Social ReformDMK-AIADMK alternation
First Samathuvapuram equality village inaugurated
The first Periyar Ninaivu Samathuvapuram, a housing colony where families of different castes live side by side, opened near Madurai.
The Samathuvapuram scheme, introduced by the DMK government in 1997-98, built model villages where houses were allotted to families of different castes, including Dalits, in fixed proportions, with a common cemetery and shared facilities. The first was inaugurated by Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on 17 August 1997 at Melakottai village near Tirumangalam in Madurai district. The colonies were named after Periyar E. V. Ramasamy. About 145 were built by 2001 as part of an effort to reduce caste segregation.