Caste discrimination has reached a state of abominable proportion in Tamil Nadu, the birth place of the country’s self-respect movement.
Caste discrimination has reached a state of abominable proportion in Tamil Nadu, the birth place of the country’s self-respect movement. Even medical doctors in government hospitals face humiliation at the hands of their colleagues, who call them by caste names.
The latest incident is the humiliation meted out to Prof V Pugalendhi (52), head of the department of orthopaedics surgery and traumatology, Government Rajaji Hospital and Madurai Medical College. Prof Pugalenthi, who holds a masters degree and post graduate diploma in orthopedics surgery, was instrumental in converting the department into a brilliant organization after he took over in 2010.
“Some of the faculty and staff of the department were opposed to the move to shift the orthopedic surgery and traumatology section to the new Trauma Centre since it would have prevented their interests and private practice. All of them leave the hospital by 11 30am to work in private hospitals,” Prof Pugalendhi, the first ever Dalit to head this department, told DNA.
“You are the only untouchable scheduled caste dog and we will see to it that you will be chucked out soon,” Prof T Chandraprakasam, a colleague, is reported to have shouted at Prof Pugalendhi.
Though Dr Pugalendhi approached his superiors, he is yet to get any relief. A letter addressed to chief minister Jayalalithaa (a copy of the same is with DNA) remains unanswered.
Annamalai, a patient hailing from one of the nearby villages, described Dr Pugalendhi as a doctor with a big heart. “At no point of time in my life I have seen such a doctor who is so kind to his patients, but upper caste doctors can never stand his popularity,” he said.
In Cuddalore, 150 km south of Chennai, more than 20 Dalit doctors at the General Hospital, suffer silently as high caste Hindus humiliate them. “Patients choose doctors based on their castes. Caste Hindus do not allow us to attend to them,” said a senior surgeon who did not want his name to be quoted.
Another Dalit doctor is fighting to get his annual increments, which were withheld by the administrative staff. “There are dozens of doctors with post graduate qualifications working in this hospital. But they are discriminated against because of their Dalit background,” said Vincent Raj Kathir, founder, Evidence, an organization tracking atrocities on Dalits.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}