Students will be banned from applying Tilak and wearing rings in TN schools

• Tughlaki report submitted to DMK Government in Tamil Nadu

• Strong opposition by BJP, as well as Kallar caste Hindus

Chennai (Tamil Nadu) – A Tughlaki report has been submitted to the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) Government in Tamil Nadu to eradicate alleged casteism from schools. Under this, it was recommended to ban things like wrist bands, rings or Tilak in school premises. The one-man Committee, constituted under retired Madras High Court Judge K Chandru last August after two Dalit siblings were assaulted by their relatively upper-caste classmates in Tirunelveli, submitted a comprehensive 610-page report. The Committee recently submitted its report to Chief Minister MK Stalin.

BJP has opposed this report. Former State BJP President H Raja objected to the recommendation on banning rings and Tilak, calling it ‘Anti-Hindu’. On the other hand, the Kallar caste has objected to the recommendation to remove caste titles, while teachers have opposed the recommendation related to the transfers. Following are some important recommendations.

1. Caste words should be removed from school names.

2. Teachers should be transferred from time to time.

3. Caste of the students should not be written in the attendance sheet.

4. Caste discrimination, Violence, Sexual Harassment and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) laws should be mandatory.

5. On the administrative front, Chief Education Officers, District Education Officers, Group Education Officers and teachers in Higher and Higher  Secondary Schools should not be appointed in places where there is a large population of people belonging to their caste.