ST certificate: Children, elders of Kattu Naicken community continue protest for third day

Kattu Naicken community protests for community certificates after RDO rejects applications, citing unclear reasons and identity issues.

Children and elder members of Kattu Naicken community residing at Sathyamurthy Nagar near Paravai here continued their protest for the third day on Sunday demanding community certificate for their school-going wards.  

After about 62 applications for community certificates were rejected by Madurai Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO), they said they were asked by officials to go for an appeal against the RDO’s rejection of the applications.  

Despite evidence and orders passed by the Tamil Nadu government confirming their identity, denying community certificates was against their rights, said P. Perumal, a resident.  

Starting from 2006, when a report confirming the residents identity as Kattu Naicken was issued by the Tribal Research Centre of Ooty, various subsequent reports were submitted to the State government by both individual commissions and departments, stressing the same, he added.  

When several reports confirmed their identities as belonging to Kattu Naicken community, which was designated as a Scheduled Tribe, on what basis was the RDO rejecting their applications, the protesters said.  

Mr. Perumal further said the report submitted by the official carrying details for rejecting the community certificate were unclear and baseless. Without substantiating the claim for rejecting the applications, the officials were prolonging the issuance process. The main point mentioned in the RDO’s report was that the community members were not following their customary work, and their facial expressions were not similar to Kattu Naickens.  

Rejecting the report, he said how could someone expect them to follow their community’s job even after several years of moving out of it.