SHRC notice to Madurai collector

Chennai: The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) issued a notice to the Madurai district collector for transferring two women Dalit Anganwadi workers out of Valayappati village following opposition from local residents.

 The commission directed the collector to file a detailed report regarding the issue before July 17.

Judge D. Jayachandran passed the order on Thursday based on a newspaper report according to which, Madurai collector appointed M. Annalaksmi as a worker and M. Jyothilakshmi as a supervisor in the Valayapatti Anganwadi centre on June 3.

 In opposition of the move, Hindu residents of the village lodged a complaint with the ICDS office in Tirumangalam taluk. Subsequently, the district administration on June 4 transferred M. Annalaksmi to Kilavaneri village and M. Jyothilakshmi to Madhipanur.

This transfer gave rise to tension in the area.

The Dalits on June 8 filed a complaint against the Hindus in the village for interrupting the drinking water supply to their households. Irked by this, the Hindus vandalised the Dalit colony in the village. A police team was then posted to ensure peace in the area.

Dalit women recalled how they were not allowed to offer their prayers during the local Muthalamman temple festival in April this year. The festival is usually followed by Jallikattu. However, even that was denied permission this year in view of the Lok Sabha elections. “Caste Hindus have been preventing Dalits from entering the village to buy from the ration shop or use the common bathing complex. They have also been denying jobs to the elders from our community,” they said.

 SHRC judge D. Jayachandran asked the collector to explain the transfer and directed him to file a detailed report of the same before July 17.