TN This Week: Village Untouchability Wall Broken; Workers Demand Take-Over of Mills

Chennai: Tamil Nadu reported at least 20 influenza deaths in September, which experts say is a worrisome number. At present, there are 381 active cases of influenza in the state.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on September 7 filed nomination papers for the post of party president ahead of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) general council meeting slated to be held on October 9. Meanwhile, accusations of underrepresentation of minorities in the party’s internal elections have erupted.

Stalin paid his last respects to Communist Party of India (Marxist) politburo member and former Kerala Home Minister, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan in Chennai on October 1. Read more

Left parties and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) rescheduled the human chain for social harmony to October 11. Police had denied permission for the programme to be held on October 2 citing law and order situation in the state.

Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi has given his nod to an ordinance to ban the online Rummy card game in the state. It is a big move as the state was struggling to formulate laws on regulating online games.

The India Tourism Statistics 2022 has revealed that the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Mamallapuram group of temples in Tamil Nadu are the most visited temples by foreign tourists in the country.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of happenings this week in Tamil Nadu.

PROTESTS & STRUGGLES

CASTE WALL BROKEN IN TIRUVALLUR:

The untouchability wall that separated about 200 Dalit families at Thokkamour, a village in Tiruvallur, from the rest of the villagers was demolished by the district district administration on October 3. It happened after multiple rounds of talks with Dalits and Caste Hindus. The cite is located about 50 km from Chennai.

CONSTRUCTION WORKERS DEMAND DIWALI BONUS:

Reiterating their pending demands, construction workers held protests in district headquarters across Tamil Nadu. Ahead of Diwali festival, they urged the state to provide a Rs 5,000 bonus to all construction workers. Read more

Construction workers protesting in Dindigul. Image credit: CITU, Tamil Nadu

DEMAND FOR STATE TAKE-OVER OF MILLS:

The livelihoods of more than 5,000 mill workers are under risk due to the closure of the National Textile Corporation (NTC) mills since the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.

Trade unions have decided to intensify their protests urging the state government to take over the mills and consider running them on a public private partnership.

1,000 CONSERVANCY WORKERS STRIKE AT WORK:

Conservancy workers in the Coimbatore Corporation went on an indefinite strike, urging authorities to fulfil their 18-point demands. It included an increase in the daily wage from Rs 323 to Rs 721.

Nearly 2,000 contract workers representing 12 different associations refrained from work for three days and besieged the city Collectorate.

ELIGIBLE TEACHERS HOLD HUNGER STRIKE:

On October 3, more than 200 government school teacher aspirants held a hunger strike in Chennai demanding jobs. This is their seventh protest in 2022. Read more

FARMERS PROTEST AGAINST DFO IN VELLORE:

More than 500 farmers affiliated to the Tamilaga Vivasayigal Sangam staged a demonstration in front of the Vellore District Forest Office demanding the withdrawal of the false case foisted on a farmer and action against forest officials, on October 3.

Their other demands included setting up a solar fence and a moat to prevent wild animals’ intrusion into farm lands, and payment of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh for injuries and death of farmers due to wild animal incursions.

Meanwhile, delta farmers are demanding  uninterrupted paddy procurement, even for crops with more than 17% moisture condition.

TOLL PLAZA WORKERS OPPOSE TERMINATION:

After 54 of the 250 employees working at two toll plazas - Thirumandurai in Perambalur district and Sengurichi in Kallakurichi district - were retrenched last week, the toll workers went on strike. Therefore, vehicles have been passing without paying toll.

The Madras High Court passed orders to the Centre and the state government to extend protection to the toll plazas for ten days.

GRAM SABHA OPPOSES AIRPORT IN PARANDUR:

Protests against the proposed second airport for Chennai intensified on October 2. The residents of villages in Kancheepuram district passed a resolution in the gram sabha meeting against the Tamil Nadu government's move to set up the airport in Parandur.

TANGEDCO PENSIONERS DEMAND DA HIKE:

The retired employees of TANGEDCO plan to hold a novel “half naked” protest on October 11 to oppose the dearness allowance for pensioners not being hiked. The protest call was given by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board Pensioners Welfare Organisation.