Dalit panchayat leaders ill-treated

MADURAI: As many as 171 dalit panchayat leaders in the State faced various forms of discrimination from their colleagues, revealed a study conducted by Evidence, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) working for Dalit rights in Tamil Nadu.According to the study, 93 Dalit panchayat leaders faced discrimination at the hands of vice-presidents of the village panchayats, while 51 leaders were ‘ill-treated’ by clerks.A ‘caste-based approach’ in the administration activities was used to discriminate against 145 Dalit panchayat leaders, while 104 leaders faced harassment from caste Hindus who used ‘demeaning language’ against them.Similarly, four panchayat leaders from Villupuram, Cuddalore and Dindigul districts were “not allowed inside their office.” A Kathir, executive director of Evidence, pointed out that caste Hindus locked the office and denied entry to these panchayat representatives. Evidence conducted the study at village panchayats in Madurai, Sivagangai, Dindigul, Coimbatore, Erode, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Nagapattinam and Thanjavur districts. The Tamil Nadu government should impart training to Dalit panchayat leaders on administration, economic development and welfare schemes, Kathir urged.