A section of people belonging to the Scheduled Caste community from Malaipatti village in Nilakottai Taluk on Monday petitioned the Collector alleging caste discrimination.
They complained that another section of residents belonging to a dominant intermediate caste discriminated against them and barred them from entering the village temple.
According to Machakalai, who submitted the petition on behalf of the SC community, Narasimha Perumal temple in Malaipatti was open to all people of all castes, including SCs living in Pillayarnatham, Goundanpatti, Indirapuram, Ethilodu, Jallipatti, Sokkupillaipatti, Thulukkapatti, Puliyankulam, Chinnalapatti and Kozhinjipatti.
“As per the history of the temple, the deity here was discovered by people belonging to the SC community and there are about 250 families from the community who stake claim to the temple honours during festival times. The temple rights were given to us by Pillayarnatham Zamindar. Recently, people from our community even contributed a donation of ₹1.50 lakh towards the kumbabhishekam of the temple. However, recently, we are not being allowed inside the temple. People from dominant intermediate castes abuse us referring to caste name and bar us from entering into the temple,” alleged Machakalai.
“At presen, all members of the management board of the temple belong to intermediate castes. So, our demand is that at least two members from the SC community should be made a permanent part of the management board. The festival of Aadi Amavasya is approaching and in case our demand is not met and we are barred continuously, then the district administrations should order to cancel the festival,” he added.
“In April 2018, peace talks between the two groups was chaired by Nilakottai Tahsildar and as an eyewash a person from SC community was made part of the management board temporarily and he was removed the very next year,” said the villagers.
