Latest news with #Irular
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu school principal booked under SC/ST Act
CHENNAI: The Kancheepuram district police on Thursday registered an FIR against the principal of a government girls' higher secondary school in Sriperumbudur under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly criminally intimidating a tribal Irular parent who had approached her seeking a transfer certificate for her daughter. The FIR has been filed against Gnana Selva Jothi, the principal of Sriperumbudur Girls Higher Secondary School, who is currently absconding. The action follows a protest staged a week ago by around 20 Irular community members and social activists outside the school, demanding action against the principal for allegedly using casteist and derogatory language against the parent. According to the FIR, the complainant, S Ragini, first approached the principal on 3 June to obtain a transfer certificate for her daughter studying in Class 7. She alleged that the principal not only refused to issue the TC but also spoke to her in a harsh manner and failed to offer her a seat, despite chairs being available in the office. Ragini was reportedly made to visit the principal again on June 9 and 11. On June 11, the principal allegedly insulted her appearance in the presence of other teachers. The complainant added that another parent, who had met the principal just before her, had been offered a chair, which she claimed highlighted the discriminatory treatment meted out to her. Based on her complaint, Sriperumbudur Inspector S Dharmalingam registered an FIR under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation and use of obscene language, along with applicable provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Senior police and education department officials, who were present during the earlier protest, had initially defended the principal, denying the use of any casteist language.
New Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Irulars claim govt school principal used derogatory language, stage protest
CHENNAI: Around 30 members of Irular tribal families and some social activists from Sriperumbudur staged a day-long protest demanding action against a government school principal, who allegedly spoke in a derogatory manner with an Irular couple, who had approached her for getting transfer certificate for their girl child studying in the school. The Kancheepuram district police detained the protesters in a local marriage hall and were released at 8.45pm. Ragini and Suresh, the couple, had approached Gnanaselva Jothi, the principal of Sriperumbudur Government Girls Higher Secondary School's principal Gnanaselva Jothi, for the certificate. The family, which lives in an Irular resettlement site in Katrambakkam village, wanted to admit their daughter to a school which was nearer as the current one was 10-15 km away.
New Indian Express
02-06-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Lights, camera, action
It's that season again when a collector steps in, camera crew in tow, not to fix anything but to yell at people for a taste of power. This episode stars the Tiruvallur collector, who turned a school inspection into a full-blown reality show, schooling teachers like they were students. Of course, it was all captured on camera. After all, what's governance without a little public shaming? The real show-stopper? In this season of yell before verifying, the collector, misled by the BDO, lashed out at an Irular headman in Vempedu village, humiliating the community. His mortal sin? Building a house with the help of the NGO. Turns out, the word, sorry was omitted from the 'misuse of power' dictionary. Meanwhile, on Instagram, the collector is seen praising an artist accused of harassment, right before delivering sermons to school teachers on discipline. Maybe the allegation escaped his notice; he was probably too busy rehearsing his next on-camera outburst to perfection. -Rajalakshmi Sampath Icarus of DMK Once the DMK's poster boy, senior leader K Ponmudy has been conspicuously cropped out of the party banners during the two-day DMK central district executive meet at Kalaignar Arivalayam. Instead, M R K Panneerselvam wielded a wide grin on every banner. Ponmudy's home turf and stronghold in Villuppuram has slipped right out of his fingers. The red carpet has been rolled out to Panneerselvam, with the crown of zonal-in-charge falling right onto his head recently. Since Ponmudy's fall from grace over his controversial remarks on religion and women, the omission seems no accident. Party insiders say Chief Minister M K Stalin's cold shoulder has gone public, and Ponmudy's supporters are feeling the chill. -Krithika Srinivasan Zero compassion clause Evictions are usually carried out with some unspoken rules to soften the blow, especially to children. Their belongings are all packed away beforehand, and officials ensure that no children witness their houses fall. However, at Anakaputhur, the evictions wreaked havoc on the financial and mental stability of the families. Under the orders of the high court, houses were bulldozed like a pack of cards. Children, who did not have time to pick up their toys or books, watched on as their houses turned to dust. Residents are furious, their life savings have been demolished, they are being packed away to apartments in Kancheepuram and are clueless as to how to restart their lives. Some of them vowed never to vote for the DMK again. The irony? One of the evicted settlements here is, or rather was, called 'Stalin Nagar'. -Nirupama Viswanathan
New Indian Express
31-05-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
20 Irular families in Chengai face eviction threat due to patta issue in Chennai
CHENNAI: Twenty Irular families living for decades in a village near Tirukazhkundram in Chengalpattu district now fear displacement after local authorities began inquiries a few weeks ago. Of the 40 Irular families living in the locality, 20 of them do not have pattas (land title deed). Except one or two, most of them live in permanent dwellings which were constructed with the help of a local trust a few years ago, residents said. The local village panchayat has helped lay roads and install street lights, but the 20 houses without patta have not been given power connection. Members of the families have been working as agricultural labourers in three nearby villages for years, while youngsters study in local schools that are 3-4 km away, said a resident. On May 14, officials from the Thiruporur taluk visited the locality and informed them that no additional pattas would be sanctioned for the Irulars as the land on which they are living is 'meikal poramboke'. The authorities also told them that they would be relocated to a different location where they would get pattas and government-sponsored housing. It is not known what action has been planned on the other 20 families who have received pattas.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Chief minister lays foundation for ECR convention centre
Chennai: Chief minister M K Stalin laid the foundation for Kalaignar International Convention Centre at Muttukadu along East Coast Road on Thursday. The 525 crore, 38-acre project will feature a 10,000-seat exhibition hall, a 5,000-seat convention centre, and a 1,500-seat auditorium across a built-up area of 5.12 lakhsqft. Equipped with modern amenities including central air-conditioning, elevators, EV charging stations, and parking for more than 1,600 cars and 1,700 two-wheelers, the centre is designed to host international summits, trade expos, concerts, and cultural festivals. Now, Chennai's major events are held at YMCA grounds or college campuses, often causing traffic snarls and logistical challenges. Expos occur at the Chennai Trade Centre, where traffic is a major issue. The Muttukadu centre, located just outside city limits, is expected to provide a spacious and efficient alternative, improving traffic flow and reducing disruption in residential areas, said an PWD official said. Stalin also inaugurated key infrastructure projects totalling 499.08 crore. These include the four-laning ofMalliyakarai-Rasipuram-Tiruchengode-Erode road in Namakkal, a new flyover in Madurai, and housing units for Irular families in Ranipet. The 424.38 crore road upgrade, part of the Chennai-Kanyakumari Industrial Corridor with Asian Development Bank funding, will ease traffic in Pallipalayam and boost connectivity between Namakkal and Erode. In Madurai's Palanganatham, Stalin opened a 730-metre road overbridge built at 68.38 crore to replace a congested railway crossing. In Melpakkam, Ranipet, Stalin inaugurated 6.32 crore-worth resettlement housing for 41 displaced Irular families, complete with basic amenities like an anganwadi, water tank, and community hall. He inaugurated 49 urban administration and water supply projects worth 571.92 crore across Chennai and other parts of Tamil Nadu. These included new school buildings, playgrounds, sanitation facilities, underground drainage systems, bridges, market complexes, coastal beautification works, and housing units. Key projects include three major underground drainage schemes in Chennai's Pallikaranai, Mughalivakkam, and Madipakkam areas worth 188.55 crore, a new 21 crore bridge in Perungudi, and road and community improvements in multiple municipalities. Stalin also launched 50 new municipal vehicles, including water sprinklers, hydraulic machines, sanitation vehicles, and school buses, enhancing civic services.
