'Dalits yet to make progress'

While most castes have made progress after the nation’s independence, a few, particularly Dalits, have not made commendable progress. Continued oppression by other castes is one of the reasons for the same — said former IAS officer and noted writer P Sivakami.

She was speaking at the release of Sadhi Inru (Caste Today), a book that takes a look at caste prejudices and problems facing  oppressed castes, at the Madras Imstitute of Development Studies on Tuesday.

Stating that such skews lead to the infliction of violence, she said that the recent acts of violence against Dalits in Dharmapuri district was reflective of the same.

The book is authored jointly by C Lakshmanan, Stalin Rajangam, J Balasubramaniam, A Jeganathan and Anbuselvan — all intellectuals.

Sivakami said that the book was a boon for political parties that indulge in pitting sections of society against others. She also decried that caste-based prejudices had come in the way of filling a backlog of vacancies on government services.

Stating thus, she calledfor the uprooting of all such mindsets.

The book is promoted by Intellectual Circle of Dalit Actions, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.