Sivaganga
A day after the funeral ceremony of three Dalits hacked to death in the bloody attack by members of dominant community at Kachanatham, Collector G. Latha and Superintendent of Police T. Jayachandran visited the village on Saturday and assured the villagers that the government was taking all measures for their peaceful and fearless living.
As part of addressing the immediate demands of the people, ration items would be distributed to the about 50 family cardholders in the village itself on Sunday, Ms. Latha said, adding the ration items would be distributed to the cardholders every month in the village.
The district administration also decided to provide government bus service to the village, located about six km from the National Highway near Manamadurai.
The government was taking steps to provide government jobs to one of the family members of the deceased and injured in the attack, she said. Steps were also being taken to help them to develop their economic status with subsidised loans and employment opportunities, she said.
To ensure safety and protection to Dalits living in Kachanatham and the nearby villages of Periya Avarankadu, Chinna Avarankadu, Sullangudi, Maranaadu and Thanjakoor, the government was taking steps to declare the area as ‘atrocities-prone belt’, Ms Latha said.
She said once the area was declared as ‘atrocities-prone belt’, the government would bring in all its schemes for the benefit of the oppressed people, she said. Police patrolling would also be intensified to instil confidence in the minds of the affected people, she said.
The district police had already opened a police outpost in Maranadu – Kachanatham area and people could approach the police freely if they had any problem, she said.
The police would act swiftly and redress their grievances, the Collector assured the villagers. “As directed by the Chief Minister we are taking all measures for the peaceful living of the affected people,” she said.
The district administration would keep a close vigil and ensure there was not even a minor problem in the future, she assured. Officials of all departments would hold a weeklong special camp in the village to meet their demands, she said and asked the villagers to make use of the camp.