Irulas threaten to boycott Lok Sabha elections

Irulas are of the view that injustice is meted out to them by politicians and officialdom

The Irulas of Villupuram district have threatened to boycott the elections in protest against the injustice meted out to them by the politicians and officialdom.

The Pazhangudi Irular Padhukappu Sangam at its general body meeting held at Tindivanam passed a resolution in this regard. Headed by M.Jayabalan, Irulas from the districts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Thiruvannamalai and Kancheepuram participated.

Sangam co-ordinator Prabha Kalvimani told The Hindu that Irulas constituted 2.16 per cent (about 40,000) of the Villupuram district population but they were forced to live on the fringes. They eked out their livelihood by serving as daily wage workers in sugarcane fields, brick kilns and rice mills. The literacy rate among the Irulas was hardly 38 per cent as against the State average of 80 per cent.

Mr Kalvimani said that since the Irulas were neither assertive nor influential enough the officials did not care about their welfare.

“They are badly treated by the police personnel Having realized this fact the police are also behaving rudely ,” said Mr Kalvimani.

Irula men and women were constantly subjected to atrocities and untold miseries and their complaints are often turned down by the police. Whenever the police are unable to detect a particular crime they would invariably foist false cases on the Irulas.

Mass contact programme

During the mass contact programme held in April and May 2012 as many as 116 Irulas gave applications to the officials seeking community certificates.

But only those residing in Grandipuram and Melpakkam were given the certificates.

Again on July 27, 2012 Irulas from 59 villages spread across Villupuram, Ginjee, Thirukkoilur, Vanur, Tindivanam and Ulundurpet applied for community certificates but obtained response from officials.

Though the Sangam had resorted to various forms of agitations they were continued to be ignored. Therefore, the Irulas of Villupuram district had decided to boycott the Lok Sabha elections.

However, in other constituencies the Sangam had decided to stay away from the communal and casteist forces and vote for Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leaders Thol.Thirumavalavan in Chidambaram constituency and D.Ravikumar at Thiruvallur constituency because they were lending a voice to the Irulas’ cause.

The Sangam also urged its members not to accept money or any other enticements for their votes.