PMK Founder Ramadoss Seeks Vanniyar Reservation, Urges CM Vijay to Take Action

Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder Dr. S. Ramadoss on Monday urged the Tamil Nadu government to conduct a comprehensive caste-wise socio-economic census and use the findings to determine appropriate reservation benefits for the Vanniyar community .

In a statement, Ramadoss said social justice should go beyond political rhetoric and translate into concrete measures that ensure opportunities for disadvantaged communities. He called for the collection of accurate data on the education, employment and economic status of Vanniyars, who are classified under the Most Backward Classes (MBC) category.

The PMK leader reiterated the long-standing demand for a separate internal reservation for Vanniyars, noting that the community constitutes a significant share of the MBC population. He referred to the 10.5 per cent internal reservation granted by the then AIADMK government in 2021, which was later struck down by the Supreme Court due to the absence of adequate supporting data.

Ramadoss argued that the court had not rejected the principle of reservation for Vanniyars but had emphasised the need for reliable statistics and social studies to justify such measures.

He urged the state government to conduct a caste-wise census covering population, education levels, employment status, land ownership, income and representation in government jobs across communities. The data, he said, should be made public and used to scientifically determine the extent of internal reservation required for the Vanniyar community.

Calling for a review of reservation policies based on actual social and educational backwardness, Ramadoss maintained that social justice meant ensuring fair opportunities for all communities according to their level of disadvantage.