On 8th November 1948, Mr. Shri V. L. Munusamy Pillai [Madras General] at the Constituent Assembly spoke as follows:
“Sir, going through the various Sections one has to note whether the underdog, the common man and the communities that have been neglected in the past, have been well protected and facilities for Citizenship have been afforded. Regarding this Constitution one finds that there are two novel things that I am not obtaining in any of the Constitution of the World. First of all eradication of untouchability. As a member of the so called Harijan Community I welcome it. Untouchability eaten into the vitals of the nation and with all the pride and privilege of the Hindu Community the outside world have been looking at India with a doubtful eye. I welcome this provision because it shows the greatness of majority community that they found out that there is a fungus that is eating into nation pride and they have come forward to remove this curse of untouchability. There are people in India who say that enough propaganda has been made to eradicate untouchability and there is no need for further propaganda. But I honestly feel Sir, if you go to the Village parts, untouchability is rampant still and a provision of these parts in the Constitution is a welcome thing.
The second feature is abolition of the forced labour [beggar]. If there is any labour required for common purposes in the village this most unfortunate fellow – the Harijan is always caught hold of to do all menial and inferior service. By the provisions in this Constitution I am sure you are elevating the community that has been outside the pale of society. It was given to the great Father of the Nation, Mahatma Gandhi as a Great Mycologist to find out the fungi that are eating into the national vitality. He has made certain proposal to eradicate these evils and I am glad that the Drafting Committee has made some provisions to eradicate untouchability and forced labour on this unfortunate community.
Comment: The curse of untouchability and permanent of such a vice is still rampant even after a lapse of seven decades.