Coimbatore: Dalit Families Demand Burial Ground
Members of the Adhi Tamilar Peravai staged a protest by carrying a bier to the district collectorate in Coimbatore on Monday. They submitted a petition to the collector seeking a dedicated burial ground for more than 300 Dalit families residing near Karamadai.
Allegations of Discrimination
The protesters alleged that people from other communities have been preventing them from using a public burial ground in the area. K Ravanan, state youth wing secretary of Aathi Thamizhar Peravai, who led the procession, stated that Dalits are still being treated as untouchables and denied entry into the common burial ground.
Decades-Old Struggle
Ravanan told reporters that over 300 Arunthathiyar people have been living at Seeliyur in Karamadai for more than 70 years. He said, “These people do not have a burial ground. They are burying the bodies of their dear ones on a parcel of abandoned land near a canal. However, the bodies get washed away when there is excessive water flow in the canal during rainy days. They cannot bury the bodies on rainy days.”
He emphasized that like every other community, these people also have the right to equality, especially in fulfilling the final rites and paying respects to their deceased family members. “Moreover, this is a matter of social justice,” he added.
Demands
The district officials were urged to either take immediate action to allow them to use the public burial ground or allocate a separate land for this purpose. “Action should be taken against people who deny their entry into the public burial ground,” Ravanan added.
