Kattu Naicken community in Ramanathapuram to boycott elections over long-pending ST certificate demand

Demanding Scheduled Tribes community certificates, the members of the Kattu Naicken community erected black flags at their houses to display their decision to boycott the upcoming Assembly elections.  

Veerapandi, president of the Ramanathapuram Kattu Naicken Community Association, said, close to 8,500 people belonging to the community live in Anna Nagar, M.G.R. Nagar, Sakkarakottai, Thirupullani, Devipattinam, Thiruvadanai, Thondi, Thiruppalaikudi, R.S. Mangalam, and Paramakudi in the district.  

Among the total population, more than 500 students are enrolled in various schools and colleges, he added.  

Recently, more than 2,000 members of the community, including over 200 students in their school uniform, gathered at the Collectorate and staged a sit-in protest demanding the issuance of ST certificates.  

“Our people have been living without caste certificates for over 50 years. Because of this, our children are struggling and unable to pursue higher education or apply for government jobs,” said Mr. Veerapandi 

Years of demonstrations have failed to secure their documentation. The Revenue Department has consistently stalled their applications for requirement of parental caste certificates, a condition the community has long struggled to meet, he stated.  

He asked how the certificates could be produced if they were never issued in the first place.   

“Due to such clerical hurdles, we are unable to obtain the ST certificates. The government must take immediate action to provide them to our community, “ he said.  

The community people who have been into different menial works have not managed to live a decent life for generations.  

Though the community members without proper documentation in government records have been given Scheduled Castes community certificates, Mr. Veerapandi, said, the community’s origin was not properly recognised resulting them being categorised under various SC castes.  

“What we ask for our children’s future is not too much. If the government wills, it can initiate the process immediately, study our people, cross check with the old government records, and provide us ST certificates,” he observed.  

Consecutive governments have lacked the resolve to help those in need, effectively shelving the community’s demands for years on end, he noted.  

“Party representatives contacted us and assured us of resolving the issue and asked us to discontinue their protest. But unless we get solid assurance from the political parties, we will continue to hoist these black flags and maintain our boycott of the upcoming elections,” he affirmed.