COIMBATORE: Bus services have been restored to Anna Nagar, a Scheduled Caste residential area near Kembanur in Coimbatore's Thondamuthur block, after two years of alleged caste-based obstruction.
Background of the Issue
More than 300 Scheduled Caste families reside in Anna Nagar. Bus services were discontinued two years ago after dominant-caste individuals in Kembanur village opposed buses traveling the extra 500 meters to the Dalit-populated area. The dominant community argued that if buses started from Anna Nagar, Dalit passengers would occupy all seats, forcing others boarding at subsequent stops to stand. This forced Anna Nagar residents to walk 500 meters to board or alight from buses at Kembanur.
Ministerial Intervention and Restoration
Following directives from Social Justice and Empowerment Minister Vanni Arasu, the Coimbatore district collector and the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation reinstated bus services to Anna Nagar. The first service from Gandhipuram (Route 21) reached Anna Nagar at 8 am on Saturday. Residents welcomed the bus and distributed sweets to the driver, conductor, and passengers.
Protests by Left and progressive organizations, media reports, petitions, and intervention by the State Commission for SC/ST had increased pressure on the administration. The issue was resolved after residents raised the matter directly with the minister, who treated the denial of transport access as a form of untouchability and ordered implementation of the original route plan without yielding to caste-based pressure.
