MBCs ban SC villagers from using local parlor near Alangulam in Tamil Nadu

TENKASI: People belonging to a Scheduled Caste (SC) community in Ayyanarkulam village near Alangulam alleged that the members of a Most Backward Class (MBC) community are stopping barbers from giving them a haircut.

According to the residents of SC, there are more than 1000 BC, MBC and SC families living in Ayyanarkulam. “Of these, at least 50 families belong to the SC community. Since our haircut is not allowed in the salon in our village, we visit the neighboring village of Nallur or the town of Alangulam.

This has been happening for many years. Recently, an eight-year-old boy from an SC family went to the salon in our village. After making him wait for more than an hour, the barber refused to cut his hair stating that he was adhering to the instructions of the MBCs,” residents said on condition of anonymity.

“People from the MBC community also asked us not to visit the salon and told us to find a separate hairdresser. The district administration must intervene and put an end to this discrimination against us,” they said.

Recently, the residents of SC verbally brought this issue to the attention of the village administrator (VAO) and the Alangulam police. However, for fear of repercussions, they have not yet filed a written complaint with the police.

When contacted, Ayyanarkulam VAO Santhakumar told TNIE that SC residents are indeed denied services at the salon. “The residents of SC always visit the neighboring villages to get a haircut. Nowadays, the youth of the SC community are visiting the parlor in Ayyanarkulam itself, which has fueled the issue,” he added.

“We need a written complaint to the police to take action against the discriminators,” a police official said.

Despite repeated calls, Alangulam tahsildar Krishnavel did not respond.