Tamil Nadu: Samathuvapuram : Towards Spatial Equality

K., Jothi Sivagnanam and M., Sivaraj (2002): Tamil Nadu: Samathuvapuram : Towards Spatial Equality. Published in: Economic and Political Weekly (28. September 2002): pp. 3990-3992.

Abstract

Thanthai Periyar, a great social revolutionary of the Dravidian movement of the early 20th century India opposed 'cheries' and introduced the concept of 'Samathuvapuram'. The concept of housing communities, where dalits and people of other castes live together in mixed neighbourhood and share all facilities - focuses for the firts time on social and cultural equality in housing programmes. Thanks Kalaigner M. Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, for implementing the scheme successfully. The scheme (Samathuvapuram) itself germinated in response to recurrent caste and communal clashes in the state and has received considerable acceptance among the public.

• Item Type: MPRA Paper
• Institution: Department of Economics, University of Madras, Chennai 600005, Tamil Nadu
• Language: English
• Keywords: Samathuvapuram - equality village; Cheries - a secluded residential area meant for the so called low cast people in Tamil Nadu
• Subjects: Z - Other Special Topics > Z1 - Cultural Economics; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Z - Other Special Topics > Z1 - Cultural Economics; Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology > Z13 - Social Norms and Social Capital; Social Networks

References

Jothi Sivagnanam K. and M. Sivaraj (2002), 'Tamil Nadu : Samathuvapuram : Towards Spatial Equality' Economic and Political Weekly, September 28.