For a few members belonging to the Pudhirai Vannar caste, obtaining community certificates has become more than an uphill task. The members have been running from pillar to post for months together representing their case in the grievance meetings but all in vain.
S.Pechiammal and M.Alagarsamy of Pudhupatti, A .Muruganandam, Ettimangalam near Melur, K.Murugan, Keeraithurai and V.Murugan, Vavval Thottam have submitted petitions to the Adi Dravidar Tribal Welfare Minister, District Collector and Revenue Divisional Officer.
V.Murugan, member, Tamil Nadu Pudhirai Vannar Welfare Board, says “for the above said members of Pudhirai Vannar caste it is stated so in their school certificates but community certificates are not issued to them.” When enquired in the office of Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, all that Murugan and his fellow caste members were told was that it was stopped 15 years ago.
The community members alleged that certificates were given randomly; in most cases, anyone among the family holds a certificate but when asked for others in the family the authorities are reluctant to issue them.
According to government records, the Pudhirai Vannars are one among the 76 Scheduled Castes. The name, Pudhirai Vannar, is listed 60th in the Tamil Nadu list of Scheduled Castes, as laid out by the Scheduled Castes (Amendment) Act, 1976, which came into effect from July 27, 1977.
However, the state authorities do not easily issue community certificates in the name of Puthirai Vannars. Mr.Murugan has in fact raised this issue during the first meeting held at Chennai on January 28, after the establishment of a separate “Pudhirai Vannar Welfare Board” G.O. No.114.
The members said that it was great that the State had established a board and provided Rs.50 lakh for the year 2009–2010 to extend relief to the needy registered members of the board.
All this is welcome but we need community certificates to get a sense of belongingness to our own caste identity, they alleged. Pudhirai Vannars remain as a caste that can be referred to as victims of ‘multiple marginalisation' who provide services to Dalits.
