While the administration is calling it a "public welfare" measure, Adi Dravidian families allege it is a deliberate conspiracy to permanently keep them off the main public road.
Tiruvannamalai: The construction of a new road in Tamil Nadu’s Tiruvannamalai district has sparked controversy. While the administration is calling it a development measure, Scheduled Caste (SC) residents see it as a new wall perpetuating discrimination and untouchability.
The case is in Mothakkal village in the Tharampattu taluk, where Collector K. Tharpagaraj announced the construction of a new cement road at a cost of ₹50 lakh on September 18th. This road is being built on private land where a dirt road currently exists.
This dirt road is used by Scheduled Caste villagers to carry the body of a deceased member of their community to the cremation ground. The Collector also praised the Vanniyar landowners who donated the land for “public welfare.”
However, Scheduled Caste residents say they never demanded a new and separate road. They were simply demanding the right to use the village’s main public road, Murugan Koil Street, which is used by everyone else.
Adi Dravidar families stated that they had petitioned the Collector for a shared public road, not a separate path. Expressing their anguish, one resident said, “This move further reinforces the notion that people from our community do not have the right to equal status in the village.”
Caste discrimination runs deep in Mothakkal village. For decades, approximately 200 Adi Dravidian families here have been forced to use an alternative dirt road to transport bodies to the crematorium.
Aravind*, a resident of the village, explains, “Our people are afraid to use the main road. Two weeks ago, when a person died and we tried to use that road, the police and revenue officials discouraged us, saying, ‘Why create unnecessary problems when an alternative route already exists?'”
Residents say that an atmosphere of fear has long been created by upper-caste villagers, leaving many Dalit families wondering if they will ever be able to safely transport the bodies of their loved ones on the main public road.
After several instances of tension during attempts to use the public road, G. Muniappan, a resident of the village, filed a writ of mandamus in the Madras High Court in December 2024, seeking police protection for Scheduled Caste residents.
In April 2025, the court directed that people could contact the police and they would provide all necessary assistance. However, four months later, residents allege that they are still not allowed to use the common road. Arvind* says, “When we ask for police protection, the police themselves are afraid of creating problems. What can we do then?”
Mayan*, another resident, said, “This new road may be useful for farmers from the Vanniyar community to bring their tractors, but it is of no use to us.”
Vetri Sangamithra, a VCK (Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi) leader from Tiruvannamalai, has described the new road as a “road of untouchability.” She alleged that it is a deliberate conspiracy to keep Scheduled Caste families away from the public road. He said, “Even though it’s officially called a public road, only people from the SC community will use it. People from the Adi Dravida caste will not use it.”
Collector Tharpagaraj has responded to these allegations. He refuted all claims, saying, “Anyone can use both roads—the existing public road and the upcoming new road. The unpaved road becomes very bad during the rainy season. It becomes difficult for people to walk, let alone vehicles, let alone carry bodies. The new road is being built with this in mind. Work has begun and will be completed within a few days.”
(*Names have been changed to conceal identities)
Rajan Chaudhary
Courtesy: Hindi News