OUR SINCERE CONDOLENCES FOR THE LOSS OF MR. GOVINDARAJ "The" Prominent Activist in Kavarirajapuram, Thiruvallur, TN, India

Mr. Govindaraj, a community activist who had devoted most of his life for the rights of Bullockart workers and landless labourers, not only of his village- Kavarirajapuram of Thiruvellore District, but also of those in the region of Thiruvellore, Vellore and Kancheepuram, has passed away at 7:15 PM of February 2nd 2007 at Thiruvellore due to the traffic accident. He was 36.

He has begun his life as an activist by getting inspired by his father, Mr. Kollapuri, who has fought against atrocities against Dalits as well as fought for the right to access in the public resource with the help of Landless Labourers Movement. In the village of Kavarirajapuram, there are 225 Dalit families out of 875 at the moment, and even now Dalits are facing practices of untouchability; i.e., prohibition of use of chapples in the street, existence of two tumbler system in the tea shop, compulsion of special clothes (tying towel on their hip) as well as special torture when they refused to obey to other caste people.

He, firstly, worked very hard for organising Bullock Cart Workers’ Movement. Bullock cart has been one of the most basic and important means of transportation for the farmers to take the production into the market. Due to the influence of mechanisation, bullock carts were thrown out from the agriculture field instead of introduction of tractors. Bullock cart workers face serious unemployment problem. Mr. Govindaraj organised the workers and motivated them to become the member of the Bullock Cart Workers’ Movement. He confronted many times with the government officials for the rights of bullock cart workers i.e, Accident compensation insurance, Employment protection, and Launch of governmental scheme for the purchase of bullock and the cart.

Mr. Govindaraj’s contribution to the movement went beyond his community in Kavarirajapuram. He formed movement amongst Dalits as well s other oppressed communities in 56 villages throughout Thiruvellore, Kancheepuram and Vellore. Particularly, Bullock cart workers has been benefited by the effort of Mr. Govindaraj, and achieved to get special financial assistance from government. When a rural development officer arrested 17 bullock cart workers during the sand quarrying, he successfully released them from the house of detention with his efforts for the coordination of protesting activities. Actually, 472 members became the member of the movement as admiring his leadership.

No one can alternate for his position. We truly regret that we’ve lost the important activist in our movement.

URGENT APPEAL CALL FOR SUPPROT FOR THE FAMILY OF Mr. GOVINDARAJ

The loss of Mr. Govindaraj affected us with sorrow. The accident that Mr. Govindaraj got, however, affected his family member in cruel manners. He left his wife, Ms. Amutha, 30, as well as four children who need a lot of father’s assistance for making sure further steps; Sharmila 13 y. o. studying in 8th Std, Saranya, 12 y. o. studying in 7th, Santhiya 9 y.o. studying 4th, and the only sone Beemarao, 8 y. o., studying in 3rd Std. The family depends on the daily wage to survive, but the amount that Ms. Amutha can earn in a day is just Rs. 25 per day. With the small amount of money, they were unable to manage children’s education and food. What is worse is, although he was run over by a vehicle, but there is no evidence to claim insurance.

He has so far worked very hard for the movements. His family has been the second priority for him as he had to face the benefit of whole Dalit communities as well as justice of the country. As those who have benefited by his generous support to the social movement in India, we strongly feel our duty to help the betterment of his family.

Feb. 2007 Society for Rural Development and Education

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