TN: Dalit panchayat presidents fear reprisal from upper caste for hoisting national flag

Chennai:  A day after they had rejoiced in hoisting the national flag for the first time during Independence day celebrations, some Dalit panchayat presidents in Tamil Nadu are fearing reprisal from the upper caste people.
M. Tamilarasan who is the Dalit panchayat president of Senthakudi panchayat in Pudukottai was basking in glory after hoisting the national flag on Monday during the Independence day celebrations, a thing he could not do for the past two years after he had become the president.
However a day after hoisting the flag, Tamilarasan is a worried man and speaking to IANS he said, “It was a moment of glory for the scheduled caste people of the state when I was able to hoist the Tri-colour but now I fear that we will be ostracised by the caste people. We are also fearing reprisal as this has not gone down well with many caste people.” Also Read No chair for many Dalit panchayat presidents, reveals survey report While speaking to media persons, P Mahadevan of Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) who is also the president of Myilai in Chengalpattu district, said, “This was a historic moment, that I was able to hoist the flag. During Republic Day functions, there were some issues with caste people creating problems. With the police around, this time, there were no issues and I could hoist the flag smoothly.” Dominant upper caste people also use other tactics in acting against the Dalit panchayat presidents and in some places they turn the tribal people against the Dalits.
In Kannapattu village panchayat, the Dalit woman president, Viji was opposed by the tribal members of the panchayat and she was not allowed to distribute relief materials to tribal community members during floods.