TAMIL NADU
Even panchayat presidents can't sit in their chair

In 2006, when R. Pazhaniyammal was elected president of Nari-yoothu panchayat in Theni district, the Dalit woman hoped she could improve the condition of the people of her caste. But, soon she realised rights for the under-privileged exist only on paper.

Pazhaniyammal cannot enter temples. She cannot walk with her slippers on in streets dominated by upper-caste Hindus. She is not allowed even to sit on the benches in the local tea shop, which still follows the two-tumbler system-glass tumblers for Dalits and steel ones for the upper-caste Hindus. "They cannot accept the fact that a Dalit heads the panchayat," she says.

Pazhaniyammal's is not an isolated case. A study by Evidence, a Madurai-based NGO, points to rampant discrimination in Madurai, Theni, Sivaganga, Perambalur, Cuddalore, Salem and Erode districts. In several villages, Dalits are not allowed to sit in government buses if an upper-caste Hindu is around.

Dalits in hundreds of villages still walk barefoot on public roads, fearing upper-caste Hindus. "There is an undeclared ban on wearing slippers in streets where they live," says Balamurugan, panchayat president of Madurai's Kodimangalam village. Even the panchayat president has to carry his slippers in his hands when he walks through those streets.

Caste bias is rampant even in government offices. Kathir, director of Evidence, says: "We found discrimination in government offices in 11 of the 86 panchayats that we studied. Dalits are not allowed to stand in queue with upper-caste Hindus in ration shops or post offices."

"Dalit panchayat presidents have no powers. They cannot even sit in their official chairs." Agrees K. Karuppan, president of the Thullukutti Nayakkanur village panchayat in Madurai: "I was kicked off my chair by an upper-caste clerk. Since then, I have never sat in that chair."

The fate of U. Jaya, president of the Kaanur village panchayat in Sivaganga district, is no different. "When I tried to sit in my official chair, the vice-president and panchayat officials abused me. I complained to the district collector but it did not make any difference. The officials still threaten me, and warn me to stay off meetings."

In Thullukutti Nayakkanur, some tea shops serve tea to Dalits in coconut shells. Says Guruammal, a villager: "The Dalits are served tea in shells, which the tea shop staff would not even touch. When tea is served, we have to hold our shells one foot below. And we keep the shells on the thatched roof of the shop."

Karuppaiah of Kodimangalam village rues his fate. "We pay the same money, yet are served in different tumblers," he snaps. "Worse, we have to wash our tumblers."

Forget tea, the Dalits of P. Amma-patti village in Madurai are tormented at public taps. Says Singaperumal, the panchayat president: "Our women are abused when they try to get water from the tap. We cannot take water when upper-caste Hindus are present."

According to the Evidence study, in some villages, upper-caste Hindus sexually exploit Dalit women.
Even Dalit children are not spared: Several Dalits in Kaayalpattu village of Cuddalore district send their children to schools outside their village as they are ill-treated by teachers and upper-caste students in their village.

"According to a state government report, discrimination against Dalits exists in various forms in 538 villages," says Kathir. "Apart from that, in every village we visited, the Dalits-including the aged ones-are addressed by their names even by the upper-caste children."

The apathy of officials makes matters worse. About seven lakh complaints are filed every year across the state but most complainants go unheard. Says Kathir: "They fear that things might go wrong if they act tough."

Malayala Manorama Publications.