Caste discrimination in Tamil nadu

Caste discrimination in Tamil nadu
This is how we read the news as reported in a reliable news paper being printed and published from Chennai.

FREEING THE FETTER: A portion of the wall, which was built across the common path at Uthapuram, was razed on Tuesday.
After talks and a thorough inspection, the administration identified the 150-metre stretch of the 600-metre-long wall that blocked the common pathway and denied Dalits access to areas of common usage.
It was brought down on the instruction of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi. A temporary gravel road was laid at the demolished portion to link with the pathway. Authorities have promised to convert it into a cement road.
The wall was built after a caste clash in 1989 on the basis of an agreement among leaders of the two communities. Prior to this, the section was being used as a common entrance to the village by members of all castes.
The Hindu was the first to report on the electrification of the wall on April 17, 2008. Following the publication of the report, the district authorities disconnected power supply to the wall (The Hindu, April 18). [In Tamilnadu, the Hindu is considered to be a Castiest Paper - supporting the forward community]
The Dalits in the village felt happy over the demolition and urged the government to fulfil their other demands.
Caste Hindus vacated their houses and went to the nearby Thalayuthu hill, four kilometres away from Uthapuram, as a mark of protest against the move to demolish the wall. (May 07, 2008)


GREAT DIVIDE: A 600-metre-long wall separates Dalits from caste Hindus at Uthapuram village in Madurai district.
At Uthapuram village near Ezhumalai in Madurai district, caste continues to guide social relations.
There are about 2,000 families of Dalits, who outnumber every other caste, but they still face discrimination.
With a long history of caste animosity against Dalits behind them, caste Hindus of the village have electrified a 600-metre-long wall, which passes through pockets that were meant to be for common use by people of all castes.
The wall is intended to block common entry points, thereby preventing the castes from mingling. It has been there since 1990, but electricity is being passed in the night using iron rods for the last 10 days.
The electrification is meant to prevent the Dalits from breaking into the caste Hindu areas during the night.
The caste Hindus have also thwarted efforts by the Dalits to build a bus shelter. They recently raised the height of a parapet near the bus stop to prevent Dalits from sitting in front of them.
Dalits in Uthapuram village do not visit the teashops owned by caste Hindus. They are not allowed to enter streets dominated by a particular upper caste.
They are denied space in village squares and community halls and access to burial grounds.
Asked about the erection of the wall, a former panchayat president, Sena Vana Oyyanan, said: “We (kudiyanavargal) do not go in for anything. It is the Dalits, their militancy and aggressiveness, which has further widened the gap between castes and increased the frustration.”
Uthapuram village panchayat president Marimuthu (alias) Thonthi, a Dalit, claims even economic advancement has not accorded them social status. During events like temple car festival, Dalits are not allowed to hold the ceremonial ropes. Access to common property resources is also being denied.