MADURAI
“Despite years of struggle and attempting to put our children through school and college, the State government is yet to recognise us as a marginalised community and provide proper certificates for social mobility,” said S. Chinnakanniya, a member of a nomadic tribe practising whipping (sattai adi) for daily income. He was speaking at a seminar organised by the TENT Society and Pastoral Care of Nomads in India here on Tuesday.
Several other members echoed similar concerns regarding the document and said that the community certificate was fundamental for obtaining reservation or other benefits from the government, particularly the right to education at a subsidised cost.
Antony Pappusamy, Archbishop of Madurai and president of Tamil Nadu Bishops’ Council, in his speech said that the nomadic community is in need of a functioning commission that looks after its welfare and representations.
“The Madurai wing of Pastoral Care of Nomads in India was just started recently. If the model works efficiently, we will replicate it in all other diocese across Tamil Nadu,” he said. He also urged the members to stop begging and move towards alternative jobs.
R. Maheswari, Secretary, TENT Society, said that the students from nomadic backgrounds must receive at least five percentage reservation in educational institutions as a step towards uplift. She also called for the establishment of welfare committees and provision of stable employment.
She said that the community had been pained by years of social exclusion. “Unless the community is specially recognised as ‘Nomadic Tribes’, it would be difficult to help them integrate them in the mainstream,” she said.
