history. Literature is an important component of culture. It plays a vital role in history. In all societies, dominant culture always reflects the interest of ruling classes. The exploited classes contend and contest such dominant culture, making it an important area of class struggle. When the working class is fighting for social change, it goes without saying that there should be progressive change in the field of culture also"
N Sankariah, R Umanath,
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(SP Rajendran, Peoples Democracy)
The first State Conference of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front(TNUEF) was held at Pudukkottai on 28,29 of May,2010. More than 50000 people all over Tamilnadu attended the Massive Rally organized on 29th evening and Com.Prakash Karat, General Secretary of CPI(M) addresses the Public Meeting held after the culmination of the rally. The conference was inaugurated by Com.K.Varadrajan, Polit Bureau Member of CPI(M)
A resolution adopted said that Tamil Nadu was one of the states prone to atrocities and offences of untouchability. The constitution of a body with statutory powers would go a long way in resolving the issues pertaining to the offences. Although the Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had assured to constitute a legal body during the course of the Dalit convention at Chennai in October last year, no follow-up action was initiated so far in this regard, the resolution pointed out.
It also pleaded for inclusion of secular experts and representatives of anti-atrocity organisations in the district-level awareness-cum-vigilance committees.
Another resolution pleaded for reservation for Dalits in the private sector and sought immediate filling up of posts in the government and public sector undertakings.
It said that globalisation had resulted in 'injustice' for Dalits especially in the absence of reservation in private job opportunities. The Central government too had 'yielded' to pressure from big industrialists in this regard.
The fact that the regional parties including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which formed part of the Central Government, had not voiced their concern had led to denial of social justice.
Further, non-filling up of vacant posts had also deprived the Dalits of their employment opportunities.
For instance, in Railways alone, as many as 1.70 lakh posts were yet to be filled up.
Similarly, a large number of posts were lying vacant in various departments of State Government.
The convention, through another resolution, wanted stern action against officials not implementing the Prevention of Atrocities Act. Allocation of adequate funds for the effective implementation of the Act; periodical convening of the state and district-level committees; expeditious disposal of cases pertaining to atrocities and untouchability offences and awarding due punishment to the accused were also sought.
New Office Bearers elected
On the concluding day a mass rally was taken out, and around 50,000 volenteers from around the state took part in it. The conference also elected new office bearers. Com. P Sampath has been elected the President TNUEF. Com. Samuel Raj has been elected General Secretary. R Jayraman is elected Treasurer. A 98 member state committee is also been constituted.
Annihilation of the caste system should be the goal and the first step is to eliminate untouchability, Communist Party of India (Marxist) general secretary Prakash Karat said on Saturday.
Untouchability was the worst feature of the caste system in the country, Mr. Karat told the first State conference of the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front here. “Even after 62 years of Independence what we find in our society is that caste transcended all classes. Though the Constitution proclaimed equality, we still find it did not go with the ground reality,” Mr. Karat said.
Struggle against the caste system should go along with struggle against socio-economic and class exploitation. What was needed was a social revolution which could not come without fighting and abolishing the caste system.
The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front had been engaged in path-breaking activity over the last three years fighting all forms of caste discrimination and untouchability. Even people outside Tamil Nadu were looking up to the Front as an inspiration in their struggle against oppression. The Front should bring under its fold all those who were against caste discrimination and untouchability and it would become a genuine instrument in bringing about social change in Tamil Nadu, he said.
Earlier, Mr. Karat released a collection of short stories authored by Aadhavan Dheetchanya on atrocities committed against Dalits.
Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front convenor P. Sampath called for starting branches of the front at all levels within the State. The front had created confidence among the oppressed communities.
General secretary of the All-India Vivasayigal Sangam K. Varadharajan, CPI (M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan, party MLA S.K. Mahendran and All-India Democratic Women's Association general secretary U. Vasuki took part in the conference.
Addressing a public meeting organised by the front here, Mr. Karat said the CPI(M) would demand, in the next session of the Parliament, an action taken report on the recommendations of the National Commission on Religious and Linguistic Minorities headed by Justice Ranganath Misra.
Though the Centre had placed the commission's report in Parliament it had not acted on that. The CPI (M) would be in touch with other parties in this regard. The commission had made two major recommendations — to provide reservation up to 15 per cent in education and offer job opportunities for the minorities, who were socially, educationally and economically backward. It had also recommended that those of Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of religion, be brought under the scheduled caste reservation, Mr. Karat said.
The CPI (M) had been demanding that Dalit Christians and any person of Scheduled Caste origin, irrespective of religion, be provided reservation.
Mr. Karat said the economic policies of the Centre had adversely affected the livelihood of people. The policies limited the opportunities for the Dalits as the government had downsized and banned recruitment to various departments. “So where is the reservation for SC and ST?” Mr.Karat said and pointed out that there was no reservation in the private sector.
He called upon the oppressed communities to fight the privatisation, liberalisation and globalisation policies of the government as it was the only way to protect their lives.
The government was promoting privatisation of higher education and allowing business houses to start educational institutions. Foreign educational institutions had also been allowed. This way, education would go out of the reach of SC, ST and other backward communities as there would be no reservation.
Mr. Karat said a powerful struggle had to be launched to protect the rights of the Dalits and other oppressed sections. The goals and aims of social reformers like Dr. Ambedkar and Periyar had not been fulfilled even after 62 years of Independence, he said, calling for a fight against caste oppression. Untouchability in any form could not be witnessed in Communist-ruled States, he observed.
(Courtesy : The Hindu)
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its grave concern on the shocking incident of the killing of three Kashmiri youths by an army unit in Jammu & Kashmir in an alleged encounter. The Jammu & Kashmir police has registered a murder case against the concerned army unit. Appropriate legal action should be taken against all the perpetrators who were involved in this serious crime and violation of human rights.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its heartfelt condolences to the bereaved members of the families of the three Kashmiri youth who lost their precious life.
The government of India should take all necessary steps to stop the recurrence of such incidents.
This terrible tragedy has been compounded by the irresponsible absence of due diligence on the part of the railway authorities. In violation of their own declared policy to ensure specific safety measures in Maoist affected areas, in this case the pilot train which should have preceded the passenger train to check the safety of the track was not done. This perhaps could have averted this tragedy and saved the lives of passengers. Further, a goods train that collided with the derailed passenger train on the parallel track, resulting in graver damage of death and injury, could have been prevented. The persistent denial of the existence of Maoist activities in West Bengal by the Railway Minister may have led to the lack of preparedness of the authorities.
The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that a thorough enquiry be conducted into this horrendous incident. The Prime Minister should personally intervene to ensure that the railways, in coordination with security agencies, fulfill their responsibility by stepping up precautionary safety measures to protect passengers and railway property in all Maoist affected areas.
