Dalit residents in Coimbatore allege caste bias as TNSTC omits Anna Nagar bus stop, forcing 1 km walk
मुख्य बातें
- •Over 300 Scheduled Caste families in Anna Nagar, Coimbatore, allege TNSTC removed the Anna Nagar bus stop, forcing a 1 km walk to Kempanur bus stop.
- •Residents kehte hain ki omission unhe risks expose karti hai jaise wild animal attacks isolated areas mein walk karte waqt.
- •Kempanur residents, jo ki ek intermediary caste se belong karte hain, ne pehle protests kiye tha, claiming Anna Nagar passengers ne limited buses par most seats occupy kiye hain.
- •DVK ne district administration ko petition ki hai; Minister Vanni Arasu ne action ki urja di hai; TNSTC kehte hain ki ve issue examine kar rahe hain.
Coimbatore, June 2, 2026: Anna Nagar ke residents, jo ki ek predominantly Scheduled Caste (SC) locality hai near Kempanur in Thondamuthur, ne Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) par caste discrimination ka arop lagaya hai kyunki unhone Anna Nagar bus stop services withdraw kar di hai. Is move se over 300 families—jismein students, daily-wage labourers, women, aur elderly persons shaamil hain—to walk nearly a kilometre to the nearest bus stop at Kempanur every day. Dravida Viduthalai Kazhagam (DVK), Coimbatore unit, ne is issue ko uthaya hai, alleging ki Anna Nagar stop ka withdrawal SC community ko marginalise karne ka ek deliberate attempt hai. Outfit ke functionaries ne kaha ki affected families, jo ki primarily public transport par nirbhar hain to commute to Coimbatore city, ab risks jaise wild animals aur reptiles ka attack poorly lit aur isolated stretches mein walk karte waqt exposed hain. Local reports ke mutaabik, TNSTC ne pehle Anna Nagar ke liye limited bus services operate ki thi residents ke protests ke baad. Lekin, Kempanur ke residents, jo ki ek intermediary caste se belong karte hain, ne protests kiye alleging ki most seats on buses Anna Nagar passengers ne occupy kiye hain, Kempanur residents ko inadequate transport options mil rahe hain. DVK ne district administration ko ek formal petition submit ki hai, demanding immediate restoration of Anna Nagar bus stop aur additional safety measures for commuters. Residents ne Minister for Social Justice and Empowerment Vanni Arasu ko bhi apni plight ke baare mein bataya tha unke recent visit to Coimbatore ke dauran. Minister ne reportedly district administration ko urge kiya tha ki ve grievance ko promptly address karein. TNSTC ke sources ne confirm kiya hai ki authorities issue ke baare mein aware hain aur feasibility of restoring the stop ya providing alternative transport solutions examine kar rahe hain. Lekin, abhi tak koi concrete timeline public ke saath share nahi kiya gaya hai resolution ke liye. Is controversy ne Tamil Nadu ke peri-urban areas mein public transport access ke over longstanding tensions ko highlight kiya hai, jahaan caste dynamics often influence service delivery aur infrastructure planning. Anna Nagar ke residents kehte hain ki dedicated bus stop ki lack sirf ek inconvenience nahi hai, balki basic mobility rights under Constitution ka denial hai. Community leaders ne immediate inquiry ki maang ki hai decision-making process ke peeche jo bus stop ka withdrawal hua hai aur transport routes finalise karne mein transparency ki demand ki hai. Unhone state government se bhi appeal ki hai ki ve intervene karein aur marginalised communities ko equitable access to public transport ensure karein.