Discrimination against Dalits on the rise in TN

CHENNAI: A public hearing organised here on Friday by the Social Awareness Society for Youths (SASY), a Dalit rights NGO, presented serious forms of discrimination against members of the Scheduled Castes in several districts of Tamil Nadu.
Instances where Dalits had been affected by acute discriminatory practices by dominant caste Hindus were deposed before a seven-member jury and a panel of advocates. Suitable remedial measures were recommended, which also included legal action, besides official proceedings.
The refusal of the police in registering genuine complaints against caste Hindus under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of atrocities) Act 1989 and the practice of filing fake FIRs to placate the dominant castes were among the many serious problems prevalent in most places in the State, Dalit representatives said.
A total of 31 cases punishable under the criminal law and pending at different stages were presented, which included the assault of a Dalit woman panchayat president, the social boycott in many locations by caste Hindus, denial of temple entry rights and the rape and murder of a 13-yearold Scheduled Caste girl.
Director, SASY, V A Ramesh Nathan, said fact-finding committees were set up last year to probe 132 incidents in the districts of Cuddalore,Villupuram, Tuticorin and Coimbatore, besides other places. The outcome revealed that Dalits were the victims of brutal attacks, rape, murder, denial of right to enter temples, besides several other forms of discrimination punishable under the criminal law.
At the end of the meet, SASY demanded that the Tamil Nadu Government implement the SC/ST Act and the rules framed under it, besides providing compensation and justice to the survivors of caste atrocities. The intervention of the National Human Rights Commission, National Commission for Scheduled Caste and other statutory authorities was also urged.
The jury members included MLA and general secretary of VCK D Ravikumar.