Wall built to keep out Dalits

It was constructed by residents of Jaya Nagar

November 21, 2014 09:52 am | Updated 09:52 am IST - COIMBATORE:

Dalits at Thanthai Periyar Nagar in Saravanampatti are upset that a wall has blocked access to the main road. Photo: M. Periasamy

Dalits at Thanthai Periyar Nagar in Saravanampatti are upset that a wall has blocked access to the main road. Photo: M. Periasamy

The construction of a six-foot-high wall between Thanthai Periyar Nagar (Ward No. 31) and Jaya Nagar (Ward No. 28) at Saravanampatty in Coimbatore Corporation limits, created unrest between Dalit community people and the residents of Jaya Nagar, on Thursday.

The wall was constructed by people of Jaya Nagar, on Wednesday, to block entry to people of the other locality, as they wanted to keep their locality clean.

The wall has a gate with lock that separates their locality from close to 500 families living in Thanthai Periyar Nagar.

People of Thanthai Periyar Nagar said that the tar road was used by them to bring construction materials and heavy vehicles to their locality as the cement roads laid between their huts are very narrow.

V. Ganesan of T.P. Nagar submitted a petition in this connection to Saravanampatty police, with signatures of the locals, calling it an ‘Untouchability Wall’.

N. Paneerselvam (32), of Social Justice for Youth Federation, claimed that the road was once a foot path of the agricultural land that turned into house sites.

The lawyer said that people of Thanthai Periyar Nagar used the path to reach a well in Jaya Nagar for a century. He added that they should be once again allowed to use the path. Members of Jaya Nagar Welfare Association said that the road laid for 101 sites of the residential locality about 24 years ago was not a common road.

After visiting the place and verifying revenue records, Coimbatore North Tahsildar S. Ravi confirmed that this was not a common path.

Jaya Nagar resident R. Kurunthasalam said that a wall in that place was demolished by people of Thanthai Periyar Nagar to make way for bringing construction materials to build a temple in their locality, in 2012.

“They promised to re-build that wall after the temple was constructed. But they did not. So we pooled in money to re-build it,” he said.

Residents P. Padmakumar and S. Rani added that the need for a wall would not have surfaced if people of Thanthai Periyar Nagar did not defecate in the open and dump their garbage in Jaya Nagar.

“People of the other locality also dispose of alcohol bottles in our locality,” they added.

People of Thanthai Periyar Nagar cited inadequate public toilets in their locality as the reason for open defecation.

Corporation Councillors, S.R. Arjunan (Ward No. 28) and P. Mariselvan (Ward No. 31) assured speedy construction of more toilets in their area. People of Thanthai Periyar Nagar also promised not to litter Jaya Nagar.

Tahsildar Ravi who held discussions with both sides said that efforts were under way to work out an amicable solution for the issue and help Dalits of Thanthai Periyar Nagar on humanitarian grounds.

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