TN This Week: SKM Holds State Conference; Malaikuravar Tribals Denied ST Certificate

Sporadic protests broke out in parts of Tamil Nadu on Thursday condemning a Tamil daily for publishing a front-page news report “denigrating” the Chief Minister’s Breakfast Scheme. The news report stated that two meals a day for students are overflowing the latrines in schools. The Breakfast Scheme was recently extended across government-run schools in Tamil Nadu and is being largely praised.

The Tamil Nadu Government has formed a committee to study the settlement pattern of Integrated Goods and Services Tax (IGST) to the state of Tamil Nadu – consisting of Anand Subramaniam, former Chief Economic Adviser to the Government of India, as the chairperson with five other tax experts as members.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday launched his own podcast saying he will release an audio series on the "breakdown of the country" under the BJP’s rule. According to an official release from the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Tamil Nadu chief minister will speak to "save India and expose the Bharatiya Janata Party’s disorder" on his podcast.

The Tamil Nadu Progressive Writers and Artists Association held a one-day conference titled ‘Abolish Sanatana’ in Chennai on Saturday. It included cultural performances and talks on resistance to Sanatana dharma, stating that the philosophy is ridden with caste.

The secular progressive alliance parties and their allies have announced a massive agitation on September 6 condemning the "Vishwakarma Yojana" scheme announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A decision to this effect was taken at an all-party meeting comprising Dravidar Kazhagam, DMK, Congress, Left parties, MDMK, VCK, MMK, and a few Dravidian outfits.

The Federation of Bar Association of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry held a one-day hunger strike at the Thiruvallur District Court campus against the government's three Bills to replace the IPC, CrPC, and Evidence Act. More than 100 Bar Federation members and lawyers participated in the protest.

A day after the state government announced paddy procurement with additional incentives for Kharif season, Tamil Nadu Vivasayigal Sangam demanded that the DMK government fulfil its electoral promise of providing Rs 2,500 per quintal of paddy.

Chief Minister M K Stalin on Wednesday congratulated and announced Rs 30 lakh incentive to chess prodigy Praggnanandhaa who emerged as a runner-up in the just-concluded world chess championship.

NewsClick brings you a round-up of the happenings in the past week in Tamil Nadu.

SKM STATE CONFERENCE

A state-level conference was held by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) in Trichy on Tuesday to organise for the November 26-28 protests. A national-level call has been given to hold protests at state Governor's offices demanding that the Union government implement its promises made to farmers in 2021.

SKM’s national steering committee member Hannan Mollah inaugurated the conference. In his address, he appealed to the farmers to make the protest a grand success and break the anti-farmer, corporate-communal nexus.

Hannan Mollah paid tribute to martyrs. Image courtesy: P Shanmugam

Around 1,200 farmers participated in the conference. SKM state coordinator K Balakrishnan said: “Changing the government at the Centre is the only way to sort out farmers’ issues and fulfil farmers’ just and reasonable demands.”

DYFI PROTESTS AGAINST TOLL-FEE HIKE

Protest demonstrations were held in front of toll booths across Tamil Nadu on Friday by the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). They raised slogans against the Union government’s “toll-booth corruption” and increase in toll fees.

Vehicle user fees at toll plazas on the National Highways were increased at 28 toll gates in the state from September 1, amid demands for doing away with the toll plazas.

MALAIKURAVARS DENIED ST CERTIFICATE

Under the leadership of the Tamil Nadu Tribal People’s Association (TNTA), a protest was held in front of the Pethanaickenpalayam district Collector’s office on Friday demanding Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificates for the Malaikuravar people.

Malaikuravar community held a dharna outside the collector’s office. Image courtesy: Theekkathir

While the tribal people living in the neighbouring Athur taluk have been given ST certificates, their relatives ​​in Pethanaickenpalayam have been denied the same. TNTA has demanded action against authorities “who are violating the tribal people’s rights”. If provided with the certificates, they can avail of benefits such as housing, loans, and work permits.