The Central Government’s fulfilment of a long-pending demand of Malayalee community for categorisation under Scheduled Tribe is not yet full-fledged, according to people of the community living on Kadambur and Bargur hills in the district.
The State Government had forwarded a demand of the community for ST categorisation in 2012, but the description of the community as ‘Malayalee Gounder’ is not acceptable to them.
Last year, an anthropological research was conducted to justify their inclusion in ST list, since their relatives in other districts in Tamil Nadu have been enjoying the status.
Concessions
In Erode district alone, the community was under other caste classification due to which they could not avail themselves of several concessions and had to remain mired in socio-economic backwardness.
According to S. Mohankumar, Sathy taluk convener, Tamil Nadu Pazhangudi Makkal Sangam, ST categorisation will qualify students of Malayalee community to seek admission in the government run hostels and colleges and secure other concessions for their betterment.
Resent
But, the community members resent the tag Gounder. There are indications that the community representatives are planning to approach the Central Government again with a request to make a correction to the name of the community, according to organisations working for their welfare.
