Around 15 tribal families of Tummalagudem village in Palvancha mandal have been allegedly facing social boycott from their tribal community elders for the last few weeks.
According to sources, the elders of the village belonging to a tribal community allegedly issued a “diktat” imposing social boycott on 15 families of their same tribal community for allegedly refusing to donate amount for a traditional ritual known as ‘Bodrai’ ceremony around four weeks ago. A section of the community elders reportedly subjected the 15 families, those allegedly embraced another religion a couple of months ago, to social boycott by “barring” the latter from attending marriages and other family functions in the village, sources said.
They allegedly asked the villagers to socially boycott the families those allegedly disobeyed the decision of the village elders to mobilise funds from each household in the form of donations for the ‘Bodrai’ installation ceremony.
Acting on a tip off, a team of officials led by the mandal Tehsildar Raghava Reddy visited Tummalagudem on Thursday. The officials interacted with the aggrieved tribal families and the community elders to ascertain the facts. “We counselled the villagers of Tummalagudem against the evil practice of social boycott,” said Mr Raghava Reddy. The village elders have given their commitment to maintain social harmony in the village, Mr Reddy told The Hindu when contacted.
They allegedly embraced another religion a couple of months ago
