For Abirami (23) from Soorakottai in the district, who married a dalit from the same village, it has been a long wait for getting a job and a house, from the district administration as directed by the National Human Rights Commission.
Abirami, a caste Hindu of Soorakkottai married Marimuthu, a dalit from the same village few years back. However, members of Abirami’s family conspired and invited the couple in 2011 to present a gold chain to their new born baby and murdered Marimuthu.
The case was taken up by the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and the Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF), and Abirami testified before the National Human Rights Commission’s open hearing in August 2012. During the hearing, the commission reportedly directed the district administration to provide a job to Abirami and also allot a house to her.
As these were not provided, Abirami and cadre of AIDWA and TNUEF sat on a fast on Monday. Stating that she was finding it difficult to feed her daughter and herself without a job, Abirami urged the district administration to provide her a job and allot a house under the government scheme. P Suganthi, state GS, AIDWA, speaking at the fast, said the Centre should bring in a legislation to curb honour killings of inter-caste couple, and to give relief to the families of the victims.