The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) plans to retrieve panchami lands through direct action after a State-level conference at Chengalpattu on September 30.
Talking to reporters on Tuesday, TNUEF convener P. Sampath said that the panchami lands distributed to the Dalits during British rule were under illegal occupation by non-Dalits. The government should verify the title transfers based on records available with the Registration Department and take legal steps to redeem the lands and redistribute them to the Dalits.
The panchami lands measuring about 3.5 lakh acres classified as Depressed Class Conditional Lands should be owned only by the Dalits as per law but had been grabbed by the non-Dalits across the State.
The TNUEF has obtained information through RTI on the extent of panchami lands illegally occupied in many of the northern districts such as Kancheepuram, Villupuram, Vellore, Thiruvannamalai, Cuddalore and Tiruvallur.
A resolution identifying the lands to be retrieved in the next two months would be passed at the State conference following which the front would launch a struggle to retrieve the lands, he said, inviting political parties and organisations fighting for the Dalit rights to join hands.
TNUEF general secretary K. Samuel Raj, treasurer R. Jayaram and Gudiyatham MLA G. Latha were present.
