IDUKKI: Panchayat and scheduled caste welfare panel have put an end to the age-old caste discrimination which existed in this Kerala village. The heinous caste discrimination against Dalits was occurring at the border village of Vattavada. Men of lower castes were not allowed to have haircuts from the barbershops in this village.

Even though caste discrimination existed in this village for a long time, widespread protest and condemnation has aroused only recently. Nobody was ready to complain against this before. The ban imposed on barbershops was towards the Tamil immigrants who are staying near the forest area. Most of them belong to the chakliya community.

To understand the real discrimination faced by chakliya community in Vattavada, a team led by K Somaprasad MP and secretary of scheduled castes welfare panel has visited the village. The team sought information from the people who faced discrimination and afterwards, the team discussed with panchayat authorities to seek a permanent solution on this practice.

Men from 700 villages have been facing discrimination for being in a low caste for decades. Men of this community used to travel to Munnar to have a haircut. When the youth of chakliya community complained to panchayat authorities, this issue came to light. The panchayat has decided to close down barber shops which practise caste bias and to open public barbershops.