Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Getting community certificate a struggle for 17-yr-old Irula boy

Karal.Marx@timesgroup.com

Villupuram:

Left with just two weeks to enroll in college for BSc Industrial Chemistry, a 17-yearold Irula boy sent a petition to Villupuram collector L Subramanian on Monday, for the fourth time, requesting him for his community certificate.

Distressed over alleged harassment by officials, his family filed the petition through registered post with the help of Pazhangudi Irular Pathukappu Sangam (PIPS), an organization that works for the welfare of the community.

Vijay , younger son of Subramani, 50, and S Shanthi, 35, a farm worker couple from Ambuzhukkai village in Vanur taluk ,is yet to get his community certificate.

“He secured 750/1200 in the higher secondary examination this year,” professor Prabha Kalvimani, founder and a senior organizer of the Sangam, told TOI.

Subramani had obtained his Hindu Irula community certificate in 2003 and his elder son, Ajith Kumar, 20, managed to get it in 2015 and is now in his final year BSc microbiology at Periyar Government Arts and Science College, Cuddalore .

“Vijay, who wants to pursue BSc industrial chemistry in the college where his brother is studying, might not get a seat if he fails to produce his community certificate within two weeks,” Kalvimani said.

Vijay said he had applied for the community certificate several times since he was promoted to Class VI. But, the officials dragged the issue, making him and his family run from pillar to post for the last seven years.

“We filed three petitions at the Villupuram RDO, with photocopies of the community certificates obtained by my father and elder brother, from October 27, 2017 to May 28, 2018,” said Vijay.

On Monday, when he tried to find out the status of his previous three applications , the officials at the revenue divisional office refused to allow him to meet the RDO, claiming she was busy and asking them to meet her next week, said Vijay.

“If officials do not process it quickly, I am left with no other option but to find some menial jobs, giving up my dreams for higher education and a good job,” he said.

When TOI contacted Villupuram RDO, K Saraswathi she denied to receive any petition from Ambuzhukkai Village and assured to pay a visit to the Vijay’s home before Thursday. 




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