In a quick follow-up to the recently enacted legislation in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin has issued orders constituting the 'Tamil Nadu State Commission for The Scheduled Castes/ Scheduled Tribes', a statutory state-level body which will protect their legal rights, ensure their overall welfare, find solutions to their critical problems and advise the State Government on remedial measures to be taken for their welfare. The SC/ST Commission will be headed (Chairperson) by Mr. Justice Shivakumar, Honourable Judge of the Madras High Court, who has delivered several judgments concerning the welfare of Tamil Nadu, while the Commission Vice-Chairperson, will be Thiru. Punithap Pandian, a serious writer and thinker on Dalit issues and who has been ably editing the Journal, 'Dalit Murasu', an official release on October 15 said.

Meanwhile, The Tamil Nadu Tribal Association, affiliated to the CPI(M), has urged the Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin to include a member from the Scheduled Tribe (ST) Community from within the State. P. Shanmugam, senior CPI(M) leader and State Vice-President of the Tribal Association, said though there was one woman member, Leelavathi, she hailed from Karnataka. Her husband Dhanraj, works among the tribes mostly in Coimbatore district, he said, adding, there were many organisations in Tamil Nadu working for the welfare of Tribals and it should not be difficult for the State Government to find one representative from...