The Arunthathi Makkal Katchi (AMK) mooted the establishment of a separate welfare department for the Arunthathiyars in the state. A resolution to this effect was adopted at the state executive council meeting that was held here on Friday, chaired by Wallasai Ravichandran, founder president.
“The state government has already established a department for the welfare of the Adi Dravida community. Arunthathiyar community, which has a population of over 50 lakhs in the state, also deserves a separate welfare department,” he pointed out.
The meeting has also passed a resolution seeking that the State government increase the sub-quota of three per cent for the Arunthathiyars in education and job opportunities to six per cent. While the DMK government had introduced the sub-quota, the benefits of the government schemes have not reached a majority of the population, the meeting noted.
Another resolution pointed out that as per a government order, sanitary workers employed in the corporation, municipality and town panchayats should be given pattas. The party appealed to the State government to issue pattas for their houses.
Yet another resolution urged the State government to procure footwear for school children directly from the Arunthathiyars who have been traditionally involved in this profession. At present, the State government was procuring footwear through a tender process.
The party also urged PM Manmohan Singh not to take part in the CHOGM Summit in Sri Lanka. The participation of India in the meet would undermine the sentiments of the Tamils in the country and elsewhere in the world, the party observed.