While Prime Minister Narendra Modi was speaking about the 'Self-reliant' India in his 74th Independence day address to the nation, the shocking incident from Tamil Nadu that happened on the Independence Day had showcased that the country is a 'caste-reliant' one after the woman panchayat leader, who is a Dalit, was stopped by the upper caste members from hoisting the Indian flag in her village. 

According to the reports, Amirtham, who is the Panchayat President of Attupakam in Thiruvallur district, belongs to the backward caste and she was invited by the headmaster of the local school to hoist the national flag on the occasion of the Independence Day and she accepted the invitation. Later, the headmaster reached out to her and told her not to come to school and hoist the flag. Following the development, Amirtham said Sasikumar, who is the panchayat secretary, and Vijayakumar, who is the husband of the panchayat vice-president had stopped her from hoisting the tricolor. 

Amirtham further stated that the panchayat secretary, former panchayat leader, and few officials had made remarks on her caste and discriminated against her based on the caste. The reports say that the secretary and other caste Hindus had reportedly stopped her from hoisting the national flag. The incident of caste discrimination had sparked massive outrage across the state and the political leaders and the activists had demanded action against the responsible behind the incident. 

After it triggered a debate and tensions, the Tiruvallur district administration pitched in to investigate the discrimination and denial of basic rights to the Panchayat leader on Independence Day. Tiruvallur district Collector Mageswari said on Wednesday that the panchayat secretary Sasikumar has been suspended and two people have been detained by the police. She further stated that the authorities will investigate Amirtham and asserted that no such incidents will happen again in the district. 

Collector Mageswari said that the police department has been directed to take immediate action against the responsible.  The reports stated that Panchayat President Amirtham said she was not allowed to sit on the chair that is meant for panchayat leaders and she also accused the secretary of getting signatures on documents without explaining the documents in detail as she doesn't know to read and write. 

On Thursday- August 20, Amirtham was ensured with her rights what she was denied earlier. She hoisted the national flag in the presence of the Tiruvallur district collector and Superintendent of Police and the local people. After hoisting the flag, she distributed sweets to everyone around and she also sat on the chair meant for the Panchayat President and the name board etched with her name as the Panchayat President was pasted in front of her office. 

Speaking to the media after hoisting the flag, Amirtham said she was happy that she hoisted the national flag at the Panchayat office. District Collector Mageswari has on Thursday instructed the authorities, officials, vice-presidents, and ward members to extend their full co-operation to Amirtham in discharging her duties. 

Meanwhile, a reporter of the Tamil News channel went to Attupakam on Tuesday to cover the caste-based discrimination faced by Amirtham. However, after he reached the village, he was reportedly beaten up by Sasikumar and three more persons against covering the incident. The reporter was taken under the custody of five men and his mobile phone was abducted by the mob. He sustained injuries to the eyes and chest. 

Following the development, the concerned reporter filed a complaint against the mob in the Gummidipoondi police station, and with accord to the complaint, two members were arrested and booked under the grounds of rioting, wrongful confinement, and punishment for voluntarily causing hurt of the Indian Penal Code. According to the reports, the State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had issued a notice to the Tiruvallur Collector and Superintendent of Police to disclose their reports on the caste-based discrimination faced by the Dalit Panchayat leader.