‘Social justice is ensuring that one section of the community is not traditionally involved in garbage disposal’: Thirumavalavan

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi founder and Chidambaram M.P., Thol. Thirumavalavan has said it is imperative that those who have traditionally been involved in garbage disposal end that cycle of continuing the tradition.

Speaking at his 63rd birthday celebrations in Chennai, which commenced on Saturday evening and extended past midnight, Mr. Thirumavalavan rued the slander faced by the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi and pressure exerted to leave the DMK alliance.

“Even recently during the conservancy workers protests, many asked why Thirumavalavan didn’t protest against the State Government. Comrade Sinthanai Selvan went there on fourth day. I went and spent one hour with them on fifth day. I spoke with Chief Minister on Day 6 and I kept speaking to ministers. Though I urged the State Government to ensure that they are given job permanency, we have to understand the issue from our point of view,” he said.

“To demand that the workers be given government jobs is to add heft to logic of ensuring those who clean human waste…clean the drainages and disposes the garbage…that they continue to do so. As a student of Dr. Ambedkar, we cannot say that forcefully. In a way, we have to oppose it. To support the workers demand because they are Dalits…is a very conventional thinking. We have to end it. Countries around the world have implemented latest technology to perform these tasks…eliminating the need to recruit workers from a particular community,” he said.

TN HR&CE Minister P.K. Sekar Babu, Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan, Mr Sinthanai Selvan, retired IPS officer, Vanitha Sambath and others participated.