Caste haunts them even in death
In Tirupur, Dalit Families Fight For Decent Burial Of Their Kin
Caste tension is mounting in Ammapalayam, near Uthukuli in Tirupur district, with non-dalits opposing the burial of a 70–year-old dalit in a vacant plot located in the heart of the village. Last week, the Madras high court had ordered the district administration to provide the dalits of Ammapalayam a permanent burial ground in the village, which is about 20km from the hosiery town of Tirupur. The 60 dalit families residing here have been burying their dead along a 30-feet stretch beside the Kunnathur-Adiyur road since the majority community refused to let them have a burial space in the village.
On Tuesday, when the death of C Maral was confirmed, community representatives told district authorities that they would not bury the body by the road in light of the court order. They said the body ought to be buried in a 30-cent vacant plot in the village, but close to a non-dalit settlement. However, the non-dalits objected. The district collector, the superintendent of police and the revenue divisional officer were unable to work out a compromise despite holding several rounds of talks between the two communities through the day.
Tension continued on Wednesday too as dalits from nearby localities gathered in the village and raised slogans against the non-dalits. Over 300 policemen were posted in the area after this. The body of Maral is yet to be buried. Dalits in the village said the district administration and non- dalits were forcing them to use a burial ground located 3km from the village.
Ammapalayam has been in focus after a high court order brought to light the simmering caste tension here. Dalits claim that non-dalits had asked local barbers not to provide their services to more than 50 dalit families, who are now forced to walk more than 10km to access shops in Kunnathur and Perumanallur. They are also barred from entering the local temple.
Tirupur superintendent of police V Balakrishnan said the Kangeyam DSP had been instructed to inspect the area and find out whether caste discrimination was prevalent there. “If such a situation exists, we will file a case against caste Hindus under the sections of Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act,” he said.
Dalits here alleged that members of the “upper caste” did not permit them to use the village burial ground, forcing them to bury their dead along the state roads.
“We have no option but to use the same area for every burial. Because of this, bones resurface at the burial site. We want to erect shrines and remember the dead. But because the bodies are all mixed up, we cannot do this,” said M Mani, 34, a coolie.
After the court intervened on behalf of the dalits, following a PIL filed by a human rights organization, collector M Mathivanan ordered a probe by the Avinashi tahsildar.
“The tahsildar has identified two sites for the burial ground. We will finalize one of them and the government will ensure a link road and a compound wall for the burial ground,’’ said Mathivanan. One of the sites identified by tahsildar G Poongavan is located close to the site used by the Gounders to bury their dead.
Source: The Times of India Dt 1.3.12
On Tuesday, when the death of C Maral was confirmed, community representatives told district authorities that they would not bury the body by the road in light of the court order. They said the body ought to be buried in a 30-cent vacant plot in the village, but close to a non-dalit settlement. However, the non-dalits objected. The district collector, the superintendent of police and the revenue divisional officer were unable to work out a compromise despite holding several rounds of talks between the two communities through the day.
Tension continued on Wednesday too as dalits from nearby localities gathered in the village and raised slogans against the non-dalits. Over 300 policemen were posted in the area after this. The body of Maral is yet to be buried. Dalits in the village said the district administration and non- dalits were forcing them to use a burial ground located 3km from the village.
Ammapalayam has been in focus after a high court order brought to light the simmering caste tension here. Dalits claim that non-dalits had asked local barbers not to provide their services to more than 50 dalit families, who are now forced to walk more than 10km to access shops in Kunnathur and Perumanallur. They are also barred from entering the local temple.
Tirupur superintendent of police V Balakrishnan said the Kangeyam DSP had been instructed to inspect the area and find out whether caste discrimination was prevalent there. “If such a situation exists, we will file a case against caste Hindus under the sections of Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act,” he said.
Dalits here alleged that members of the “upper caste” did not permit them to use the village burial ground, forcing them to bury their dead along the state roads.
“We have no option but to use the same area for every burial. Because of this, bones resurface at the burial site. We want to erect shrines and remember the dead. But because the bodies are all mixed up, we cannot do this,” said M Mani, 34, a coolie.
After the court intervened on behalf of the dalits, following a PIL filed by a human rights organization, collector M Mathivanan ordered a probe by the Avinashi tahsildar.
“The tahsildar has identified two sites for the burial ground. We will finalize one of them and the government will ensure a link road and a compound wall for the burial ground,’’ said Mathivanan. One of the sites identified by tahsildar G Poongavan is located close to the site used by the Gounders to bury their dead.
Source: The Times of India Dt 1.3.12
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