Debate over sub quota for Arunthathiyars

CHENNAI: The State Assembly on Monday witnessed a fierce debate over the three per cent reservation for Arunthathiyars within the 18 per cent quota for Scheduled Castes in Tamil Nadu.Participating in a discussion on the Demand for Grant to the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, Republican Party of India (RPI) member C K Tamizharasan said the sub-quota for Arunthathiyars went against the Constitution and a ruling of the Supreme Court.Stating that a similar initiative of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh was disapproved by the apex court, he said no other State in the country had such an arrangement. Also, the State government was not empowered to bring in a legislation on the subject, he noted. “This was done by the DMK regime without an intention to unify or develop the oppressed people,” he charged.Dr K Krishnasamy of Puthiya Tamizhagam, citing the recruitment pattern of universities, including the Anna University, said that a major chunk of job opportunities went to the Arunthathiyars. “Is this social justice? The sub-quota is against the Scheduled Castes and a big blunder,” he argued.The PT leader urged the government to change the name of the “Adi Dravidar” welfare department. “The name Adi Dravidar is one among the 76 castes. I don’t know the reason for naming the department like this. The correct translation for Scheduled Castes in Tamil is Pattiyal Inathavar.”CPI (M) member P Dillibabu and K Balakrishnan spoke in favour of the sub-quota. While Dillibabu said it was welcome, Balakrishnan, referring to the recruitment issue raised by Krishnasamy, said that the greater number of seats going the Arunthathiyar way would be due of the backlog of vacancies. “This is absolutely social justice. They are the weakest of the weak,” he asserted.