A 37-year-old Dalit panchayat president in Madurai district says she has been continuously facing humiliation by the people of a dominant caste. Of late, she has been receiving threats on her mobile phone from unknown numbers, following which she has sought protection from the State government.
Vidya, who was elected as the president of Pazhayur panchayat in Peraiyur block in Madurai district, told The Hindu on Thursday: “Every day, the level of torture and humiliation is increasing. My mental agony can’t be explained over the phone in a few lines.”
She filed a complaint in this regard with Saptur police last month, based on which the police registered a case against a few villagers. But, there was no tangible action after that. Now, she said, she was under pressure to withdraw her complaint and go for a compromise.
A 37-year-old Dalit panchayat president in Madurai district says she has been continuously facing humiliation by the people of a dominant caste. Of late, she has been receiving threats on her mobile phone from unknown numbers, following which she has sought protection from the State government.
Vidya, who was elected as the president of Pazhayur panchayat in Peraiyur block in Madurai district, told The Hindu on Thursday: “Every day, the level of torture and humiliation is increasing. My mental agony can’t be explained over the phone in a few lines.”
She filed a complaint in this regard with Saptur police last month, based on which the police registered a case against a few villagers. But, there was no tangible action after that. Now, she said, she was under pressure to withdraw her complaint and go for a compromise.
In the 2019 rural local body election, Ms. Vidya, a graduate, was elected as the president of the panchayat, which had earlier been under “general” category. Ms. Vidya took steps to lay roads, provide potable water and install streetlights. When she started constructing a community hall, she started receiving threats to stop the work.
Pazhayur panchayat comprised Karisalpatti, Kattarapatti and Pazhayur. Except in Pazhayur, Dalits were in sizable numbers in the panchayat. When she planned to organise meetings in Karisalpatti and Kattarapatti, some ward members belonging to the dominant community opposed. “Five persons, led by one Bharata Pandian, verbally abused me,” she said.
This story was originally published in thehindu.com . Read the full story here