‘Kattu Naickers’ seek community certificate

Since their demands have become increasingly unfocused, the agitated people took to the Tirunelveli Collectorate on Thursday, pressing ahead with their demand to be fulfilled.

Maheswari, who took part in the agitation, said over 50 families had been living in a place at Tharuvai, near Munnirpallam, for long years now. Despite submitting petitions several times for availing of community certificates, there’s no progress. 

On November 27, many people, along with their children, thronged Tirunelveli Revenue Divisional Office and staged a novel protest with snakes, turtles, squirrels and mangooses along with nets, demanding community certificates. During the protest, District Revenue Officer Muthuramalingam intervened and held talks with the agitated people, who were convinced to give up their protest after being ensured that their demands would be fulfilled soon. 

As there seemed to be no progress,  many people from this community approached the Collectorate to submit a fresh petition, she said. Many of them expressed their discontent as they were not let in by the police personnel, who later allowed five persons from the community to meet the Collector.