Veteran Communist Leader P Srinivasa Rao Memorial Day: Direct action by TNUEF on Dalit issues across TN state
K Swaminathan
On the memorial day of P Srinivasa Rao, who fought against economic and social oppression in the East Thanjavur region, direct struggles were held across Tamil Nadu by the Tamilnadu Untouchability Eradication Front for Dalit land rights and against untouchability practices.
Kallakurichi-Anthiyur
In Anthiyur, Vanapuram taluk, Kallakurichi district, direct action was launched for the retrieval of 22.5 acres of Panchami land under the leadership of State General Secretary P Sugandhi. CPI(M) District Secretary T M Jeyasankar, Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) State Vice President G Anandan, district leaders V Elumalai, T S Mohan and others participated. In talks held in the presence of the tahsildar and police officials, it was confirmed that violations had occurred on the 22.5 acres. The officials promised that the land would be reclassified and allotted to landless Dalits within two months.
Salem-Thadhampatti
In Thadhampatti, Salem district, a direct land occupation struggle was held under State President T Sellakannu, demanding removal of encroachment on about 16.5 acres of land allotted to Dalits and distribution to the beneficiaries. CPI(M) State Committee member S Muthukannan, State Committee member A Kumar, TNUEF district leaders R Kulandai Vel, V Ilango and others took part.
Dharmapuri-Palacode
In Palacode taluk, Dharmapuri district, a sit-in protest was held at the tahsildar’s office under the leadership of M Muthu, State Vice President, demanding burial ground facilities for the Boyar and Adi Dravidar communities in Kuppankottai, Athimudlu, and Ezhugundoor villages. District Secretary A Sekar and others participated. The Deputy Tahsildar confirmed in writing that Athimudlu villagers would continue to use the common burial ground shared by Backward Classes and Adi Dravidars, and that land had been earmarked for burial grounds at Kuppankottai and Ezhugundoor.
Coimbatore–Irugur
In Irugur, Sulur taluk, Coimbatore, 7.14 acres of land had been allotted in 1996 to 294 Dalit families for housing plots but had not been surveyed or distributed to this day. A sit-in protest was held at the District Collectorate under State Honorary President S K Mahendran, demanding immediate surveying and distribution. CPI(M) District Secretary C Padmanaban, TNUEF district functionaries T Nagaraj, R Maheswaran and others participated. In talks held in the presence of the District Adi Dravidar Welfare Officer, officials gave a written assurance that the land would be surveyed and distributed within 20 days.
Erode–Thoppur
In Erode district, a sit-in protest was held at the Collectorate under State Deputy General Secretary E Mohana, raising demands including housing pattas for Dalits in Thoppur, streetlights for Dalit localities in Kundu Moopanur (Anthiyur taluk), removal of encroachment on the Arundathiyar burial ground in Nalli Thottam (Erode town), and burial ground facilities for Karumandichellipalayam (Perundurai taluk). TNUEF district leaders A K Palanichamy, M Annadurai and others participated. The District Revenue Officer assured that the demands would be fulfilled.
Sivagangai–Poovanthi
At Poovanthi, Thiruppuvanam, Sivagangai district, a land occupation struggle was held under State Vice President V Karuppusamy, demanding distribution of government-allotted land to Dalits. District President S Muthuramalinga Bhoopathi and others participated. In talks with the Tahsildar, a written agreement was made that 142 beneficiaries would receive pattas after land measurement on October 7.
Madurai-Muthalaikulam
At Muthalaikulam village, Chellampatti Union, Madurai district, a protest was held at the Panchayat Union office led by State Secretary S Muthurani, demanding pathway access for Dalit habitations. District functionaries of TNUEF M Kannan, P A Marikkani, P Mahalingam and others participated.
Pudukottai–Koothadivayal
At Koothadivayal, Aranthangi, Pudukottai district, 240 tribal families had been allotted houses in 1987. The damaged houses were demolished three months ago. A sit-in protest was held at the Aranthangi RDO office led by State Secretary S Kavivarman, demanding speedy reconstruction and interim alternative housing. District President C Anbumanavalan and others participated. In talks with the tahsildar and BDO, it was agreed that houses would be rebuilt quickly, and meanwhile families would be sheltered in a nearby school.
Thoothukudi–Mudivaithanenthal
At Mudivaithanenthal, Thoothukudi district, a sit-in protest was held under District President T Srinivasan, demanding road and burial ground facilities for Dalit Arunthathiyar residents, merger of Etayapuram-Padarnthapuli Dalits into Padarnthapuli Panchayat, online pattas for Dalit houses in J J Nagar (Thiruchendur–Kuchikadu), and road access to the burial ground of Nettaiyan Colony (Eral–Puraiyur). District Secretary K Kasi and others took part. In talks chaired by the DRO, officials assured that the demands would be fulfilled by October 16.
Virudhunagar–V Pudupatti
In V Pudupatti, Watrap taluk, Virudhunagar district, a struggle was held to demolish an untouchability wall blocking the common pathway of Dalits. The protest was led by TNUEF State Treasurer K Murugan on behalf of TNUEF and AIAWU. Com Gurusamy (District Secretary, CPI(M)), S Lakshmi (District President AIAWU), C Jothilakshmi (VCK) and others participated. Protesters were arrested by police and detained in a private hall.
Tiruppur–Eettiveerampalayam
In Eettiveerampalayam, Avinashi taluk, Tiruppur district, 122 Dalit families were allotted housing pattas in 1994, but the land has not yet been surveyed or handed over. Despite repeated struggles, no action was taken. In this situation, a land occupation struggle was held under the leadership of CPI(M) Central Committee member K Balabharathi. CPI(M) District Secretary C Moorthy, State Committee members K Kamaraj, Samsheer Ahmed (SFI), TNUEF State Secretary R Paramasivam, District President P Gnanasekar and others participated. In talks held in the presence of the RDO, the tahsildar and the DSP, a written agreement was reached to remove encroachments and hand over surveyed land to beneficiaries by December 15.
Tiruchi city
A protest was held in front of the RDO office led by State Deputy General Secretary of TNUEF K Swaminathan, demanding removal of caste-based street names in Tiruchi Corporation. District functionaries K Kanal Kannan, S Renuka, Suresh (Councillor, Tiruchi Corporation), Karthikeyan (AIKS) and Mohan (SFI) participated.
Nilgiris-Gudalur
In front of the Gudalur Revenue Divisional Office, Nilgiris District, a joint demonstration was held by AIKS, AIAWU, and TNUEF, urging the Union and State governments to enact a special law to prevent caste-based honour killings.
CPI(M) District Secretary Bhaskaran, TNUEF District President Periyar Manikandan, AIKS District Secretary Yogannan and others participated.
Thakkalai Seminar
At Thakkalai, Kanyakumari district, a seminar was held by TNUEF, Farmers’ Association, Agricultural Workers’ Association, DYFI, SFI, AIDWA, and CITU. TNUEF State Secretary M Jeyaseelan addressed the gathering. District functionaries Suseentheeran, Malaivilai Pasi and others participated.
Protests held across Tamil Nadu have drawn the government’s attention, leading to negotiations and written assurances of solutions.
TNUEF State President T Chellakannu and General Secretary P Suganthi congratulated all district units, frontline activists, and affected people who took part in these struggles.
