Malai Vazh Malayalis of Erode demand ST status

The Malai Vazh Malayali community residing in the Bargur and Kadambur hills of Erode district has voiced its demand for the centra and state governments to grant them Scheduled Tribe status.

- HD Bureau

A failure to address their plea, they warn, could lead to a boycott of the upcoming state elections. The community, which numbers approximately 31,200 individuals in the Bargur and Kadambur hills, argues that their lack of ST status and community certificates has resulted in significant social and economic hardships.

According to M Murugan, the district secretary of the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Tribe Malayali Peravai, the Malai Vazh Malayalis are being denied equal opportunities in areas like education, employment, and access to government welfare programs. "Without the Scheduled Tribe status, we are unable to access many of the government benefits that are rightfully ours," Murugan said." This has left our community marginalised and deprived of the opportunities that others in the region enjoy.”