Saurashtra community in Tamil Nadu demands most backward status

New Delhi, Sep 17 (UNI) The Saurashtra community, which is a linguistic minority in Tamil Nadu, has demanded among others the most backward status and adequate representation in central government bodies.

During the first delegate conference held in the capital yesterday, Mr A G S Ram Babu, former Member of Parliament from Madurai, said some 12 lakh people belonging to the community live in Tamil Nadu. Though backward status was given to them, they were not adequately sound in education and employment sectors.

The community people were having adequate knowledge of the rich art and culture both in Saurashtra and Tamil languages. But they had not been provided adequate chances to show and express their talents. The conference has asked the government to give adequate chances to the community artistes in All India Radio and Doordarshan to express their talents.

Dr T M Soundararajan, who belongs to the Saurashtra community, has been associated with the Tamil film industry for more than four decades.

The conference urged the government to release a commemorative stamp to honour Saurashtra community leader late L K Thulasidasan, a role model and founder of mid-day meal scheme in the country.

Traditionally weavers, the members of the Saurashtra community were affected due to high interest rates and the government should waive overdue interest and loans, the conference said.

Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G K Vasan, who presided over the conference, assured the delegates that he would take up their demands with the concerned authorities at the Centre and the State levels.

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