Chennai, Aug 31 (BPNS)
The Tamil Nadu state Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes which was constituted 10 months before is turning ineffective after it lacked operational funds and shortage of staff.
Sources in the commission told BPNS that the SC/ST body has not yet received any funds from the state government. Interestingly due to shortage of staff, the body has deputed 6 officials from Tamil Nadu Adi Dravidar Housing and Development Corporation (TAHDCO).
According to SC/ST activists blame the government of Tamil Nadu for its callous attitude toward the functioning of the commission and for not providing proper funds for the commission.
K. R. Murukesan, an SC/ST activist while speaking to BPNS said,” The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K. Stalin has taken interest to constitute the commission in September 2021. However, after ten months of constituting this body,it lacks functioning as there is no funds nor proper staff deployed for the commission which is a constitutional body.”
SC/ST department officials told BPNS that the appointment of staff involves four departments, human resources, finance, adi –dravidar welfare, and law and hence the files are stuck at different offices.
An officer with the SC/ST department while speaking to BPNS said, “ The bureaucratic red-tapism is creating a major void on the move of the state government to constitute a commission.”
Sources in the SC/ST commission said that the body is dependent mainly on TAHDCO to procure even stationary and day to day running of the office. The body is also functioning on the sides of TAHDCO.
The commission is headed by Justice (Rtd) P.R. Shivakumar is a five-member body but has only four members including the chairman. Interestingly, the commission receives a minimum of 10 letters a day but no action was forthcoming.
However, Minister for Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare, N. Kayalvizhi while speaking to BPNS said, “The staff required for the commission will be appointed soon and till then it will be the staff from TAHDCO who will work on deputation at the commission.”
It is to be noted that the commission since its inception has received 1100 petitions on many subjects including caste discrimination and atrocities. However, due to the officials, it is difficult for the commission to handle this huge inflow of petitions and with the staff joining immediately most o the issues could be settled.
