Chennai: TVK govt on Saturday clarified that students’ caste details would not be included in school ID cards after criticism from DMK and Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) over remarks suggesting otherwise.The controversy erupted after revenue minister K A Sengottaiyan told reporters on Friday that the proposed ID cards would carry details such as students’ blood group, Aadhaar number and caste. The statement triggered widespread criticism, with opposition parties and DK questioning the need to include caste information on student identity cards. Former school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi took to X to question the rationale behind the proposal.“If the card is intended to contain students’ basic information, including caste is unnecessary. In places where only details such as blood group and Aadhaar number need to be known, why should caste identity be disclosed? Caste-related information should be used only when availing reservation benefits and other social justice measures,” he said, while seeking clarification from school education minister A Rajmohan.DK president K Veeramani too condemned the proposal and urged govt to withdraw it, arguing that such a move would run contrary to the state’s long-standing commitment to social justice and caste eradication.Amid the backlash, Rajmohan, clarified to reporters in Chennai. “Caste details will not be included in the ID cards. Our policy is to work towards a caste-free society.”Sengottaiyan too issued a clarification later in the day, saying the project was being jointly implemented by revenue and school education departments and that only essential details would be included. “Information such as blood group and Aadhaar number will be present on the cards, but caste details will not be included,” he told reporters in Erode.
