Tamil Nadu govt. delinks Thuluva Vellalars from Agamudayars in Backward Classes’ list

Conceding the request of Thuluva Vellalars, the State government has allowed the delinking of the community from Agamudayars in the list of Backward Classes. Also, this would prevent “misconception of its homogeneity with Agamudayar community.” While examining the associations’ request, the Commission had concluded that “to substantially redress the grievances” of the community, “there is no bar for causing two distinct and separate entries in the list of Backward Classes for Agamudayar and Thuluva Vellala.” The process “neither involves any new classification nor new inclusion or exclusion of any community; and such an exercise would neither require examination of any quantifiable data.” Also, dissociating the Thuluva Vellalars from the present joint appellation of these two communities “would in no way affect the privileges and benefits” derived by Agamudayars as Backward Classes, the order stated. To cite a few responses, the Madras Collector “asserts that these are two distinct castes - both fairly well advanced,” while the Chengalpattu official “states that both terms refer to the same caste.” As the First BC Commission had called for further amplification of Thuluva Vellalars to mean the sub-sects of northern and southern Agamudayars, the government, in May 1972, issued an order accordingly. A. Ambasankar, had cited the observation of the First Commission which held that “this community was one among the nine communities which attained advancement by making use of the reservations and have cornered the lion’s share in the jobs/education reservations.” As for the numerical strength of the community, the Second Commission, which had carried out a caste survey, stated that no separate count of the Thuluva Vellalars was possible, going by the way they had identified themselves.