NCSC disappointed over delay in executing rehabilitation works

Only 20% over contrary to claims of 80% by officials: Shivanna

MORAL SUPPORT: M. Shivanna, National Commission for Scheduled Castes Member, consoling T. Elango, father of Ilavarasan, in Dharmapuri on Sunday. Photo: N. Bashkaran

The National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) on Sunday expressed disappointment over the rehabilitation measures being undertaken by the Dharmapuri district administration in Natham, Anna Nagar and Kondampatti colonies, which witnessed anti-Dalit violence in November last.

The violence followed the suicide of Divya’s father Nagaraj as a fall out of an inter-caste love marriage between Vanniyar community girl N. Divya and Dalit youth E. Ilavarasan.

After visiting the railway track where the body of Ilavarasan was found a few days ago and the mortuary at Dharmapuri GH where the body was being kept, M. Shivanna, NCSC member, who also went to the Natham colony, told reporters on Sunday that he was disappointed over the inordinate delay in executing rehabilitation works including construction of houses.

He said only 20 per cent of the works were over during the last eight months, contrary to the claims of the district administration that 80 per cent works were over. The authorities were citing various reasons for the delay but excuses would not be accepted, Mr. Shivanna said.

The new Collector K. Vivekanandan assured him that the remaining rehabilitation works would be expedited.

Residents of Natham Colony made a number of complaints against officials. In response to a query, Mr. Shivanna said “the NCSC is the custodian of poor and SC and would strive hard to get them justice.”

Whether the commission would recommend for CBI enquiry into the suspicious death of Ilavarasan, Mr. Shivanna said that the State government would decide on it.

The NCSC would take up rehabilitation of Ilavarasan’s family through various schemes including those run by the State and Central governments.

Earlier, Mr. Shivanna met Ilavarasan’s parents separately at the circuit house near the Collectorate.

Later, the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) submitted a petition to him, urging the NCSC to recommend for CBI enquiry into the suspicious death of Ilavarasan and opposing the appointment of D. Sampath Kumar as Investigation Officer in the case.