Commission’s acting chairman Arun Halder told reporters here on Saturday that the National Commission for Scheduled Castes has asked the Coimbatore district administration to make Ponnakanni a model village and provide free houses to the Dalits there under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana.
He visited the village where M. Keshavan, a Dalit, was killed after two motorcycles collided on February 7.
Mr. Halder asked the district administration to arrange a government job for a family member of Keshavan and to provide essential commodities till the job is arranged.
“After my interactions with the Dalit residents of the village, I have come to understand that there is caste discrimination and Dalits are afraid to open their mouths. Therefore the administration should create awareness among the people of all castes. And, it is also an opportunity for the development of the village. I have suggested to the administration to take up Ponnakanni under the Adarsh Gram Programme.
And, the administration took steps to provide free houses to the Dalits within 30 days.
In the matter, both the parties had lodged a complaint with the police, which has registered the case. He had asked the administration to explore the legal remedies available to see that Dalits were not harassed by using the case against him as a tool and asked the police to release the two-wheeler which was later was confiscated.
Mr. Halder said that during his interaction with the Dalit residents, several shortcomings came to his notice. The residents did not have graveyards, were being denied ration in shops and were denied entry to the local temple.
If such discrimination continues, the commission will not remain inactive, he added. Will not hesitate to initiate action.