New Delhi: The Devendra Kula Vellalar (DKV) community in Tamil Nadu, which is currently included in the Scheduled Caste (SC) list, has sought its removal from the category, citing concerns over social stigma, discrimination and the community’s desire for greater social recognition.
The demand comes at a time when several communities across the country continue to seek inclusion in reserved categories to access affirmative action benefits. DKV community representatives, however, have argued that SC status has not delivered the social acceptance they seek and has, in some instances, been associated with discrimination.
According to reports, community leaders have also said that they have voluntarily decided against invoking provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, citing concerns that alleged misuse of the law could contribute to social tensions and hostility.
Ananthan Ayyasamy, BJP district president from Tenkasi and a member of the DKV community, recently reiterated the position on social media while commenting on the SC/ST Act case involving Professor Suryanarayan Dulla following the death by suicide of IIT Bombay student Sahil Wakode.
The DKV community constitutes a significant section of Tamil Nadu’s Scheduled Caste population and is concentrated largely in southern districts and parts of the Cauvery Delta, including Madurai, Ramanathapuram, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi.
The term Devendra Kula Vellalar refers to a community traditionally associated with agriculture and cattle rearing. In March 2021, Parliament approved legislation bringing seven sub-castes, including Pallars, under the unified name Devendra Kula Vellalar.
Community representatives have said the demand for removal from the SC list is primarily linked to social status rather than economic advancement. They have proposed a transition from the SC category to the OBC category initially, followed by eventual inclusion in the unreserved category after a period of 10-15 years.
The demand, however, has not received unanimous support within the community. Members who have converted to Christianity are reported to oppose the move and favour continuation of reservation benefits.
The issue also comes against the backdrop of Tamil Nadu’s existing 69 per cent reservation framework. In 2023, the Tamil Nadu Assembly passed a resolution recommending that SC reservation benefits be extended to Dalits who convert to other religions.
The demand by DKV members has consequently brought into focus questions surrounding reservation, social identity, affirmative action and the relationship between legal safeguards and perceptions of social dignity.
