‘Steps to retrieve panchami lands underway’

CHENNAI: The government on Wednesday informed the Assembly that steps were being taken to retrieve panchami land from encroachers as per the recommendations of a high-level committee set up by the government to go into the issue.

“A committee headed by the Commissioner of Land Administration was set up to go into encroachment of panchami land. The committee has submitted its recommendations to the government,” said VM Rajalakshmi, Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, responding to concerns raised by DMK MLA V Ganesan.

She added, “Action is being taken to retrieve the panchami land as per the committee’s recommendation.”

Raising the issue during a debate on the demand for grants to the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare department, Ganesan representing Tittagudi said the lands meant for the poor Dalits were under encroachment and wanted the government to take steps to retrieve them.
Later, Revenue Minister RB Udhayakumar said Tamil Nadu was in the forefront in protecting 14 types of land including panchami.

Adi Dravidar school enrolment dips
Another DMK MLA ‘Thayagam’ Kavi (Thiru.Vi.Ka. Nagar) alleged that the enrolment in schools run by
the department had dropped from 1.18 lakh in 2016-17 to 98,246 in 2018-19.

He also noted that the success rate in these schools too had witnessed a downslide over the years.
Neither enrolment nor success rate is improving in the schools run by Adi Dravidar welfare department, Kavi blamed.

However, ministers KA Sengottaian (School Education) and VM Rajalakshmi (Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare) countered him, saying that migration of rural population and switching over to other government schools had resulted in drop in enrolment of students in Adi Dravidar welfare schools.