A woman sarpanch of a Scheduled Caste Batta Sumalatha has been facing social boycott by members of her own community for over a month at Laxmidevunipally village of Birkur mandal of Kamareddy district.
Ms. Sumalatha told The Hindu that she was forced to lodge a complaint in Bhiknur police station three days ago as the excesses by members of Madiga community, to which she belonged, increased ever since she won the election by a margin of 85 votes. Bhiknur Circle Inspector Rajasekhar said cases on the charge of insulting, threatening and setting up obstacles for her were registered against six persons.
The 29-year-old activist of Telangana Rashtra Samiti had contested the election against the wishes of the Madiga community which supported another woman with Congress background. The community had summoned Ms. Sumalatha to a meeting at the community hall prior to the January 21 poll and issued a diktat to drop out. She was abused and asked to leave the venue when she refused, Ms. Sumalatha said.
Support of others
In a habitation of 30 families of Madiga community, all of them except the kin of Ms. Sumalatha voted against her. She, however, won with the support of voters from other caste groups.
After she was sworn in on February 2, the community gave a call to its members to boycott her at all social gatherings. No one was supposed to go to her house in the SC colony nor talk to her. Violation of the diktat would result in a fine of ₹ 5,000 and thrashing with chappals 25 times. She could be contacted at ‘functional’ level in her office for anything to do with affairs of the SC Colony, the community had declared.
Ms. Sumalatha was barred from attending a marriage and a couple of other functions that took place within the community. A visit for a house warming ceremony in a relative’s house resulted in her pictures on social media. Photos and videos were also uploaded when she took part in rituals at a temple with relatives. Perhaps her worst experience was when her father was pushed while taking bath in the village tank following his brother’s death. The community took exception to her presence at the funeral.
