E. Sangeetha, a 40-year-old Irular tribal woman and the Panchayat President of Anangur village in Gingee Taluk, is drawing attention to caste discrimination issues in Tamil Nadu. On October 2, 2024, she staged a protest outside the District Collector’s office in Villupuram, demanding action against Deputy Panchayat President Chitra Gunasekaran and her husband, Gunasekaran, for their alleged discriminatory practices.
To further emphasise her demand for justice, Sangeetha also boycotted the Gram Sabha meeting held on Gandhi Jayanti. Her actions highlight the ongoing challenges faced by SC/ST members in the region and the need for authorities to address these issues.
விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டத்தில்
*பஞ்சாயத்து தலைவராக பழங்குடியின பெண்ணான தன்னை, பஞ்சாயத்து துணை தலைவர் சாதி வன்கொடுமை செய்கிறார்"
என போராடி வந்த பெண்மணி மீது "ஸ்டாலின் போலீஸ் வழக்கு பதிவு" 😒 pic.twitter.com/ewvyIYr8eW
— Sanghi Prince 🚩 (@SanghiPrince) October 3, 2024
Sangeetha, the first Irular woman to serve as Panchayat President in her village, has previously filed formal complaints with the District Collector in July and August, alleging discriminatory practices by Deputy Panchayat President Chitra Gunasekaran and her husband, Gunasekaran, a local DMK branch secretary.
She claimed, “The couple restrained me from performing my duties, openly hurled caste slurs at me during public meetings and inspections, and denied me access to the digital key necessary to log in to the government website for approving fund allocations for several panchayat projects. This situation has severely impacted me mentally. Despite my complaints, the district collector has taken no effective action to stop their abuse based on my caste.”
In her complaints, Sangeetha stated, “Chitra, my deputy, and her husband have refused to provide me with the digital key necessary to approve salaries and allocate funds for essential services like laying water pipes and roads. They have used my tribal identity to abuse and demean me during public meetings. Chitra remarked, ‘You, an Irular woman, do not deserve to sit in the Panchayat President’s chair,’ and even threatened me with physical harm if I interfered in administrative matters.”
Action taken… Tribal panchayat president booked after protest against caste discrimination.@krithika_writeshttps://t.co/LNeqjNWou9 https://t.co/gqAYzLA4K2 pic.twitter.com/wnYaisGAN1
— Thinakaran Rajamani (@thinak_) October 3, 2024
Following her August complaint, District Collector C. Palani conducted an inspection at the panchayat office and directed the deputy to grant Sangeetha access to the digital key. However, he reported finding no evidence of discrimination, such as her being denied a chair. Despite this, Sangeetha continues to assert, “I am still facing verbal and habitual caste abuse from the duo, who insist on calling me by my caste name and demand that I leave inspection sites for MGNREGA projects.”
After her protest outside the District Collectorate on October 2, 2024, police charged her under multiple sections of the BNS Act. Despite repeated appeals to local authorities, Sangeetha claims she has not received any concrete response to her concerns and has even faced life threats, leading to significant mental distress.
This incident is not isolated; there have been numerous cases where Dalit and tribal women in local body positions have been denied proper seating and access to official chairs. They have also been prevented from unfurling or hoisting the national tricolor on Republic and Independence Days.
In Mothakkal village, Thandrampet taluk of Tiruvannamalai district, authorities halted the funeral procession of a 56-year-old Dalit woman on September 30, 2024, preventing it from passing through a shared path used by both Dalits and caste Hindus.
Recently, Governor Ravi remarked, “In Tamil Nadu, social justice exists only on paper, not in practice. Despite crimes against Dalits across the country, such incidents have increased in Tamil Nadu over the last three years.” He expressed his disappointment, stating, “It is sad and shameful to witness the crimes against Dalits in Tamil Nadu. Victims do not receive the justice they deserve, and punishments for offenders are often lenient. Daily, we hear stories of discrimination: Dalits are barred from entering temples, their water sources are contaminated with human waste, and they continue to die while cleaning sewage and septic tanks. While these issues persist nationwide, the severity of the situation in Tamil Nadu is unacceptable. Students are even reluctant to eat meals prepared by Dalit individuals.”
