— ✍️ Nethrapal

A lot needs to be done in empowerment of SC/ST/OBCs in Tamilnadu. We have listed down the 10 important things to be done in Tamilnadu.

1] Honor Killing - Honor killing is on the rise in Tamilnadu especially targetting the boys from Dalits. A strict law should be implemented to criminalize Honor killing which will act as a deterrent against dominant castes persons from killing dalit boys. Honor killing should also cover Dalit girls who are lured into relationship and then dumped because of caste. In case of inter caste marriage, especially Dalit Boy/Girl and their family should be provided police protection and the local police should discuss with the dominant caste community on the issues of killing the boy or girls and consequences thereof.

2] Discrimination code exclusive for SC/ST protection in universities similar to Rohit Vemula Act . Representations in post graduation, Ph.D, Assistant professor, Associate professor and Professor have been dismal. Roster issues, lower marks in Interviews and many other ways of discrimination should be documented and a special code should be passed to protect the interest of SC/ST in all educational institutions.

3] SC/ST subplan utilization act wherein SC/ST budget as per SC/ST population and allocation to priority areas like education and health should be looked into. Traditionally, we have seen that SC/ST budgets are used for building roads, dams, infrastructure rather than being used for priority areas like Education and Health. The Act can be modelled based on the SC/ST subplan Act implemented in both Telangana and Karnataka. One of the worries in the current era is the diversion of SC/ST funds for general schemes like Freebies and Guarantees which would crowd out funds away from the developmental needs.

4] All major reports suggest rising Dalit atrocities all over Tamilnadu. Many are not even reported and some of the worst heinous forms of atrocities and caste wars are reported all over Tamilnadu. SC/ST state commissions have been disfunctional for a long time and SC/ST representations within the state has been dismal.

Separate police stations for SC/ST atrocities in the entire state headed by Addl-DGP rank officers is the need of the hour. Skewed distribution of police at all levels should be addressed by recruiting all backlog vacancies in all police department.

Quick Toll numbers for registration of SC/ST atrocity cases and quality investigation of cases by good quality officers is the need of the hour. 100% FIRs in all cases and timely disposal of cases should be ensured through a centralized monitoring system

5] Based on the Telangana model, where in detailed Composite Backwardness Index (CBI) is calculated for each caste based on 44 parameters, caste survey should be done all over Tamilnadu to get an X-Ray of all castes in the states. Based on this new subcategorisation among OBC,SC,ST should be initiated by appointing new commissions

6] In case of deprived scheduled castes and extremely backward classes identified in the states, special budgetary sanction should be announced to bridge the developmental gaps for these communities especially in Education and Health sector. A separate department under the social welfare department under a separate divisional head should be formed for welfare of deprived scheduled castes and EBCs within the state.

7] Real effective representation of all castes at all levels should be published. For example, how many collectors, SP, principal secretaries and in every cadre should be published. Analysis should be done on why SC/ST persons are not going up. Structural barriers like Rosters should be analyzed and a special act for providing promotions to SC/ST on lines of Karnataka should be enacted to ensure SC/ST promotions are given to ensure top positions are filled up.

8] Introducing reservations in outsourced employees in all government department. It is noticed that Group C/D employees has been outsourced predominantly in all government departments. As a result, the traditional cushion for SC/ST/OBCs is gone. It is requested that in temporary jobs, outsourcing jobs, reservations for SC/ST/OBCs should be introduced which will provide Rs 20000/- jobs for SC/ST

9] Introducing reservation in procurement in all contracts and Making 20% reservation mandatory for all SC/ST students in all top elite schools in the state.

10] Distribution of TNHB flats, Industrial plots, agricultural lands all over Tamilnadu to SC/ST community at subisided rates. Direct benefit transfers to Dalit women, unemployed youth are welcome moves

We request Thol Thirumavalavan to consider implementing the above ten points in the interest of SC/ST/OBCs in the state.

- The author has over 16 years of experience in the Indian Revenue Service (IRS), and is a seasoned tax enforcement leader who is passionate about ensuring compliance and fairness in the tax system. He has a strong academic background with a B-Tech from IIT-Madras in Electrical Engineering, where he received a Silver Medal, and a PGDM from IIM-Bangalore, where he specialized in Finance and Economics.