On 9 October 2021 the Indigenous Rights Advocacy Centre (IRAC) has intervened with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) against the denial of Scheduled Tribe (ST) certificate to about 50 Adiyan tribal families in Rangammal Chathiram Colony in Pudukkottai district, Tamil Nadu.
Adiyan is recognized as a Scheduled Tribe community of Tamil Nadu as per the Constitution (Scheduled Tribes) Order 1950. But members of Adiyan community are being denied ST certificates for decades by the concerned authority.
As a result of denial of ST certificates, members of the Adiyan tribe are not being able to enrol in schools/colleges, receive scholarships or get government jobs and various other facilities/ schemes which are accrued only to the Scheduled Tribes.
IRA stated that while non-issuance of ST certificate by the authorities is itself violation of human rights of the Adiyan tribals, the lack of ST certificates is resulting in further violation of their human rights in the form of denial of access to government schemes, education, scholarships and jobs which is hampering their socio-economic and political advancement. IRAC sought the immediate intervention of the National Human Rights Commission by taking the following measures:
- Direct the state government of Tamil Nadu to immediately investigate the matter of denial of ST certificates to the members of the Adiyan tribe and submit a report to NHRC within four weeks;
- Direct the state government of Tamil Nadu to immediately issue an order to the concerned authority to issue ST certificate to the Adiyans whoever apply for such certificates without fail and take action against such officers for dereliction of duty;