Dalit and Tribal Voices

Dalit and Tribal Voices

Dalit women’s right to political participation

Poomayil never compromised

n the 2006 Panchayat electionsa woman named Ms Poomayil was elected as the village President of Kalangudi, a village near Devakottai, Sivgangai district in Tamil Nadu. Panchayat is the local government unit in India and being a president is a…

The struggle for land rights

Veerammal’s battle lasted for 25 years

A major cause behind many human rights violations committed against Dalits is denial of access to resources. In particular, violence against Dalit women is often directly connected to their lack of control over resources .Veerammal and her husband, both originating…

Inter caste marriages & honour violence

Lakshmi lost her husband but stands with his family

Honour violence has long been considered a problem concentrated to the northern parts of India, but this is a notion that has recently begun to be reviewed. Honour violence in southern India is increasing and non-approved inter caste marriages are…

Sexual violence against women

Nagammal fought for her community

Arungkulam village near Bodinayakannur, Theni district in Tamil Nadu, resides about 200 people belonging to the Paliyartribal community. One of them is Nagammal, a woman who is a survivor of sexual violence and a strong fighter. Her struggle for justice…

The fight against child labour

A tragedy followed by a triumph

The government of Tamil Nadu has a vision of a state without existence of child labour. Several districts have been cited as candidates to be declared free from child labour. However, there are reasons for questioning whether any district is…