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Abhorrent practice continues

Sib Kumar Das

Harijans in remote areas of Ganjam district still face discrimination

BERHAMPUR: Even in the 21st century, ostracism of Harijans continues in remote villages of Ganjam district.

Thirty-five Harijan families of Sarabadi village under Badagada police station of Sorada block of the district, located at a distance of 80 km from here, allege that untouchability still exists in their village.

According to Purna Chandra Nayak of the village, the 35 families are from the Pana community, considered untouchable by the upper castes. These families have been barred from using the community pond and the tubewell. Even members of the community are not allowed to perform rituals at the village temple.

Appeal to rights panel

President of the Harijan Kalyan Sangh Uday Nayak has also alleged that recently the upper castes have also barred persons of the community from riding bicycle in the village.

Harijans donate for all village functions and community work but they are not treated as equals in the village committee, he alleges.

The sangh members have approached administrative officials and the police to check the social evil.

They even addressed a letter to the Central Human Rights Commission and the Tribal Welfare Ministry about their plight.

At Batasasana village of Sorada block, Harijans are not allowed to fetch drinking water from the only tube well as it exists in the upper caste area.

Pending case

At Alasu village of Jagannathprasad block, they are not being allowed to buy from shops owned by upper castes. When rains submerged the only tubewell at the Harijan locality in Singipur village last year, members of the upper castes did not allow them to fetch water from the other common tubewell in the village. A complaint in this regard was pending at the Badagada police station.

The `provocation'

Tribal leader Bhala Chandra Sarangi said the atrocities of the upper castes commenced when educated youths in the community started asserting their rights in the village committee.

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