Dalits can't keep male dogs

"... Apart from the two-tumbler system and denial of temple entry, Mr Sampath said dalits are not allowed to watch TV programmes in village panchayats or speak or sing at any public platform. In some villages, he said the postmen do not deliver letters to dalit houses and the dalits have to obtain them from the post office. Dalits are also prevented from rearing cattle or keeping male dogs. ..."


               Untouchability taking new forms, says study

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/cities/chennai/untouchability-taking-new-forms-says-study-480

G. Jagannath, May 5, 2011

Caste discrimination in Tamil Nadu appears to have moved with the times and stayed abreast of new developments.

An attack on a dalit in Villoor village in Madurai, for riding a motorcycle in the streets where caste Hindus reside, is not an isolated incident.

A survey conducted by Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) in 22 districts has revealed the prevalence of 86 forms of untouchability in the state's villages.

Dalits are not even allowed to use ringtones of movie songs. "A dalit in Coimbatore was beaten by caste Hindus for using MGR movie song Naan Aanaittal Adhu Nadanthu Vittaal as his ringtone," TNUEF convenor P. Sampath said.

The discrimination against dalits even exists in matrimonial websites. "We have come across entries made by upper caste persons stating that dalits need not apply," he said.

In the survey, Mr Sampath said they come across the practice of dalits being prevented from walking on the public road wearing slippers, riding bicycles, wearing dhotis folded or polyester dhotis, wearing towels on their shoulder, wearing cloth headgear, sporting thin line moustaches and getting clothes washed or ironed.

Apart from the two-tumbler system and denial of temple entry, Mr Sampath said dalits are not allowed to watch TV programmes in village panchayats or speak or sing at any public platform.

In some villages, he said the postmen do not deliver letters to dalit houses and the dalits have to obtain them from the post office. Dalits are also prevented from rearing cattle or keeping male dogs.

Mr Sampath said untouchability is widely prevalent in the state as the DMK government failed to take any concrete steps to eradicate the practice.

"Even when we staged an agitation in Uthapuram, Kangiyanur and Gudiyatham to seek action against dalit discrimination, the DMK suppressed the struggle by arresting the protesting dalits," he said.

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