Madurai: The Gandhi Museum here like the Sabaramati Gandhi Ashram, Ahmedabad, has become notorious for its anti-Dalit activities High caste exploiters have used these Gandhian institutions to enrich themselves at the cost of the Government and the employees.
S. P. Andiappan, a Harijan Sevak Sangh worker, was the first to raise the issue of ill-treatment to Dalit employees and for this he was thrown out as far back as 1977. There is not even a single Dalit in the clerical, technical or higher cadre of the museum. Dayanidhi, M A., a Dalit clerk in the Khadi and VI section, was sacked in 1977 to accommodate a Hindu. In the appointment of education officer in 1973, the claims of a Dalit applicant. Gnanamani, was over looked. Dalits who are mostly gardeners are ill-treated. At least nine Dalit employees suffered punishment at the hands of the management.
Like a feudal lord the secretary imposes fines on Dalit employees. Formerly they were required to work in his private farm without pay.
G. Jagannathan, a backward class employee commended by no less a person than great leader Kamaraj for his courageous devotion to the Dalit movement, was dismissed on trumped up charges. He was just reinstated after a prolonged fight.
