TN May Enact Separate Law on Caste Killings After Panel Report: Minister

The Tamil Nadu government will consider enacting a separate law against caste killings once the Basha committee submits its report, State Social Justice Minister Vanni Arasu said on Thursday.

Speaking to reporters at the Secretariat in Chennai following a review meeting on caste killings, the minister said the government has already directed officials to take stringent action without any leniency against perpetrators involved in such murders.

The review meeting focused on examining ways to strengthen existing legal measures to prevent caste atrocities across the state. Emphasising that preventing caste killings is a collective responsibility, Vanni Arasu highlighted the essential role of civil society in supporting state efforts to eliminate caste-related discrimination and violence.

During the briefing, the minister also addressed overseas education assistance for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students. He stated that the government has increased its allocation to Rs 131 crore this year to provide financial aid to 362 students pursuing higher education abroad.

Social Justice Department Secretary Subbaiyan noted that visa-related issues faced by students admitted to international universities have been resolved following discussions with the Union Ministry of External Affairs. He added that while admissions for seven students have been completed so far, the majority of admissions are scheduled to take place in September.