Debate on the relevance of Kallar reclamation and Adi-Dravidar schools
The Hindu
Questions being raised on whether they should remain in their present form
A debate on the continued relevance of Kallar reclamation schools and Adi-Dravidar welfare schools, vestiges of the British raj, is under way. Both types of institutions have been in existence for over a 100 years. While the first category was established to constructively engage the children of, what were once called, criminal tribes, the second became possible, thanks to initiatives by leaders of the Scheduled Castes, such as Ayothidoss Pandithar. The schools were founded when the communities had little access to formal education. Kallar reclamation schools are located in Madurai, Dindigul and Theni districts, where Piramalai Kallars are predominantly concentrated. Piramalai Kallars form part of 68 denotified communities (DNCs) that include Maravars and Vettuva Gounders. Adi-Dravidar welfare schools are situated across the State. As many as 76 castes have been enumerated as SCs. Both categories of institutions admit students from other communities too. Kallar reclamation schools come under the jurisdiction of the Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minority Welfare Department, and the latter under the Adi-Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department.We all remember the childhood history classes on human evolution, which taught us how where men started hunting their food and learned to cook on fire create a fire that paved the way for our culinary adventures across centuries. Humans have evolved since then, wood fires have been replaced by ovens and gas stoves whereas open-fire cooking has only been a part of our backyard activity that gets a pick occasionally during special occasions.
Bengaluru and its civic bodies are notorious for delays in completion of infrastructural projects. Arguably the most infamous among such projects is the Ejipura flyover, which has been dragging on for the past seven years. Intended to connect the southeast part of the city to its east and west regions, it has faced numerous delays since its commencement in 2017.