Caste haunts the people of Irayur village in central Tamil Nadu. A horrific, atrocious image of caste discrimination has emerged from this village. According to reports, many children in the village became ill after drinking water from a tank segregated for Dalits. When doctors revealed that contaminated water could be the source of infections, it was discovered by the villagers that the water tank was polluted with human waste. This is an outrageous and condemnable act. Initial inquiries have been done by the local administration but no substantial action has been taken for such a heinous act.
This is not the first case of this kind of caste discriminatory. Dalit community faces caste discrimination as a routine practice. They have been denied access to public spaces, denied entry in places of worship and segregation at common eating points like tea shops.
A CPIML and AISA delegation visited the village on 29 December and has demanded from the state DMK government to take strict action against the culprits and ensure justice for the Dalit community.
