Tamil Nadu govt bans caste wristbands in schools, education minister rejects order

Facing stiff opposition from Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, education minister of the ruling AIADMK has said that the previous circular banning casteist practices of making students wear wristbands to identify them by their castes will not be implemented.

Tamil Nadu school education KA Sengottaiyan has said that there will be no ban on the use of these wristbands for school students. This comes after BJP leader H Raja called for action against the officer who issued the circular banning casteist practices.

The minister also said that the circular was issued without his knowledge and it was passed just to create a controversy.

The circular stated that apart from wristbands, students should not be allowed to wear rings and forehead 'tilaka' as they are also caste markers.

The Director of School Education had directed officials to identify schools in their districts where such discrimination is practised, besides initiating severe action.

The circular also said these caste markers are being used for sports team selection, reassembling during class and lunch intervals.

H Raja said in a tweet, "There is no bar on wearing a wristband and thilak in schools. The school education minister says he was not consulted about it. Hence, action must be taken against the officer who issued this circular immediately."

"...in some schools in TN, students were made to wear colour-coded wrist bands. These which come in shares of red, yellow, green and saffron indicate whether they belong to a "lower" or "upper" caste," a circular issued by Director of School Education S Kannappan said.

"Allegedly, these practices are enforced by students themselves and supported by influential caste persons and teachers," the circular read.