Treasury, Opposition Benches lock horns over welfare measures for Scheduled Castes

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A view of Fort St. George, the seat of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly on Kamarajar Salai in Chennai. | Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B

A heated exchange over the implementation of welfare measures for Scheduled Castes during the DMK regime rocked the Assembly on Thursday, with the Treasury and Opposition benches locking horns over several issues concerning the community.

DMK MLA E. Raja, while speaking in the Assembly, listed several measures taken during the DMK regime for the welfare of Scheduled Castes. He alleged that in its first 100 days in office, the TVK-led government had merely changed the names of several initiatives, including renaming the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department as the Social Justice Department.

Minister for Public Works Aadhav Arjuna intervened and alleged the DMK claimed to be a champion of the rights of minorities and Scheduled Castes, but questioned what the party had done during the Godhra incident when it was part of the BJP government led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at the Centre between 1999 and 2004. He asked whether any DMK Minister had resigned in protest against the attack on Muslims.

Mr. Arjuna also cited figures from a Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) report to allege that funds earmarked for the welfare of Scheduled Castes had not been utilised properly during the previous DMK regime. He said the struggles of members of Scheduled Castes had continued for 75 years.

DMK members objected to Mr. Arjuna’s speech. DMK MLA K.N. Nehru said there could be instances where funds allocated for a particular initiative were not fully utilised for various reasons, including court orders. He said the CAG report could not be construed as meaning that funds had not been spent for the welfare of Scheduled Castes.

He said former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had created a separate department for the welfare of Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes and introduced several schemes for their welfare.

DMK MLA Govi. Chezhiaan also listed several schemes introduced by the DMK government for the welfare of Backward Classes and Scheduled Castes when the DMK was in power. He said it was the DMK government that enabled members of all castes to become priests in temples and appointed members of Scheduled Castes as temple trustees.

Mr. Arjuna questioned how many members of the BC, MBC and SC communities had been appointed as temple priests in the last five years. DMK MLA P.K. Sekarbabu said following the principles of Periyar, appointment orders had been issued to 32 persons under the scheme during the previous regime. He also explained the litigation surrounding the implementation of the scheme and the legal measures taken by the previous DMK government. He said the new government should expedite identifying Agama and non-Agama temples.

Mr. Arjuna said the State government would implement the scheme in accordance with Periyar’s principles.