| The Studies that are conducted by S.Viswanatha | | | | Hindu majority of the villages were intolerant of a |
| (Author of the book Dalits in Dravidian Land) and | | | | Dalit heading their Panchayat and they warned Dalits |
| Hugo Gorringe (Author of Untouchable Citizens Dalit | | | | heading their panchayat and they warned Dalits of |
| Movements and Democratisation in Tamil Nadu) is | | | | serious consequences if they dared enter the fray. |
| significant and noteworthy as far as Dalit politics in | | | | Apart from this, the murder of the Dalit president of |
| Tamil Nadu is concern. These studies brought out | | | | the Melavalavu village panchayat in Madurai district |
| the Dalit situation in one of more modernized and | | | | within months of his election in 1996 also deterred |
| progressive states in the country, Tamil Nadu. | | | | Dalits in the four villages from taking part in the |
| S.Viswanatha has chronicled the dimensions of the | | | | democratic process. |
| Dalit situation in the state and found that Dalits still | | | | In 2001, caste Hindus in the four villages repeated the |
| are facing deprivations and discriminations in social and | | | | same strategy of forcing Dalits out of the fray. In |
| political arena. | | | | the subsequent elections held along with “casual |
| The discriminations are not only in social life but also | | | | elections”, Pappapatti and Keeripatti opted to |
| in political sphere. Often their right to vote is taken | | | | participate in the process, but only to make a |
| through violent means. For instance, during the 13th | | | | mockery of it by forcing the winners not only to |
| and 14th Lok Sabha elections in Cuddalore district, a | | | | resign but also to plead with the state government |
| strong vanniar strong hold, witnessed violence in | | | | to de-reserve their panchayat. But after the DMK |
| which many places the Dalits were prevented from | | | | came to power in 2006 the government has made |
| exercising their franchise or already their votes were | | | | some efforts to conduct elections to these |
| polled by other caste Hindus. It is significant to note | | | | panchayats and elections were held and dalits |
| that the Election Commission has identified Cuddalore | | | | candidates won the elections and they are continuing |
| and Chidambaram Parliamentary constituencies has | | | | as presidents of these panchayats. |
| ‘highly sensitive' constituencies and sent addition | | | | Situation in Reserved Panchayats |
| police force to conduct elections in 1999, 2004 and | | | | The recent study, by a Madurai based Human Right |
| 2009 Parliament elections. | | | | organization, revealed that “untouchability” |
| Reservation of posts in the three-tier Panchayat | | | | prevailed in one form or the other in 70 per cent of |
| structure for women and the Scheduled Caste and | | | | the 83 reserved village panchayats in the district. |
| Scheduled Tribes is one of the major features of the | | | | Answering a printed questionnaire, the panchat |
| Panchayati raj institutions that were put in place in | | | | presidents acknowledged that atleast 25 forms of |
| 1996 under the Tamil Nadu Panchayat Act, 1994. | | | | ‘untouchability' exist in their village. Even the |
| Sections of caste Hindus, particularly in southern | | | | caste did not allow the dalit panchayat presidents to |
| districts, known for frequent incidents of | | | | head the village panchayat. In the official meeting |
| caste-related violence, have resented reservations | | | | the vice-opresidents mostly the caste Hindus, occupy |
| for Dalits from the very beginning. In the four | | | | chairs and dalit president sit on the floor as |
| villages, where Dalits are in a minority and depend on | | | | “mute spectators”. Even some of the dalit |
| caste Hindu landholders for their livelihood, various | | | | Panchayat presidents were not given the chance to |
| methods have adopted to stall the elections. First | | | | host the National Flag during the Independence day |
| they prevented Dalits from filing nominations. Later, | | | | functions. |
| fearing the wrath of the administration, | | | | The same situation prevails in the neighbouring |
| “community leaders” fielded Dalits of their | | | | Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar |
| choice as candidates, helped win, and then made | | | | districts. Presidents of atleast 17 reserved |
| them resign soon after assuming charge. This has | | | | panchayats have complained of untouchability and |
| been the case in Pappapatti. The caste Hindu | | | | caste based discrimination in their villages. In a |
| standpoint was that a Dalit could not be accepted as | | | | printed format, they have acknowledged |
| the panchayat president. “If they become | | | | discrimination at teashops, restriction in access to |
| presidents, we may have to show respect to them | | | | public places and residential coloni9es of caste |
| in village festivals and public functions. This we | | | | Hindus. After the news published in the newspaper |
| cannot do” is the common refrain. No | | | | there was no reaction, either condemning or |
| nominations were received in Pappatti, Keeripatti, | | | | organizing agitations, from the two prominent dalit |
| Nattarmangalam and Kottakatchiyendal Panchayats | | | | political parties. It was left parties who successfully |
| from the President's post in the 1996 elections. In | | | | organized agitations against this discrimination and, it |
| the past, both districts have witnessed caste-related | | | | seems, most of the Dalits outfits had not taken this |
| violence involving Dalits and Mukkulathor, the | | | | issue very seriously. |
| predominant caste Hindu community. The caste | | | | |