Alleging discrimination by caste Hindus while fetching drinking water in their area, Dalit women from two villages thronged the Collectorate here on Monday carrying empty pots.
In their petition to Collector K Nanthakumar, the women from Thiruvadimithiyur and Pappankottai in Thiruvadanai taluk said they had been facing acute drinking water shortage for six years and were discriminated against when they went to the nearby Udayar Kudiyiruppu to fetch water.
The government had launched the Rs.616-crore Ramanathapuram combined drinking water scheme in 2009. Even after its launch, the two hamlets did not get water and the residents were forced to walk to Udayar Kudiyiruppu and wait for long hours to fetch water. “Sometimes we bear the humiliation, as the caste Hindus objected to lining up our pots with theirs,” R Revathi said.
As it was their only source for drinking water, the Dalits avoided clashes with the caste Hindus and chose to fetch water at night, the women said. “We go after 8 pm to get two pots of water for a day’s use,” said K Muniammal.
After they lodged a complaint with the Thiruvadanai taluk office recently, the officials promised to look into the issue, but no action was taken. The Kallur panchayat president also failed to address their grievance, the women said.
