Unmasking Injustice: VCK Demands Anthropological Study for Fair Tribal Reservation in Puducherry

Puducherry stands at a critical juncture in its commitment to social justice, as the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) launches a fervent appeal for an anthropological study. The party’s impassioned plea aims to unearth and rectify deeply entrenched anomalies within the reservation system designed for the Union Territory's tribal communities, ensuring that rightful beneficiaries are no longer overlooked.

For years, the promise of reservation, a cornerstone of affirmative action, has reportedly been undermined in Puducherry.

Genuine tribal communities, such as the Irular and Kattunayakan, intended to be uplifted by these policies, have allegedly seen their opportunities usurped by others. The VCK, through its general secretary D. Devasirvadham, has vociferously highlighted this injustice, stressing that a comprehensive anthropological survey is the only way to accurately identify and distinguish the authentic tribal groups from those who falsely claim Scheduled Tribe (ST) status.

The genesis of this issue can be traced back years, with the situation coming into sharper focus following a significant Madras High Court directive in 2020.

This directive paved the way for the Centre's notification in 2022, officially recognizing five communities – Irular, Kattunayakan, Kuruman, Mudugar, and Paniyan – as Scheduled Tribes in Puducherry. While this was a welcome step, the VCK points out that even prior to this, a 0.5% reservation existed for STs, yet it was consistently filled by individuals who did not belong to the genuine tribal populace.

The party asserts that this historical pattern of usurpation continues to plague the system.

A particularly egregious allegation made by the VCK concerns members of the Vanniyar community. The party claims that individuals from this community are fraudulently obtaining ST certificates, specifically under the 'Kattunayakan' identity, to unfairly benefit from reservations in education and employment.

This blatant misuse directly contradicts the spirit and letter of the law, robbing deserving tribal youth of their much-needed opportunities.

The Centre's 2022 notification itself sought to address such ambiguities. It explicitly clarified that "Kattunayakan, also known as Kattunayakan" refers to communities whose traditional occupation is deeply rooted in forest dwelling, hunting, and honey collection, effectively distinguishing them from non-tribal groups who might use similar-sounding names.

However, despite this clarity, the VCK insists that the fraudulent practices persist, necessitating a proactive and scientific approach to identification.

In response to this pervasive problem, the VCK has put forth a series of critical demands to the Puducherry administration. These demands underscore a holistic approach to ensuring justice for tribal communities:

• Comprehensive Anthropological Study: Conduct an urgent and thorough anthropological study to accurately identify genuine tribal communities and systematically rectify all anomalies in reservation distribution.
• Effective Implementation of Reservation: Ensure the reservation policies are implemented with strict adherence to the law, preventing any further misuse or diversion of benefits.
• State-Level Vigilance Committee: Establish a robust State-level Vigilance Committee, comprising experts, to meticulously scrutinize and verify all ST certificates, thereby curbing fraudulent claims.
• Dedicated Tribal Budget: Implement a separate, dedicated budget for tribal welfare schemes, ensuring adequate financial allocation for their upliftment and development.
• Special Component Plan: Expedite the implementation of the Special Component Plan for tribal welfare, focusing on targeted development initiatives.
• Protecting Opportunities: Take stringent measures to ensure that no deserving tribal student or job seeker is unjustly denied opportunities due to the fraudulent actions of others.

D.

Devasirvadham powerfully articulated the plight of the marginalized, stating, "Genuine tribal people are suffering, denied their constitutional rights while others fraudulently benefit." The VCK’s call to action is a clarion call for transparency, accountability, and the restoration of justice, urging the Puducherry government to act swiftly and decisively to protect the rights and secure the future of its vulnerable tribal communities.