Krishnasamy seeks renaming of Adi Dravidar Welfare Department

Puthiya Tamilagam founder K. Krishnasamy has called for a change in the name of the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department, arguing that the term refers to only one community within the list of Scheduled Castes.

In a statement, he said the Union Government had adopted the generic name 'Social Justice Department' for departments serving the welfare and interests of Scheduled Caste people across 28 states.

According to him, the name 'Adi Dravidar' was applied in Tamil Nadu about 50 years ago to a list of 76 castes, including the Devendrakula Vellalars, falling under the Scheduled Caste category. He said the term is the name of a particular Paraiyar caste, sought and obtained from the British government in 1921 by the Paraiyars, who were then placed in the 'Panchamar' category, and does not represent the other communities on the list.

Dr. Krishnasamy acknowledged that the present government had appropriately renamed the department as the Social Justice Department. However, he said he condemned the fact that in the documents relating to the Demands for Grants for the department tabled in the Legislative Assembly, the Minister had deliberately continued to refer to it as the Adi Dravidar Welfare Department.

He added that neither the Commission nor the department should function under the name of a particular caste.

Responding to the remarks, VCK general secretary D. Ravikumar said the term 'Aadi Dravida' is an identity that rejects caste rather than the name of a caste. He made a similar argument for 'Devendrakula Vellalar', describing it as an identity created in rejection of a caste name, and said this history could be understood by examining the reports of population censuses conducted during British rule.