Stalin visits village of Narikuravar tribe, after nomadic woman raised voice against discrimination

He gave away pattas (land allotment certificate) , ration cards, loans and other kinds of assistance to 282 beneficiaries and orders for taking up development work in their area, all at an estimated cost of about Rs 4.53 crore.

Stalin, who gave away the assistance accepted the invitation of beneficiaries, Bhawani and Ashwini to visit their tenements. Visiting their houses, Stalin interacted with their families and also inspected tenements of Narikuravars and Irulars and discussed augmentation of amenities in their neighbourhoods. The CM also received petitions seeking redressal of grievances and promised them that all steps would be taken up to create all amenities including proper roads and assured measures to enhance their livelihood opportunities. The event was held at Poonjeri village in Tirukazhukundram taluk of Chengelpet district, about 50 km from Tiruvanmiyur in south Chennai. The CM's assistance initiative is a sequel to Ashwini expressing her grievances and discrimination against their Narikuravar community, a nomadic people and a section of them semi-nomadic. Her grievances went viral in social media. She had said that she and others of her tribe were denied food by some individuals at a temple in Mamallapuram.

Following this, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Minister P K Sekar Babu days ago visited the ancient Sri Sthalasayana Perumal temple, a Lord Vishnu shrine in the seashore town. The Minister sat beside her in the temple hall and had food along with all sections of people. ''The Annadhanam (free food/community meal) provided by the temple is for all people,'' the Minister had said. He had also provided welfare assistance to Ashwini and members of her tribe. Under the Chief Minister's Special Scheme, 81 residents of Poonjeri village and belonging to the two tribes got pattas, valued at about Rs 3.52 crore and an order was given by Stalin for taking up development initiatives at a cost of Rs 10 lakh in the tribal neighbourhoods. Six senior citizens were granted Old Age Pension, a state welfare scheme, 21 families received ration cards, 18 individuals voter identity cards and 88 Irulars and 34 Narkuravars got Scheduled Tribe and Most Backward Community caste certificates respectively, an official release here said. Loans of Rs one lakh each to 12 beneficiaries under the 'Mudhra' scheme, Rs 3.30 lakh worth bank loans for small business initiatives to 33 beneficiaries were given by the Chief Minister. Membership cards to a total of 59 beneficiaries in separate welfare boards for Narikuravars and tribal people, orders to provide training aimed at self-employment for 18 individuals, additional class rooms in a local primary school were among the other assistance.

In total, 282 people were the beneficiaries and Rs 4.53 crore is the estimated cost of several kinds of state assistance which includes development initiatives, the government said. Stalin, after presiding over the event and giving away assistance, tweeted, ''What was denied to sister Ashwini is not food but respect.'' The reins of power is a big opportunity to get back respect for her, the CM said. ''It is the work of the Dravidian movement to protect self-respect and social justice by not missing anyone on the margins of the society,'' he said.

The CM said he has ordered officials to implement similar welfare measures for such people across Tamil Nadu. He addded that he gave away the assistance to the marginalised people by remembering the ideals of reformist leader, Periyar E V Ramasamy, Dravidian icon C N Annadurai and late Chief Minister M Karunanidhi.